Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Item
Title
G43.1-123
Date(s)
- 1920-10 (Creation)
Extent
Name of creator
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
In September of 1920, work was begun on the Consumers Central Heating Co., a huge steam heating plant on Dock St. at the foot of 11th St. By the end of October, the last brick had been laid in the 200 foot stack, second only in size to the one located at the Tacoma Smelting Co. Boilers had been installed, and the tunnel excavated for the pipe from the plant that would connect to the piping system of the city. The new plant was needed to supply heat to the new construction in downtown Tacoma - the Rust Building, Scandinavian American Bank and the National Bank of Tacoma. In an innovative move, it would run on refuse wood from Tacoma's many mills. The plant was expected to be fully operational by mid-November. The city liked the location of the plant so much that in 1922 they erected their own plant at 1145 Dock St. (The site of Dutho Rubber Co. and Pacific Machine Shop in the picture.) In September of 1979, 59 years later, the Cental Heating plant shut down permanently. The stack was dismantled brick by brick in 1980. (TDL 10/31/1920, pg. 5- picture, TDL 9/5/1920, pg. B6, 10/17/20, pg. B7) Boland B3347, TPL-9503
Consumers Central Heating Co. (Tacoma); Steam;