ca. 1959. Exposure of Reichhold Chemical. Reichhold occupied 51 acres on the Tideflats and manufactured chemicals used by the plywood industry. The plant opened in 1956.

Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Reichhold Chemicals; the interior of a resin repectivator tank. Reichhold manufactured chemicals used in the plywood industry.

Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Eleven Reichhold Chemicals team members pose with the trophy honoring them as the commercial champions of the year in softball. Most of the men are wearing a RCI logo on their uniforms. Reichhold, like many other large companies, sponsored recreational teams for their employees. These men were part of the eighty employed by the company in 1958; the company had an annual payroll of $500,000. Plans were announced in November, 1958, to build a major phenol producing plant, necessary to plywood production, with a $1 million payroll and 150 added employees. Construction was to start the latter part of 1959. Photograph ordered by Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (TNT 11-2-58, A-1)

Softball players--Tacoma--1950-1960; Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (Tacoma); Awards;

Aerial view of Reichhold Chemical Plant. The plant occupied 51 acres on the Tideflats, most of it empty to provide for future expansion, and manufactured chemicals used by the plywood industry. Reichhold represented the type of industry that Tacoma hoped to attract to the Tideflats with its ready water and rail transportation for goods and materials. The facility was constructed in 1955-1956 and consisted of a laboratory, control station, warehouse, plant, offices and a railroad siding. The company manufactured plywood glue and wood preservative and would employ a full complement of 100-125 workers when fully operational. The plant could turn out 10,000 - 15,000 pounds of pentachlorophenol, a preservative, a day and 100,000 pounds of glue a day. (TNT 3/18/1956, pg. 1; 6/28/1956, pg. A-4)

Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Aerial view of Reichhold Chemical Co. on the Tideflats. Reichhold manufactured chemicals used by the plywood industry. Occupying 51 acres of land, the company was a large concern that would employ over 100 people.

Aerial photographs; Building construction; Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (Tacoma);

Aerial view of Reichhold Chemical Co. on the Tideflats. Reichhold manufactured chemicals used by the plywood industry. Occupying 51 acres of land, the company was a large concern that would employ over 100 people.

Aerial photographs; Building construction; Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (Tacoma);

Aerial photographs requested by Reichhold Chemicals, Inc., were taken on January 12, 1956. The company had purchased 51.2 acres of land from the Port of Tacoma for $204,920. They would be constructing a large plant on acreage south of Lincoln Avenue between the Tacoma Sash & Door and Pennsalt. Reichhold hoped to begin operations in April, 1956. The protein adhesive and pentachorohenol plant would first employ 50 people. Aerial view of land shows sides of the building going up; there is no roof or flooring. Makeshift dirt roads have been created so that construction workers' vehicles and heavy equipment can reach the plant site. (TNT 12-25-55, B-4)

Aerial photographs; Building construction; Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (Tacoma);

Ground has been broken and dirt excavated for a new Reichhold Chemicals plant on January 16, 1956. Plywood forms are partially in place; they may later be reinforced with concrete. Large pools of water dot the landscape; there are also many power lines in the background as well. Photograph ordered by Reichhold Chemicals, Inc..

Building construction; Dirt; Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (Tacoma);

Reichhold Chemicals was constructing a new plant in early 1956. Work had barely gotten started in this marshy lowland area where pools of water dot the landscape. A road of sorts has been carved out of the area; piles of excavated dirt are stacked on either side. Photograph ordered by Reichhold Chemicals, Inc.

Dirt; Dirt roads; Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (Tacoma);

Company officials and contractors stand in front of a sign welcoming Reichhold Chemicals, Inc.'s Tacoma plant on February 15, 1956. Reichhold were manufacturers of chemicals for Pacific Northwest industries. In the background is the first train to run on a new railroad spur into Tacoma from the chemical plant. Those in the photograph are: Richard Rose, Tacoma representative for Reichhold, Ernie Skyeta, general manager of the Northwest Division of Reichhold, Harold Warner, Seattle plant manager in charge of construction, and Ed Ekrem, general contractor. Photograph ordered by Reichhold Chemicals, Inc.

Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (Tacoma); Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);

Reichhold Chemicals was constructing a new plant in the Tideflats in early 1956. It was a national company, based in White Plains, New York. A group of five railway employees stand in front of the Tacoma Belt Line #905 engine and boxcars. Reichhold would have rail transport directly from its plant, facilitating delivery of its products. Photograph ordered by Reichhold Chemicals, Inc.

Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (Tacoma); Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Cranes lower steel sections as work continues on the new Reichhold Chemicals plant on the Tideflats in February, 1956. The frame of the building was made of steel from the Soule Steel Co. of Seattle. The Washington Co-op Farmers Association feed mill can be seen in the distance. Photograph ordered by the Soule Steel Co.

Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Steel; Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (Tacoma); Soule Steel Co. (Seattle);

Reichhold Chemicals. An almost completed structure, a 20,000 square foot warehouse in which "penta" and plywood glue are stored, at the Lincoln Ave. site of Reichhold Chemicals is captured in this progress photograph ordered by Soule Steel of Seattle. The plant was being constructed on 51 acres on the Tideflats between Tacoma Sash & Door and Pennsalt. The plant hoped to begin production of plywood glue by April with a staff of 25. By May, the plant would be able to begin production of pentachorophenol, a wood preservative. The company would employ 100- 125 workers over the next 2 years. The production of the chemicals was automatic; ingredients were combined using a system of pipes and vats in a "batch process." The raw materials were loaded into tanks and moved from chemical reaction to reaction untouched by human hands. The basic ingredient was soya flour. The completed facility would include a laboratory, control station, warehouse, plant, offices and railroad siding. (TNT 3/18/1956, pg. 1; 6/28/1956, pg. A-4)

Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Steel; Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (Tacoma); Soule Steel Co. (Seattle);