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;

Black smoke billows from the tremendous fire that is consuming the former home of the Tacoma Sash & Door Co. on May 9, 1959. The fire was reported at about 11:30 a.m. by a foreman at Reichhold Chemicals who saw flames shooting from the windows of the building. The chemical tanks at Reichhold stood about 100 yards from the blaze, but luckily the wind was blowing in the opposite direction. The heat, however, was so intense that most Reichhold employees had to stay indoors. Reichhold suffered only minor damage to a power plant in the fire. (TNT 5/9/1959, pg. 1 & 5/10/1959, pg. 1)

Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (Tacoma); Fires--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Sash & Door Co. (Tacoma);

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;

H.H. Reichhold, president of Reichhold Chemicals, Inc., and E.M. Skytta of Tacoma, general manager and vice-president of the firm's Pacific Northwest Division, pose in front of the company's new office and laboratory during dedication ceremonies in June, 1962. Reichhold's Tacoma plant was located on the Tideflats, first at 3320 Lincoln Avenue and in 1962, at nearby 2340 Taylor Way. The company manufactured chemicals for use in the plywood industry. The Tacoma plant was the headquarters for the Pacific Northwest Division of Reichhold and was chosen since it offered excellent transportation via rail, water and highway and was located near major consuming businesses. The building of the L-shaped, 21,000 square foot structure completed the final stage of the firm's move from Seattle to Tacoma. (TNT 6-10-62, B-8)

Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Reichhold, H.H.; Skytta, E.M.;

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;

New aluminum rod mill under construction. Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. was building a new rod mill in 1968; it would be ready for operation in December of that year. Once fully functional, the completely automated mill would produce rod at a rate of 1,800 feet per minute. Kaiser was undergoing a period of expansion where a new 500-foot stack and the rod mill were built, a second alumina dome with 100,000-ton capacity would be completed in 1969. Photograph ordered by Kaiser Engineers. (TNT 12-13-68, C-18)

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Interior of new aluminum rod mill at Kaiser Aluminum, 3400 Taylor Way, on November 1, 1968. This view is of one-half of Potline #4 and a cart loaded with "channels" which were lowered by crane into a slot just inside the ore hoppers visible on top of each "pot" or reduction cell. The new rod mill was nearly completed and ready for operation.The first rod would be formed in a test run on December 12, 1968. Molten aluminum would be processed into 3/8-inch rods at Tacoma's local mill and then shipped to San Leandro, California, for drawing into electrical wiring. Kaiser had reopened its Tacoma facilities in 1964 after a six-year closure and had steadily expanded since then. It was to permanently close in 2002. Photograph ordered by Kaiser Engineers. (TNT 12-13-68, C-18) (Additional information provided by a reader)

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970;

New aluminum rod mill under construction. Construction progresses on the new Kaiser Aluminum's rod mill on 3400 Taylor Way in early November, 1968. Covers have now been placed on the two small dome-containers. It is possible that these containers would hold the molten aluminum that would be used to manufacture the 3/8th-inch rods. Earlier photograph taken on October 18, D154922, Image 4, shows them uncovered. The mill would form its first rod in a test run on December 12, 1968. Photograph ordered by Kaiser Engineers. (TNT 12-13-68, C-18)

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Kaiser Aluminum plant aerials. Kaiser Aluminum, located at 3400 Taylor Way in the Tideflats, had resumed production in 1964 after being closed for six years. They were still expanding in 1968 when the above aerial photograph was taken. Hylebos Waterway and Northeast Tacoma in background. Photograph ordered by Kaiser Engineers. TPL-4741

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970; Aerial views; Hylebos Waterway (Tacoma);

Smoke drifts from the new 500-foot stack at the Kaiser Aluminum plant on Tacoma's Tideflats in late October, 1968. Kaiser was undergoing a period of expansion that would see a new aluminum rod mill open for production in December of 1968. Hylebos Waterway is adjacent to the plant on left side of photograph. Photograph ordered by Kaiser Engineers.

