A smiling Mrs. Joseph Madruga poses in front of the tuna seiner, "Conquest," on October 23, 1968. The 165-foot fishing vessel, built by J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corporation, was launched that day. Mrs. Madruga, clutching an enormous bouquet of long stem red roses, was the ship's sponsor and christened the "Conquest" with the traditional bottle of champagne. She was the wife of the boat's managing owner. Assisting Mrs. Madruga in the christening was Mrs. Richard Madruga, wife of the ship's captain. The Madruga brothers would fish for canneries in the San Pedro, California, area. Designed for a crew of 14, she would be delivered to her owner in early 1969. Photograph ordered by the J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (TNT10-24-68, A-3) TPL-9223

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Fishing boats--Tacoma--1960-1970; Madruga, Joseph--Family; Roses--Tacoma;

Launching. Champagne sprays across the bow of the "Kerri M" as she is christened on December 14, 1968, at the Port Industrial Yard. 10-year-old Kerri Medina, daughter of captain/owner Harold Medina, did the honors. The $1.8 million dollar fishing boat was scheduled for delivery to her San Diego owner early in 1969. The "Kerri M" was the last of a series of three federally subsidized tuna seiners built by Tacoma Boatbuilding. The U.S. Maritime Commission paid 48% of the cost under the Fishing Fleet Improvement Act of 1964. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding. (TNT 12-15-68, C-23) TPL-9221

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Medina, Kerri;

Launching. Proudly standing before the ship bearing her name, 10-year-old Kerri Medina cradles a bouquet of long stem red roses and a wrapped bottle of champagne. Kerri would be the fishing boat's sponsor and would christen the vessel's bow with the champagne. Standing next to Kerri is her sister, Judy; she probably acted as the sponsor's attendant. Kerri's father, Harold Medina of San Diego, was the ship's captain/owner. The 176-foot tuna seiner cost $1.8 million; nearly half of the cost was paid by the federal government under the Fishing Fleet Improvement Act of 1964. (TNT 12-15-68, C-23) TPL-9222

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Medina, Kerri; Roses--Tacoma;

Launching. One week after her sister-ship the "Cheryl Marie" slid down the ways at the Port Industrial Yard, the "Kerri M" was successfully launched at 11:30 a.m. on December 14, 1968. She was the last of a series of three federally subsidized tuna seiners built by Tacoma Boatbuilding, each costing $1.8 million. The 176-foot fishing boat was scheduled for delivery early in 1969 to owner Harold Medina of San Diego. The vessel was named after the 10-year-old daughter of the captain/owner. (TNT 12-15-68, C-23) TPL-9220

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Properly equipped with floatation devices, these four Girl Scouts were photographed on June 10, 1969, while aboard the rowboat, "Jon-Jon." The girls had set up their camping gear along the shores of the unidentified lake. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma-Pierce County Opportunity & Development, Inc.

Girl Scouts; Rowboats; Safety equipment;

In November of 1961, Shirley Fopp, the 1942 women's national combined champion and now head of the ski school sponsored by the VIP Sport Center in Lakewood, and her associate Bill Fundy, posed with skis and poles in front of the new VIP Sport Center tour bus. The bus is parked outside Ben's Trucks Parts on South Tacoma Way. VIP Sport Center was located in Villa Plaza and sold sporting goods and toys. Their new bus would make two trips a week to Snoqualmie Pass and two trips to White Pass. Riders could rent essential equipment from the store or presumably bring their own. The new bus service launched by E.L. Hagenau of VIP Sport Center provided air conditioning, radio, public address system, and was custom equipped with extra-large capacity for skis and overnight luggage. Shirley Fopp and Gretchen (Kunigk) Fraser went to Stadium H.S. together and spent their weekends skiing on Mt. Rainier. (TNT 11-30-61, p. A-22) TPL-9864

Buses--Tacoma--1960-1970; Skiers; Fopp, Shirley; Fundy, Bill;

Launching of Boeing hydrofoil High Point. On August 17, 1962, the 110-foot submarine chaser High Point was launched at Martinac Shipbuilding. Boeing had started to adapt many of the systems used in jet airplanes for hydrofoils. The High Point was one of two hydrofoils launched in 1962; the Little Squirt, a 20-foot boat propelled by waterjet, was the other. Standing before the PCH-1 is the longtime president of Boeing, William M. Allen and spouse, J.S. Martinac of Martinac Shipbuilding, Vice Adm. Homer N. Wallin, USN (Ret) and spouse. Mrs. Allen, clutching a large bouquet of long stemmed roses, was the vessel's sponsor. The Patrol Craft Hydrofoil No. 1 was named for the city in North Carolina. (www.boeing.com/history; TNT 8-18-62, A-1)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hydroplanes--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Allen, William M.; Martinac, J.S.; Wallin, Homer N.;

