New ways and dry dock shelter were being built at Peterson Boatbuilding, 223 East F St. This small shipyard was founded by father and son George and John Peterson and specialized in fishing boats. It adjoined the Foss yard at 225 East F St. on the Middle Waterway. Both companies relocated to this location at about the same time.

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

Progress photos of the construction of the dry dock and ways at Peterson Boat Building in April of 1943.

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

Initiation of Seattle Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation employees at Elk's Club. Man on stage playing accordion. [Also dated 03-29-1943]

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

Coverage of twin launching at McNeil. Boat with flags strung from bow to bow moored in water next to wharf. Markings indicate that it was a U.S. Army tugboat, either T-88 or T-89, both of which were launched at McNeil on June 17, 1943. Both tugs were 65-ft. long with 16-ft beams. Douglas fir was used for everything except stem, sternposts and trim. The tugs were powered by Diesel engines. They were built for the Army Transport Service by McNeil Island inmates. (T.Times 6-18-1943, p. 1,3- alt. photo)

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

Coverage of twin launchings at McNeil Island. Vessel in water adjacent to wharf with a one-story building on it. 100 guests from the Mainland and proud inmate builders celebrated the launching of two 65-ft. tugboats built for the U.S. Army on June 17, 1943. WWII saw the revival of the shipbuilding program on McNeil which had seen the last ship constructed there by inmates way back in 1907. By June of 1943, three ships had been launched and of the three, one delivered to the Army in November of 1942. (T.Times 6-18-1943, p. 1,3-various photographs)

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

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;

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);

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;

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;

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;

Hundreds watched on August 1, 1940 as the Cape Alva slid down the ways at the Seattle- Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation plant in Tacoma. Originally known simply as Hull #1, the Cape Alva, a freight motorship, was the first vessel to be launched by the Sea-Tac Shipbuilding Co. at their Tacoma site. She was also Tacoma's first major motorship launching in 17 years. The cost of the big steel craft was $2,127,000. She was 416 feet long and 60 feet wide with two 4,000 Horsepower diesel engines and a single four bladed propeller. Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding was located at 100 Alexander Avenue on the site of the old Todd Shipyards. The Cape Alva was sold to a private concern in 1948 and scrapped in 1970. (T. Times 7/18/1940, pg. 1; 7/23/1940, pg. 2)

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

Sea Boy launching. An 85 ft. sardine boat built by Puget Sound Boatbuilding Corp for Bill and Ted Healy was launched into Puget Sound on July 1st. This event was sponsored by Mary Klemme. View of William Healy, Iris Healy, Mary Klemme, Marguerite Healy and Theodore Healy at the Sea Boy launching (T. Times, 7/1/44, p. 4).

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Healy, Bill--Family; Healy, Ted--Family;

Tacoma Boat Facilities. Interior of Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. plant. Cubicle for parts are shown on left side of this workshop. TPL-6652

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Boat Facilities. Interior of Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. plant. Elaborate machinery used for boatbuilding enabled the company to produce minesweepers for the war effort. TPL-6649

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Boat Facilities. Exterior of Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. A glimpse of the YMS minesweeper can be seen on the right, Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. received a contract for $700,000 for each of the minesweepers built at this time. TPL-6650

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Government vessels--Tacoma;

Puget Sound Boat. Puget Sound Boatbuilding Corp. gained recognition for their fishing boats and were rated among the top boat builders in Tacoma. They built many vessels for the Army Transportation Division as well. Interior view of boat building plant at Puget Sound Boatbuilding Corp. TPL-8864

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

Men with moose killed in Chilcotin District, Peterson Boat, George Peterson. Arne Strom and H.D. Maxwell were two of the six hunters that had gone on a 10-day hunting trip with George Peterson to British Columbia. They are seen here with the 3 moose and one deer hung in one of the buildings at Peterson Boat Building. George Peterson and his friends had already brought in three moose during this season. See D45,791-2. (TNT, 11/27/1949,p.B11)

Peterson Boat Building Co. (Tacoma)--Buildings; Hunting--Washington (State); Moose hunting--Tacoma--1940-1950; Moose; Dead animals; Hunting trophies; Deer hunting--Tacoma--1940-1950; Deer;

Men with moose killed in Chilcotin District, Peterson Boat, George Peterson. Six Tacoma nimrods found good hunting in British Columbia around the Williams Lake area and brougnt home three moose and a deer as evidence. The moose, with an average spread of from 35 to 40 inches, were bagged the first day out on a 10-day jaunt. The hunters are, L-R, George Peterson, Reuben C. Carlson, Arne Strom, H.D. Maxwell, Thomas Myers and Lewis Boen. Thomas Myers owned and operated J.P. Myers Fuel in Tacoma, Gig Harbor Sand and Gravel in Gig Harbor, and Bremerton Lines (a bus service operating between Bremerton and Tacoma). (TNT, 11/27/1949, p.B-11)

Peterson Boat Building Co. (Tacoma)--Buildings; Hunting--Washington (State); Moose hunting--Tacoma--1940-1950; Moose; Hunting trophies; Deer hunting--Tacoma--1940-1950; Deer; Peterson, George; Carlson, R.C.; Strom, Arne; Maxwell, Horace D.;

Dignitaries pose during the launching of the Hortensia-Bertin at Tacoma Boat Building. She would contain the most modern of navigational and communication equipment with radiophone and code instruments, Northern Radio sending set and National receiver. She would also be equiped with a 181 h.p. Chrysler-powered Western "Fairliner' bait-tender which was also equipped with a radiotelephone. The two gentlemen on the left are Haldor Dahl and Arne Strom, owners of Tacoma Boat. Mrs. Arthur DeFever of San Pedro, California, is third from the right holding long-stemmed roses. She was the wife of the boat's architect and sponsor of at the launching. Ordered by C.F.A. Mann. (TNT, 1/5/1950, p.21; Pacific Fisherman, April 1950, p.26; Pacific Fisherman October 1950, p.12) TPL-9025

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Dahl, Haldor; Strom, Arne;