Opening of Stauffer Chemical Company. Dignitaries attending the opening of the Tacoma plant were given an opportunity to view the bag filling operations. Once a bag was filled at an upper level it was sewn shut and delivered to workers via a conveyor system. Bags were stacked on pallets and several bags are seen stacked against the far wall. Ordered by Wilson & George Meyer & Company.

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

Opening of Stauffer Chemical Company. The exterior of the loading dock can be seen where a truck from the Tacoma Feed Company has backed in for loading. Dignitaries are being given a tour of the facilities. A railroad car sits next to the building and railroad tracks are seen crossing the yard. Materials could be delivered to and from the plant easliy. Ordered by Wilson & George Meyer & Company.

Stauffer Chemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma; Railroad tracks--Tacoma;

Directors' Meeting, Hooker Chemical Company. Attendees of the Hooker Chemical Company's directors meeting stand on a whart in front of a moored boat. This may be the company dock on the Hylebos Waterway. Plant manager John D. Rue has been identified as the third man from the left in back row. Plant superintendent A.J. Rosengarth is the fifth from left, back row.

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

Hundreds of electrolytic cells, in row after row, work 24 hours a day at Hooker Electrochemical producing the basic ingredients of all Hooker Chemicals. In each of the Hooker cells, under the action of direct electric current, salt and water are broken down into a constant flow of caustic soda, chlorine, and hydrogen. Many other large producers of chlorine were licensed to use the Hooker cels in their own plants. Thus Hooker Cells, continually improved in design and efficiency, accounted for nearly half of all the chlorine produced in the United States. (Hooker Electrochemical Company Annual Report, 1950)

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

Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. Pig aluminum, stacked and banded, is being loaded onto railroad cars for transportation to Kaiser's Trentwood, Wa. rolling mill to be made into a finished product. The Tacoma plant was an aluminum reduction facility. It produced the pig aluminum from treated ore. Each "pig" weighs 50 pounds and contains higher that 99% pure aluminum. The plant capacity in 1953 was 64 1/2 million pounds a year. (TNT 9/5/1955, pg. C-8)

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

A Hooker Electrochemical Co. employee carefully monitors the gauges that demonstrate the company's automatic bleach liquor system on November 30, 1955. Hooker may have set up this equipment for a show of some kind. The apparatus is safely protected from the elements by a prefabricated patio cover. Photograph ordered by Hooker Electrochemical.

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

Reichhold Chemicals was constructing a new plant in the Tideflats in early 1956. It was a national company, based in White Plains, New York. A group of five railway employees stand in front of the Tacoma Belt Line #905 engine and boxcars. Reichhold would have rail transport directly from its plant, facilitating delivery of its products. Photograph ordered by Reichhold Chemicals, Inc.

Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. (Tacoma); Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1956. Kaiser Aluminum plant. The Tacoma plant was located on the Tideflats, about 5 miles north of downtown Tacoma. Its proximity to the Bonneville Power Administration made it the perfect location for producing aluminum from ore by electrolysis. Dissolved in solution in long lines of reductions cells ("pots"), alumina is subjected to electrical current. Chemicals recombine, aluminum separates from its oxygen and settles as pure metal. Tacoma was part of a "mill to mill" operation, the alumina was shipped by rail in from Baton Rouge, La., and the finished aluminum was railed out to Kaiser's Trentwood rolling mill 300 miles to the East. (Kaiser Aluminum News, August 1956)

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

ca. 1956. Kaiser Aluminum plant. The Tacoma plant was a reduction plant, where treated ore (alumina) was subjected to an electrical current, dividing the oxygen from the pure metal (aluminum.) The plant employed approximately 500 workers, who worked on a 24 hour, around the clock basis. Its payroll was over $2,000,000 a year, and it purchased more than $1,300,000 of Northwest materials, supplies and services in a year. It was part of the Kaiser Industries conglomerate founded by Henry J. Kaiser, a diverse group of businesses that included paving, dam construction, ship building, the production of aluminum, steel, cement and other building materials, automobile production and Kaiser foundation heath care. (Kaiser Aluminum News, August 1956 and "The Kaiser Story")

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

This aerial view of Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company shows their building complex, 2901 Taylor Way, as it appeared in July 1956. Storage tanks dot the area around the plant and one of the Pennwalt barges can be seen being maneuvered to the dock by two tugs. In 1928, the eastern firm was invited to build a caustic soda and liquid chlorine plant on 14 acres of filled ground adjacent to the Hylebos Waterway. The plant opened the following year as Tacoma ElectroChemical Company. As the parent firm diversified the plants' chemical production, it became known as Pennsalt, and then Pennwalt. Pennwalt Corp. was taken over by Elf-Atochem in 1990. ("South on the Sound" by Murray Morgan)

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

Exterior view of Barthel Chemical Construction Company. Barthel Chemical was actually listed as an chemical engineering firm in the 1953 City Directory which was owned and operated by Adolph Barthel. The business was located in the Tideflats at 2434 E. 11th, next door to McKenzie Fuel. Barthel Chemical worked with brick and tile and rubber pipe linings to create acid and alkali-proof construction materials. They were also the first rubber vulcanizing plant in the Pacific Northwest.

Barthel Chemical Construction Co. (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--Tacoma;

Pennsalt; Plant & employees for magazine. As the western headquarters for Pennsylvania Salt, the Tacoma plant also employed a large office staff. This group may have been attached to the sales department. The chemicals produced at Pennsalt were sold mainly to pulp, paper, plywood and soap manufacturers.

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

Kaiser Aluminum Chemical Plant at Trentwood, near Spokane. The Trentwood aluminum plate and sheet rolling mill covered 53 acres, the largest facility of its kind in the west. Almost all metal produced in Tacoma was shipped by rail to Trentwood. The machine pictured was, in 1953, the world's largest aluminum plate stretcher. The giant stretcher permitted the company to furnish aircraft and other industries with stretched aluminum plates in sizes never before available.

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

Hooker Electrochemical Company. Railroad barge and tug. Barge loaded with Hooker chemical tanks. Night scene of men connecting large hose lines which are spread along wharf and onto tank cars.

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

Hooker Chemical operations. A Hooker Chemical Co. employee appears to be monitoring the gauge on the large machinery outside the company plant in October, 1964. Photograph ordered by Hooker Chemical Co. for annual report.

Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1960-1970; Machinery;

Arms akimbo, this barefoot model stretches on tiptoes during a November 18, 1955, Kaiser Aluminum photo shoot. Kaiser employed models for their safety programs. This young model is only wearing a brief swimsuit although she is wearing a regulation Kaiser hard hat. Photograph ordered by Kaiser Aluminum.

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

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;

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;

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;

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. 1932. Hooker Electrochemical Company, machine room, circa 1932. View from above floor area. (filed with Argentum)

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

Industrial sections of the City of Tacoma. Hooker Electrochemical Company. Artistic exposure of brick buildings framed by the massive wrought iron gates of the plant. The plant was built on the site of the old Foundation Shipyard and opened in February of 1929. Photograph was taken on February 15, 1938, nearly nine years from its establishment.

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

Hooker Chemical Co. operations. Although this resembles mounds of snow reflected in a clear pool of water, the piles are actually made of salt. Hooker Chemical Co. used tons of salt in their daily operations. A Hooker employee is pictured above in October of 1964 spraying water onto the salt piles. ALBUM 15.

Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Hooker Chemical Co. operations. View of brick one-story office for Hooker Chemical Co. in October, 1964. Unlike many faceless concrete industrial facilities, the older plant buildings were built in the Georgian style. Even the newer structures, such as the office building above, retained a classic facade. The Hooker plant was opened on February 16, 1929. It retained the Hooker name until 1982 when it changed its name to Occidental Chemical Corp. Photograph ordered by Hooker Chemical for annual report.

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;

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);

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;