Truck #520 is loaded with logs and on its way to St. Regis' Tacoma plant in July, 1962. The harvested logs were taken from the company's tree farms in the Mineral-Morton area. Photograph ordered by Malcolm McGhie, industrial consultant, New York. This picture was used in the St. Regis Paper Co.'s 1962 Annual Report. (1962 St. Regis Paper Co. Annual Report, p. 25)

Trucks--1960-1970; Logs; St. Regis Paper Co. (Mineral);

ca. 1963. Tacoma at night. View of two ships docked at the City Waterway in 1963 with lights from downtown buildings making blurred reflections on the calm water. This was probably part of the 1963 Richards Studio stock file. TPL-2270

Ships--Tacoma; City Waterway (Tacoma); Reflections;

John Wallerich and his antique automobile were surrounded by fellow South Tacoma businessmen advertising the district's "Old Fashion Sidewalk Sale" to be held on July 19-20, 1963. The 1914 Chevrolet Royal Mail was parked outside of the new Food King supermarket at 3510 So. 56th St., near Puget Sound Avenue. Admiring the car were: Jake Schwitzer, Bob Briem, Wayne Hogan, Sgt. Carl Parker, Ray Harver, Fred Ludvig, Chuck Stanley, Lloyd Owings, Dr. M.A. Twiet, Mickey Hogan, and Bob Robinson. Photograph ordered by the News Tribune. (TNT 7-18-63, B-4)

Automobiles--Tacoma--1960-1970; Publicity photographs; Wallerich, John; Food King (Tacoma);

A Fairliner employee examines plans while surrounded by a flotilla of boats in late April of 1963. The pleasure craft rest, not on the floor, but on wheeled carts for easier maneuvering. Fairliner was a division of Western Boat Building Co.

Boats--Tacoma; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

An unidentified worker in hardhat leans against a truck which is parked near the runways of McChord Field on August 21, 1963. He may be an employee of Warren Northwest, a member of the Contractors of America Association. Photograph ordered by Blau-Knox, Mattoon, Illinois.

Trucks--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hats--1960-1970;

Helicopter descending. Chauncey L. Griggs, president of Export Pacific, Inc., was expecting two log buyers, one from France, to visit him in early June, 1964. The smiling passenger aboard the helicopter descending on company property on June 3, 1964, was one of them. Mr. Griggs was a member of a well known pioneer family and had been associated with the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. Export Pacific were lumber exporters located at 900 Milwaukee Waterway. Photograph ordered by Export Pacific, Inc. TPL-9644

Helicopters--Tacoma--1960-1970; Export Pacific Co. (Tacoma); Guests--Tacoma--1960-1970; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Tacoma Boat Building launched the last of a series of four minesweepers, the MS 301, on April 11, 1964. The tugboat pictured above was probably a Foss tug; Foss tugboats were customarily used in the launching of minesweepers built for the Navy by local shipbuilders. The tugs were used to help escort the much larger ships. Here the tug bucked gusty winds to push the new non-magnetic, wood-and-aluminum minesweeper to her outfitting dock on Sitcom Waterway. The 175' long vessel had twin 500 hp diesel engines and cost over $2,000,000. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (TNT 4-13-64, p. 30)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Tugboats--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Launching of the "Jeanette C." Built by Tacoma Boatbuilding, the tuna clipper "Jeanette C" was launched on June 6, 1967 at Tacoma Boatbuilding's Plant 2 in the Port Industrial Yard. View of lauching participants in front of the fishing boat, the second of four planned tuna seiners, and the sister ship to the 176-foot "Blue Pacific" previously launched on March 29th. 15-year-old Jeanette Caboz, daughter of skipper-to-be and part owner Manuel Caboz, holds a large bouquet of roses. She christened the ship that is named in her honor. Also pictured is Mrs. William Gillis who assisted Miss Caboz. Presiding at the launching was Tacoma Boat's president, Arnold J. Strom. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding. (TNT 6-6-67, p. 26, TNT 6-7-67, C-4) TPL-8857

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Caboz, Jeanette;

View from the 11th St. Bridge of the stern of the fishing vessel, the J.M. Martinac, as she is underway on July 18, 1967. Built by the Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., she was launched on March 27, 1967. The ship, piloted by Lou Brito, was headed for the San Diego area. This was the fifth tuna seiner built by Martinac for Capt. Brito. Photograph ordered by J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. TPL-9126

Fishing boats--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

The little tug, the Brynn Foss, trails after the newly launched towboat, the Claudia Foss, on February 24, 1968. The 80-foot vessel was built by Martinolich Shipbuilding for Foss Launch & Tug and slipped into the water at its Taylor Way yard. Her keel was laid on December 1, 1967. Delivery of the vessel was scheduled for April 1st. The Claudia Foss was the first of two 80-foot boats being built for Foss with the second, the Martha Foss, scheduled for a May 15, 1968, launching. She was named for Mrs. Duncan (Claudia) Campbell, daughter-in-law of Barbara Foss Campbell. (TNT 2-25-68, A-8)

Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tugboats--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Martinolich Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Foss Launch & Tug Co. (Tacoma);

