Coverage of twin launchings at McNeil Island. Close view of decorated wooden vessel, one of two sister tugs, waiting to be sent down the ways on June 17, 1943. Many spectators lean eagerly over the railings overlooking the ship. The tugs were built by prison labor. (T.Times 6-18-1943, p. 1,3-alt. photo)

Launchings--McNeil Island; Boat & ship industry--McNeil Island; Tugboats--McNeil Island;

Magic Foods Store. Chef Ray Seger and another employee at work in the commercial kitchen both wearing white uniforms. The woman is cutting meat from a large roast and the man is cutting potatoes. Large electric ovens are seen behind them. This is a new plant preparing frozen, ready cooked dishes. (T.Times, 7/30/1943, p.11)

Food industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Magic Foods, Inc. (Tacoma);

ca. 1943. Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company, formerly Tacoma Electrochemical Company. Crowd gathered for star award ceremony outside office building, a one-story brick building with weather vane on roof. Photograph was taken circa 1943.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma)--Employees; Crowds--Tacoma--1940-1950; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1943. Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company, formerly Tacoma Electrochemical Company. Large crowd including employees watches as flags are raised during star award ceremony occurring circa 1943.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma)--Employees; Crowds--Tacoma--1940-1950; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Flags--United States;

Sperry Flour Co. Sperry Flour Co. was the largest milling organization in the West. The Tacoma plant produces 5,000 barrels per day of flour, which allows for large amounts to get sent throughout the world. Exterior view of plant.

Flour & meal industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma);

The U.S. Army tug ST-472 was launched by Pacific Boat Building Co. on March 5, 1944. The wood ship is pictured above sliding down the ways.

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tugboats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pacific Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

Sea Boy launching. Sea Boy is the 10th boat built and the 9th launched from the Puget Sound Boatbuilding Corp. site. It is the fourth seine boat built at this shipyard. View of Sea Boy, an 85 ft. sardine boat being launched into City Waterway (T. Times, 7/1/44, p. 4). TPL-8865

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma; Puget Sound Boat Building Corp. (Tacoma);

This is the newly launched Tug ST-472 on March 5, 1944. She was built by Pacific Boat Building Co. of Tacoma for the U.S. Army.

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tugboats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pacific Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

Pacific Carbide shot of screen pulled loose. In 1943, the Pacific Carbide & Alloys Co. plant was opened here because of cheap water transportation, an abundance of low cost water in Tacoma and cheap electricity. The plant was part of a defense plant corporation project. View of plant machinery, Link-Belt Company.

Coke industry--Tacoma; Pacific Carbide & Alloys Co. (Tacoma);

Pacific Carbide exterior and interior for record. Interior view of the Pacific Carbide & Alloys Co. plant a few days after plant was shut down. Congressman Coffee intends to write a letter to R. R. Sayre of the Bureau of Mines, opposing the closing of this plant.

Coke industry--Tacoma; Pacific Carbide & Alloys Co. (Tacoma);

Pacific Carbide exterior and interior for record. The Pacific Carbide & Alloys Co. was shut down due to recent explosions in a Tacoma shipyard that uses carbide products. The explosions are not linked to plant, but the War Production Board decided to shut down this carbide producing plant. Interior view of production area in plant.

Coke industry--Tacoma; Pacific Carbide & Alloys Co. (Tacoma);

In 1922 the Henry Mill & Timber Comany bought 26 acres of land where the old Tacoma Mill Company used to stand to build a new company. The Henry Mill & Timber Company began in July 1925. On June 15, 1942 a major fire destroyed most of the plant. Only the planing mill and lumber piles were saved. When this picture was taken in 1944, they were still in the process of re-building. In 1945 the company was bought out by the Tacoma Lumber Fabricating Company.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trusses--Tacoma; Structural frames--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma; Henry Mill & Timber Co. (Tacoma);

Pictures of assembly line at Nelson Boiler for Pacific Iron & Steel. Nelson Boiler Co. strengthened the company by consolidating with the iron and steel industry. They relocated into expanded facilities in order to fill Navy orders for steel barges. Interior view of covered plant while laborers are working.

Steel industry--Tacoma; Iron & steel workers--Tacoma; Defense industry--Tacoma; Nelson Boiler Co. (Tacoma);

Minnie (Mrs. John) Flintoff smiled at the camera above her enormous bouquet of roses after sponsoring the launch of the minesweeper YMS 244 on December 18, 1942. Her husband John was the outfitting foreman at Tacoma Boat Building Co. She posed next to her daughter Dorothy. The Flintoff family resided at 1112 So. Oakes and included John Jr. and Bentley, who was serving with the US Air Corps. (T. Times 12/23/1942, pg. 16)

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Flintoff, Minnie; Flintoff, Dorothy; Flintoff, John--Family;

Launching of "Pride of America" at Peterson Boat Building in September of 1942.

Peterson Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Truck loaded with fuel wood overturned by Municipal Belt Line train engine number 1627 on 11th Street on January 6, 1943. Small crowd of men gathered around accident site near Tacoma Lumber Co. and Birchfield Boiler. The collision between the train and the small Lotan Fuel Co. truck did not result in any injuries. Estimated damages were not listed at the time of the Tacoma Times brief article dated January 7, 1943. (T.Times, 1-7-43, p. 6)

Railroad accidents--Tacoma; Municipal Belt Line (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lotan Fuel Co. (Tacoma);

During WWII many of the businesses in Tacoma/Pierce County sponsored competitive sports teams for their employees. The Sea-Tac (Seattle Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation) Shipyard All-Stars, a Pierce County Inter-League basketball team, were photographed at the Tacoma Boys Club in January of 1943. The All-Stars included former prep and college stars and several full blooded Native Americans. Pictured in the front row, left to right, are Vic Lyon, Frank Ferrians, Verne Goodwin, Pete Hilt, Phil Red Eagle, Bob Ness and Pat Piper. Upper row, left to right, are Ron Ferrians, Ernie Bighorn, Mason Longmire (mgr.), Dip Loveland, Clarence Gottgetreu and Stan Buckhalter. (T.Times 2/5/1943, pg. 14-alt. photograph)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma)--People; Basketball players--Tacoma--1940-1950; World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Tacoma; Indigenous peoples--Washington;

Traffic scenes at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation. Nearly empty street, two automobiles, several pedestrians. Ordered by General Insurance Company.

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--War work--Tacoma; Automobiles--1940-1950; Traffic congestion--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mass transit--Tacoma--1940-1950; Buses--Tacoma--1940-1950;

WWII saw thousands employed at the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation, making it the area's largest employer. The changing of shifts meant that the roadways were packed with employees on the move. This was a typical traffic scene in August of 1942 where shipyard workers are scurrying to the many buses parked at the shipyard. To help alleviate the traffic congestion caused by private automobiles, a fleet of mass transit busses was supplied to the shipyards, stopping some of the traffic nightmares. Busses are marked 6th Ave., Kay Street, Eleventh St., McKinley Ave., Manitou and College, among other route names. Ordered by General Insurance Company.

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--War work--Tacoma; Automobiles--1940-1950; Traffic congestion--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mass transit--Tacoma--1940-1950; Buses--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Traffic scenes at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation. Parking lot full of buses, many people walking. Ordered by General Insurance Company.

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--War work--Tacoma; Automobiles--1940-1950; Traffic congestion--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mass transit--Tacoma--1940-1950; Buses--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Traffic scenes at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation near Hooker Chemical Company. Parking lot full of buses, many people walking. Ordered by General Insurance Company.

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--War work--Tacoma; Automobiles--1940-1950; Traffic congestion--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mass transit--Tacoma--1940-1950; Buses--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In September of 1944, Juanita Warnell helped christen a new ship at the Puget Sound Boatbuilding Corporation, 820 East D Street. During WWII Puget Sound Boatbuilding completed a string of ocean going tugs for the U.S. Army. Between government contracts they built purse seiners. They went out of business in the late 1950s.

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound Boat Building Corp. (Tacoma); Warnell, Juanita

Launching party. Acting mayor Val Fawcett (third from left in bow tie) was present for the christening and blessing of the tuna boat, "American Girl," built by Petrich Shipbuilding. The event occurred on Sunday, July 23, 1944, at Old Town dock. Father Henry J. Schultheis of Bellarmine High gave the blessing as requested by the ship's co-owners, Joe Alves and Joe Machado. Mr. Machado at age 23 was one of the youngest skippers in the fishing business. His wife Lucille was the ship's sponsor. Also present were representatives of Petrich Shipbuilding including Harvey Petrich and his father Martin. The fishing boat, "American Girl, " was 106-feet long, completely refrigerated and had a capacity of 180 tons of tuna. ALBUM 14. (TNT 7-24-44, p. 1-article; T.Times 7-24-44, p. 2-article)

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Schultheis, Henry J.; Machado, Joe; Alves, Joe; Machado, Lucille; Petrich Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Petrich, Martin;

Henry Mill test assembly of truss. Henry Mill & Timber Co. specialized in pre-fabricated lumber products. They were a leader in the industry and received many government contracts. Exterior view of group examining assembly of truss. TPL-6661

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;Trusses--Tacoma; Henry Mill & Timber Co. (Tacoma);

General Mills, South Tacoma, Farm service Division. A granary, feed mill, wholesale and retail feed and farm supply store buildings are shown. Cars are parked along the storage building.

General Mills, Inc., Farm Service Division (Tacoma); Agricultural facilities--Tacoma;

This photograph, taken in December 1943, shows the sales office and loading dock of the General Mills, Inc. Farm Services Division at 5440-48 So. Washington St. in South Tacoma. The old brick grain wherehouse was built before 1908 by W.H. Kenworthy to take advantage of the proximity of this area to the Northern Pacific Shops were Mr. Kenworthy had worked before opening the granary. Part of the Kenworthy complex is currently used by X-Cel Feed Inc. One of the other building recently opened at the Brickyard Bar &Grill. TPL-6516

General Mills, Inc., Farm Service Division (Tacoma); Agricultural facilities--Tacoma;

Workers at Northern Pacific Railroad's South Tacoma shops during Wendell Willkie's visit. Mr. Willkie was the Republican candidate for President in 1940. (T. Times)

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Railroad employees; Political campaigns; Presidential elections;

Cape Flattery and Cape Alava, vessels 1 & 2 to be built at the new Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co., pictured docked next to each other. The cargo motorships were the first two of the "C-1" type to be launched. Hull #3 would be launched in late November. The ships were 413 feet long, 5,000 gross tons and carried two 4,000 horsepower diesel engines, enabling them to reach a sea speed of 14 1/2 knots. The ship yard was the recent recipient of a number of vessel contracts and now employed 1200 men on two shifts.

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Progress photograph of Hull #3 at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. The shipyard was commissioned to build a total of five merchant ships. Two, the Cape Flattery and Cape Alava, had already been launched. TPL-1854

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Large crane at the Seattle Tacoma shipyards. Their first launch, Cape Flattery, is in the background. The shipyard started in business with an order for five identical 415 foot cargo ships from the U.S. Maritime Commission. They would see their business quickly increase as America geared up for war. The company had one plant in Tacoma and one in Seattle.

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;