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);

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);

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);

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;

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;

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;

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

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

Hooker Electrochemical Co. Tacoma plant was the second chlor-alkali plant in the United States and the first caustic soda plant in the Northwest. The Tacoma plant began producing chemicals in 1929 and it was an essential industry needed during World War II. The Tacoma Hooker plant received two Army-Navy E Awards for war achievement during 1945. Interior view of plant where a cell house was being constructed. Chlorine and caustic soda would be produced through an electrolytical process. (Additional information provided by a reader)

Machinery; Equipment; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma);

On August 25, 1951, the open front gates of the Hooker Electrochemical Company framed the flagpole in front of the company's administrative buildings. The ornate gates were attached to brick pillars and the company name was clearly listed in wrought iron on top. Hooker had its plant on the Tacoma tideflats at 605 Alexander Avenue. Established in Tacoma in 1929, it underwent several expansions before it was sold in 1997 to Pioneer Companies, Inc. Hooker Electrochemical was one of the area's largest chemical companies. TPL-4445

Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Gates--Tacoma; Flagpoles--Tacoma;

Expansion continues at the Hooker Electrochemical Company's Tideflats plant in August, 1951. Steel reinforcing and footing for a new building are being installed. Hooker began operations in Tacoma in 1929 and constantly remodeled and expanded in order to handle their growing business. Along with Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company of Washington, Hooker supplied the Pacific Northwest pulp and paper industry with caustic soda and chlorine. Hooker tank cars can be seen in the photograph's background; they were one method of shipping Hooker products to their customers.

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

Purex-Trend (Purex Corporation LTD), exterior view of building. Large warehouse type building. Semi trucks and trailers at loading dock.

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Purex Corp. (Tacoma); Storage tanks--Tacoma;

Directors' Meeting at Hooker Chemical Company on Halloween, 1950. Group of men including Tacoma executive staff standing on railroad tracks next to Hooker, Tacoma, tank car. This is probably at the Hooker Co. plant at 605 Alexander Ave. Not only did the company have a dock on the Hylebos Waterway but they also had a railroad spur running through the facility to make transport of Hooker chemicals easier and more efficient. Plant manager John D. Rue is extreme left in front row, sales manager Albert Hooker, Jr., is fifth from left in front and plant superintendent A.J. Rosengarth is on the extreme right, front row. This photograph appears in the book "Salt & Water, Power & People," a short history of the Hooker Electrochemical Co., and names of the individuals are listed within. (Thomas: Salt & Water, Power & People, p. 94) (Additional information provided by a reader)

Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad tank cars--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rue, John D.; Hooker, Albert H.; Rosengarth, A.J.;

Stauffer Chemical Co. opened a half million dollar plant in the spring of 1950 for the production of super phosphate fertilizer. The big chemical plant, erected on 14 acres of a 40 acre tract on the Tideflats, utilized phosphate rock from Wyoming and sulphuric acid from the newly constructed American Smelting and Refining acid plant to create super phosphate commercial fertilizer for a Pacific Northwest market area of 200 miles. The plant included a tank farm, mixing building, bulk storage facilities, finished product warehouses and office building. Phosphate storage towers and rail delivery system shown to the left of this picture. The original plant employed 20-30 and was capable of turning out 250 tons of fertilizer daily. The plant was expanded in 1955 to produce liquid aluminum sulphate.

Stauffer Chemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fertilizer industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Opening of Stauffer Chemical Company. Several men are visiting one of the labs at the new Tacoma plant. Quality control was maintained with frequent tests. Research and development of the company's products was mainly carried out at their Los Altos, California, and Chauncey, New York, research centers. Ordered by Wilson & George Meyer & Company.

Stauffer Chemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Laboratories--Tacoma;

Kaiser Aluminum manufactured chemical products as well as aluminum and steel. In this November 18, 1955, photograph, a fashion model is shown raking Calcined Alumina with a long metal apparatus. Kaiser used models for their safety programs, possibly to ensure that employees would be paying attention to the warnings and instructions. This model, although wearing a regulation hard hat and sturdy boots, is dressed simply in a colorful two-piece swimsuit. Photograph ordered by Kaiser Aluminum. TPL-9097

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Fashion models--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A swimsuit model may be demonstrating proper lifting techniques for Kaiser Aluminum's December, 1955, safety programs. She is in a squatting position attempting to pick up a hundred pound bag of Kaiser chemicals bagged in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Although she is not wearing much clothing, she does protect her hands and eyes with the proper safety equipment. Photograph ordered by Kaiser Aluminum.

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fashion models--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Hooker Electrochemical Company. Railroad barge and tug "Mogul". Barge loaded with Hooker chemical tanks. Waterway in the foreground.

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Barges; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Pennsalt, exposure of man reutering.

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma)--Employees;

A view across the Tideflats and adjacent pond shows the expanded Kaiser Aluminum plant in November, 1957. Built originally for Olin Corporation in 1942, and purchased by Kaiser four years later, heavy demand for aluminum products post-war made expansion of the plant necessary. Kaiser spent nearly three million dollars in 1952 to improve their Tacoma plant facilities which led to a large increase in aluminum production. Photograph ordered by Kaiser Aluminum.

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior of new anhydrous ammonia plant at Hooker Electrochemical, completed in May of 1952. The ammonia produced here was used by the Northwest's paper and pulp mills and fertilizer and explosive manufacturers. It was shipped entirely by tank car, each car held 26 tons. On completion of the plant, the entire production of 40 tons every 24 hours was already contracted for. The plant was slated for an immediate $6 million dollar expansion that would increase production by half. (TNT 10-19-1952)

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

Exterior of new anhydrous ammonia plant at Hooker Electrochemical, completed in May of 1952. Ammonia in gaseous form is composed of three parts of hydrogen to one of nitrogen. In the plant, the hydrogen and nitrogen are mixed in the proper proportion, subjected to 5,000 pounds to a square inch pressure and then sent to a converter and combined to make ammonia. The ammonia is placed in storage tanks outside the plant to await shipment by tank car. (TNT 10-19-1952)

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

Tacoma works rectifier station addition, Kaiser Aluminum. Other side of building with plant and yard on right, Dodge truck lower left. The plant underwent an expansion and modernization program, beginning in 1952, to increase production. Construction in the expansion program included an extension to the rectifier station building. The rectifier station is where power is converted from alternating to direct current.

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Dodge trucks; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;