Interiors of the sailboat, the Indra IV, ordered by Edward Benjamin of New Orleans. The pilot house as photographed on August 12, 1959. The controls and navigation equipment for the boat are on the right, the radio equipment on the left. A wide window looks out over the front of the boat. For exterior shots, see D122376, Image # 14 & 21.The boat was built by Western Boat Building. The 62-foot sailing craft contained all the latest technological equipment, including a depth finder, auto pilot, mobile telephone, radio and radar. She was designed to be the ultimate in speed, comfort and ease of sailing. (TNT 7/191/1959, pg. B-2; 7/22/1959, pg. 1)

Sailboats; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

August, 1959 sea trials of the large sailboat "The Indra IV" built by Western Boat Building Co. for Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Benjamin of New Orleans. The craft weighed less than 20 tons and carried over 1500 square feet of sails. The masts were hollow aluminum poles, with the main mast 79 feet high. The boat took 10 months to construct and carried the latest in technological equipment including a depth finder, auto pilot, radio telephone and mobile telephone, as well as radar. (TNT 7/19/1959, PG. B-2; 7/22/1959, PG. 1)

Sailboats; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Ship trials--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Esther Williams Girls in front of the Cotton residence, a large one-story home, at 402 - 160th St. in Spanaway. Sports cars in foreground are an Austin-Healey (right) and a MG. Jaguar roadster is at far right to the rear. Several admirers are seated on the steps to the home which was just up the road from Spanaway Lake. The Girls were in Tacoma as part of the publicity surrounding the Washington Sports Shop being selected as Tacoma's exclusive dealer for the "Esther Williams Living Pool." (TNT 8/2/1959, pg. A-10) (Additional information provided by a reader)

Sports cars--English; Publicity; Bathing beauties; Esther Williams Girls;

Ernie Grindley, advertising manager for Washington Sports Shop, stages publicity for the store by bringing the Esther Williams Girls to Tacoma. In addition to showing-off their swimsuits, the women are showcasing foreign automobiles--a Jaguar roadster, Austin-Healeys and MGs. The Washington Sports Shop had recently been selected as the exclusive Tacoma dealer of the Esther Williams Living Pool. (TNT 8/2/1959, pg. A-10)

Sports cars--English; Publicity; Bathing beauties; Esther Williams Girls; Washington Sports Shop (Tacoma); Sporting goods stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1906. A fleet of new Ford automobiles is lined up outside the Washington Automobile Co., 710-12 Pacific Ave., circa 1906. The firm, operated by W.W. Pickerill, was the first automobile dealership in Tacoma. Prior to being occupied by the Washington Automobile Co., the building had been the home of the Tacoma Athletic Club and also served later as the Odd Fellows Temple.

Ford automobile; Washington Automobile Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1903. Noted Northwest marine photographer Wilhelm Hester photographed the crew of the "Buckingham" circa 1903 with grain elevator A on Tacoma's waterfront in the background. The men were under the command of William Roberts and all were neatly dressed in suits. There was also one woman in the center of the group, perhaps a family member of one of the crew. Wilhelm Hester, a Seattle resident, had offices in Tacoma's Bernice Building at 1106-08 Pacific Ave. for several years in the first decade of the 20th century. He took photographs of ships and sailors on the Tacoma, Seattle and Port Blakely waterfronts. This ship was probably in port to pick up a cargo of flour.

Shipping--Tacoma--1900-1910; Cargo ships--Tacoma--1900-1910; Waterfronts--Tacoma--1900-1910; Grain elevators--Tacoma--1900-1910;

ca. 1915. This 43-foot tug with 14-foot beam, the Foss #12, was constructed by Gig Harbor designer/builder Robert Crawford and entered service in 1914. She was the first Foss vessel planned and ordered exclusively for towing. #12 handled so well that she was also used as a steamer assist vessel and became the area's first motorized fireboat. With a 75 horsepower gas engine, she was capable of pumping 1,000 gallons of water per minute. #12 was hired as the City of Tacoma's fireboat in 1915, a service for which Foss was paid nearly $3,000 a year. The vessel was a favored one and was skippered by Henry and Drew Foss and later by Capt."Bill" Case. She faithfully served the company as a steady workhorse until 1966. Then on July 4, 1967, the hull was towed out into the Bay and set afire as part of the celebration of the Nation's 191st year of Independence. Foss #12 literally went out in a blaze of glory. (photograph courtesy of the William T. Case collection) (Johnson & Skalley: "Foss: A Living Legend;" Skalley: "Foss: Ninety Years of Towboating" )

Case, William T.--Associated objects; Fireboats; Foss Launch & Tug Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1920s. Buses of the Sumner Tacoma Stage Co. parked in front of the bus depot on Main St. and Ryan Ave. in Sumner, Washington in the 1920's. The bus company was owned by Peter "P.O." Conlon and his brother John W. Conlon. The people who can be identified in this picture are (l to r) Pete Gratzer, Frank Conlon, Peter Conlon, John W.Conlon, