Aerial view on May 26, 1970, of the Tacoma industrial Tideflats, featuring Hooker Chemical and Hylebos Waterway. By 1970, Hooker had been in Tacoma for 41 years. It had begun in 1929 with production of 13 tons of chlorine a day and a work crew of 40. In 1969, production had increased to 400 tons with the aid of 300 employees. Hooker was the first to produce caustic soda. Chlorine and caustic soda were sold mostly to the pulp/paper industry in the Pacific Northwest. By 1969, Hooker Chemical was a wholly owned subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum. (TNT 2-2-69, B-8 -article) Photograph ordered by Hylebos Industries, Inc.

Aerial views; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1970-1980; Hylebos Waterway (Tacoma);

1967 Richards Studio stock file. May 2, 1967, aerial view in color of sprawling Hooker Chemical plant, 605 Alexander Ave., in the Tacoma tideflats. A ship is docked on the Hylebos Waterway next to the facility, ready to load and unload Hooker products. Easy access to water, rail and roadways was a factor in locating the large plant in Tacoma in 1928. Hooker was one of the primary suppliers to Pacific Northwest pulp and paper companies of chemicals used to bleach and refine wood pulp. Later it would also manufacture soap and refine petroleum products.

Aerial photographs; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hylebos Waterway (Tacoma);

A Hooker Chemical chlorine tank car awaits attention on the track outside the Tacoma plant on August 25, 1965. The tank holds 10,817 gallons. Photograph ordered by Hooker Chemical. TPL-6608

Storage tanks--Tacoma; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma);

Hooker Chemical operations. Another in a series of October, 1964, photographs of Hooker Chemical Co. operations at the company's Tideflats site. Worker in hard hat pictured in the act of spraying onto the enormous mound of salt. Salt, steeple on building and smokestack reflected in the adjoining pond. Hooker Chemical in Tacoma was the headquarters of the company's Western Division. According to the company's 1964 annual report, Hooker's role as a major supplier of chemicals to the pulp and paper industry substantially increased during the year and it was anticipated that sales would continue to rise. Photograph ordered by Hooker Chemical for annual report. (1964 Hooker Chemical Corp. annual report, p. 10)

Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Hooker Chemical Co. operations. Although this hard hatted employee appears to be maneuvering his machine to spray over a mountain of snow, he is actually adding to the enormous stockpile of salt on the salt pad at Hooker Chemical Co. The pile of salt is reflected in the adjoining pond of water. Photograph ordered by Hooker Chemical for use in annual report.

Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Hooker Chemical Co. operations. Knee deep in water on a cool day in October, 1964, a Hooker Chemical Co. employee uses a sprayer on giant piles of salt. The Georgian-style plant with steeple is in the background. Photograph ordered by Hooker Chemical for annual report.

Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Hooker Chemical operations. October, 1964, view of large storage tank believed to be liquid ammonia holding tank on Hooker Chemical property. Smaller tanks surround it. A new storage tank was built for a program of marketing agricultural ammonia as a fertilizer. Photograph ordered by Hooker Chemical for annual report. TPL-6607

Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970; Storage tanks--Tacoma;

Hooker Chemical Co. operations. Color photograph taken in October, 1964, of Hooker Chemical employee in hard hat spraying large piles of salt on company property. This particular scene is very similar to D142933-15. The salt is reflected in the adjoining pool of water. The huge pulp and paper industry in the Pacific Northwest created large new demands for pulp bleaching chemicals. Photograph ordered by Hooker Chemical Co. for annual report. (1964 Hooker Chemical Corp. annual report, p. 10)

Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Hooker Chemical operations. A Hooker Chemical Co. employee appears to be monitoring the gauge on the large machinery outside the company plant in October, 1964. Photograph ordered by Hooker Chemical Co. for annual report.

Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970; Machinery;

Hooker Chemical Co. operations. Although this resembles mounds of snow reflected in a clear pool of water, the piles are actually made of salt. Hooker Chemical Co. used tons of salt in their daily operations. A Hooker employee is pictured above in October of 1964 spraying water onto the salt piles. ALBUM 15.

Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Hooker Chemical Co. operations. View of brick one-story office for Hooker Chemical Co. in October, 1964. Unlike many faceless concrete industrial facilities, the older plant buildings were built in the Georgian style. Even the newer structures, such as the office building above, retained a classic facade. The Hooker plant was opened on February 16, 1929. It retained the Hooker name until 1982 when it changed its name to Occidental Chemical Corp. Photograph ordered by Hooker Chemical for annual report.

Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970;

ca. 1960. Richards stock footage. Aerial photograph taken in 1960 of the Hooker Electrochemical Co. plant located at 605 Alexander Avenue on the Tacoma Tideflats. A ship is docked at the company dock on the Hylebos Waterway, ready to transport and transfer Hooker products. A railroad spur running through the facility also made transportation of Hooker chemicals an easier task.

Aerial photographs; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hylebos Waterway (Tacoma); Harbors--Tacoma;

ca. 1960. Aerial photograph of Hooker Electrochemical plant on Alexander Avenue in the Tideflats ca. 1960 Richards stock footage. Built on the site of the old Foundation shipyard, the Hooker plant opened in February, 1929. It played a leading part in Tacoma's industrial history for over sixty years. Company name was changed without comment to Occidental Chemical Corp. in 1982.

Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Aerial photographs;

Railroad tank car being loaded with caustic soda at Hooker Chemicals. Hooker Electrochemical was a large producer of chlorine and caustic soda, supplying the Pacific Northwest's pulp and paper industry.

Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad tank cars--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Railroad tank car being loaded at Hooker Chemicals. The sign cautions "Danger, Caustic." Hooker Electrochemical was a large producer of chlorine and caustic soda, supplying the Pacific Northwest's pulp and paper industry. According to the tank's markings, it hold 8031 gallons of caustic soda.

Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad tank cars--Tacoma--1950-1960;

An aerial photograph of the Hooker Electrochemical plant in the Tideflats was taken on July 24, 1957, for possible order by the company. Storage tanks appear to be loaded on railroad cars on two parallel tracks. Hooker was the second chlor-alkali plant in the United States and the first caustic soda plant in the Pacific Northwest. This was apparently an aerial view of an area of Hooker Electrochemical Co. on Industrial Waterway.

Aerial photographs; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Pipes and equipment at Hooker Electrochemical Co. as photographed on September 24, 1931. Hooker's large plant in Tacoma was built in 1928 and celebrated its grand opening in February of 1929. Chemicals manufactured by Hooker aided the area's pulp and paper industry. G33.1-163

Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1930-1940; Equipment;

Various types of equipment located at Hooker Electrochemical's plant were photographed on September 24, 1931. The chemical producing company was located at 605 Alexander Avenue and would celebrate over 50 years in business here in Tacoma. After several name changes, it would close down about 2002. G33.1-164

Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1930-1940; Equipment;

This aerial photograph from November 1948 shows the Hooker Electrochemical Company located at 605 Alexander Avenue on the Tacoma tideflats. The waterway above the plant, dotted with log booms, is the Hylebos Waterway. Small houses and businesses line the shore on the other side of the waterway along Marine View Drive. Hooker changed its name to Occidental Chemical Co. in 1982. In 1997 the company was purchased by Pioneer Companies Inc.; the plant closed in 2002. TPL-7977

Aerial photographs; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Logs; Hylebos Waterway (Tacoma); Harbors--Tacoma; Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Sunnen Hauling Company was owned by Joe Sunnen. There were two facilities in Washington, one in Tacoma and one in Seattle. The company's Tacoma site was at 301 East 25th Street; they were fully insured and bonded. View of Sunnen Hauling Company installing a new top on liquid caustic storage tank at Hooker Electrochemical Company; two Lorraine cranes in restricted quarters put eight ton top on tank (T. Times, 1/30/49, p. 17).

Shipping--Tacoma; Moving & storage trade--Tacoma; Storage tanks--Tacoma; Pulleys; Hoisting machinery; Sunnen Auto Freight & Heavy Hauling Co. (Tacoma); Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Large container for Hooker Chemicals with slightly pronounced lettering.

ca. 1932. Hooker Electrochemical Company, machine room, circa 1932. View from above floor area. (filed with Argentum)

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1932. Hooker Electrochemical Company, circa 1932. Alcohol tank (upright at rear), top of storage tank and group of fittings. (filed with Argentum)

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1932. Hooker Electrochemical Company, machine room, circa 1932. Kroeshell carbonic system. (filed with Argentum)

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma);

Industrial sections of the City of Tacoma. Hooker Electrochemical Company. Artistic exposure of brick buildings framed by the massive wrought iron gates of the plant. The plant was built on the site of the old Foundation Shipyard and opened in February of 1929. Photograph was taken on February 15, 1938, nearly nine years from its establishment.

Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Gates--Tacoma;

Hooker Electro Chemical Company. Mr. Stafford. Large tank or boiler, conical bottom, with chain around it and on top. [Also dated 08-24-1938]

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma);

Hooker Electrochemical Company. Mr. Stafford. Large Tank or boiler with legs on bottom. [Also dated 08-24-1938]

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma);

Hooker Electrochemical Co. was awarded the Army Navy "E" award by Major General Joseph D. Patch and Navy Officer W. C. Gilbert. An impressive ceremony was held at plant. Music was provided by the 440th Army Service Forces. Acting Mayor C. Val Fawcett was the Master of Ceremonies (T. Times, 1/10/45, p. 3).

Military decorations--Tacoma; Awards; Flags; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Hooker Electrochemical Co. was awarded the Army Navy "E" award by Major General Joseph D. Patch and Navy Officer W. C. Gilbert. An impressive ceremony was held at plant. Music was provided by the 440th Army Service Forces. Acting Mayor C. Val Fawcett was the Master of Ceremonies (T. Times, 1/10/45, p. 3).

Military decorations--Tacoma; Awards; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Acting Mayor Val Fawcett leads the singing of "God Bless America" during a Army-Navy "E" award ceremony at Hooker Electro-Chemical Company. Employees were honored for outstanding production of materials vital to the war effort. ALBUM 14. TPL-6654

Military decorations--Tacoma; Awards; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;