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hylebos Waterway (Tacoma); Aerial views;

Closer aerial view of Kaiser's Tacoma plant located at 3400 Taylor Way in the industrial Tideflats. Taken on October 30, 1968, photograph emphasizes the height of what is believed to be the 500-foot stack recently constructed. Hylebos Waterway in background. Photograph ordered by Kaiser Engineers. TPL-6580

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970; Aerial views; Hylebos Waterway (Tacoma);

Exterior of new aluminum rod mill at Kaiser Aluminum. Kaiser gradually phased in their new aluminum rod mill with its first rod being formed in a test run in December, 1968. The completely automated mill would produce rod at a rate of 1,800 feet a minute. Kaiser would produce the first semi-fabricated aluminum product for Tacoma. Photograph ordered by Kaiser Engineers, Inc. (TNT 12-8-68, A-7)

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Exterior view of Pennwalt Corp. Formerly known as Pennsalt, the chemical producing company was located on 40 acres of land adjacent to the Hylebos Waterway. This view on December 26, 1969, shows one of the large piles of salt used by Pennwalt in daily operations. Doing business in Tacoma since 1929, Pennwalt had originally specialized in caustic soda and liquid chlorine for sale to the Pacific Northwest's pulp and paper industry before diversifying. Photograph ordered by Pennwalt Corp.

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Pennwalt Corp. (Tacoma);

Water view of Pennwalt Corp. shortly after Christmas, 1969. By 1969, Pennwalt (formerly known as Pennsalt or Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington) had been operating in Tacoma for 40 years. The company was located on 40-acres of land in Tacoma's Tideflats along the Hylebos Waterway. A leader in chemical production, it would merge with Wallace & Tiernan to form Pennwalt Corp. in 1969. More changes and mergers would occur and by 2004, the company would be known as Arkema, Inc. Photograph ordered by Pennwalt Corp.

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Pennwalt Corp. (Tacoma); Hylebos Waterway (Tacoma);

Daily operations at Reichhold Chemicals. Two young Reichhold Chemicals employees are pictured on May 25, 1971, using modern office equipment at the company plant, 2340 Taylor Way. The Teletype on the left may have been an ASR 33 model; paper would have been roll-fed. Photograph ordered by Reichhold Chemicals, Inc.

Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (Tacoma); Office workers--Tacoma--1970-1980; Office equipment & supplies;

A "Danger No Smoking" sign warns Reichhold Chemicals' workers against "lighting up" while at on the job. An employee, dressed in a lab coat, watches as long stripes of material resembling paneling emerges from a large machine and is subsequently rolled. Photograph ordered by Reichhold Chemicals, Inc.

Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Signs (Notices); Machinery;

ca. 1973. Standing over a hundred feet tall is this unidentified supporting structure at Kaiser Aluminum's Tideflats plant. Its size is apparent compared to the man standing at the foot of one of the supports. Even the truck nearby appears miniscule. Photograph ordered on December 19, 1973, by Puget Sound Fabricators, Seattle.

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Pennwalt plant. Located on 40 acres in the industrial Tacoma tideflats, the company was first known as the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington or Pennsalt. Pennwalt was an inorganic chemical manufacturer of chlorine gas, caustic soda, liquid chlorine and hydrogen gas. Doing business in Tacoma since 1929, its caustic soda and liquid chlorine were in demand by the Northwest's pulp and paper industry. Photograph ordered by Pennwalt Corp.

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Pennwalt Corp. (Tacoma);

Pennwalt plant. This is another view in early 1976 of the sprawling Pennwalt Corporation plant located in Tacoma's tideflats along the Hylebos Waterway. The company was formerly known as the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington or Pennsalt. It had been producing chemicals including caustic soda and liquid chlorine in Tacoma since 1929. Photograph ordered by Pennwalt Corporation.

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Pennsalt (Tacoma); Pennwalt Corp. (Tacoma);

Exterior view of Stauffer Chemical Co. as pictured in the summer of 1976. Stauffer Chemical was located on a nearly 18-acre section of land on the west side of the Blair (formerly Port Industrial) Waterway. It would be sold in 1987 to Rhone-Poulenc Basic Chemicals, a large French chemical company, who would only use a small portion of the plant to make alum, a water purifier, from aluminum sulfate. When Stauffer was in full production, it used to make about 20,000 tons of fertilizer annually. Photograph ordered by Stauffer Chemical Co. (TNT 9-8-93, C-1-article)

Stauffer Chemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Interior view of Stauffer Chemical Co. plant. Stauffer Chemical was located at 2545 Lincoln Ave. bordering the Blair (formerly Port Industrial) Waterway. At one time the large plant manufactured 20,000 tons of fertilizer annually. A July, 1976, look inside the plant shows what may have been mounds of fertilizer or dirt. Photograph ordered by Stauffer Chemical Co.

Stauffer Chemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Interior of Stauffer Chemical plant. Rows of 80-lb. bags are piled up on wooden pallets inside the Stauffer Chemical plant at 2545 Lincoln Ave. in July of 1976. These bags, marked "0-18-0," are believed to be filled with fertilizer. Photograph ordered by Stauffer Chemical Co.

Stauffer Chemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Offices of Stauffer Chemical Co. Two employees of Stauffer Chemical Co., 2545 Lincoln Ave., are pictured in July of 1976 at work in the company's offices. The woman is busily typing while the man is examining files from an open file cabinet. Modern office equipment including Pitney-Bowes and Western Union machines are located nearby. Photograph ordered by Stauffer Chemical Co.

Stauffer Chemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1970-1980; Office workers--Tacoma--1970-1980; Office equipment & supplies;

A series of photographs were taken at the Stauffer Chemical Co. plant in the industrial Tideflats during the summer of 1976. Interior and exterior shots were taken of daily plant operations. An unidentified employee is pictured above in July of 1976 grasping a glass beaker while standing before a counter filled with various tubes and containers. Photograph ordered by Stauffer Chemical Co.

Stauffer Chemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Brine Tanks at Hooker Chemical. Two tanks are shown from above. Two men are standing on the walkway over the tank, man on right has been identified as Loyd Johnson, Hooker chemist. The Tacoma Hooker Chemical plant was started in 1929 by Elon Huntington Hooker. Albert Huntington Hooker, Jr., long-time western sales manager of the electrochemical concern, was Elon Huntington Hooker's nephew.

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Storage tanks--Tacoma; Johnson, Loyd;

Brine Tanks at Hooker Chemical. Two tanks are shown from ground level. A man is climbing towards the top of one of the tanks on a wooden stairway adjacent to the tanks. Several piles of dark materials are in the foreground and wooden walkways lead past the tanks. Hooker Chemical manufactured chemicals: chlorine used in the manufacture and bleaching of pulp and paper and to sterilize water and sewage; caustic soda used in oil refining and the manufacture of soap, and synthetic ammonia used in pulp and paper mills, fertilizers and explosives. The name was changed in 1982 to Occidental Chemical.

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Storage tanks--Tacoma;

Hooker Electro-Chemical parking area. One of the buildings at the far end of the parking lot and the water tower remind workers of "Safety First". Hylebos waterway can be seen in the background as well as cranes used for loading and unloading materials from ships and barges.

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma);

Hooker Electrochemical parking area. This view shows the Hylebos waterway and a ship moored at the company's dock. Railroad tracks run through the plant to make more transportation accessible. TPL-2489.

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma);

Philadelphia Quartz Co. gets sodium silicate, derived from silica sand, shipped here to their plant, they then manufacture silicate of soda in its various forms. They are the main suppliers of liquid mineral adhesives for the plywood and composition industries. Exterior view of the plant's liquid storage tanks and office buildings.

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Storage tanks--Tacoma; Minerals; Philadelphia Quartz Co. of California (Tacoma);

Philadelphia Quartz Co. opened up their plant in Tacoma in 1941. They have an 8 acre fenced site that measures 80 x 90 feet. The auxiliary building and main office building is made of steel and they have liquid storage tanks on site. The company's headquarters are located in Berkeley, California. Exterior view of buildings and storage tanks, company sign is visible above the main entrance.

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Storage tanks--Tacoma; Minerals; Philadelphia Quartz Co. of California (Tacoma);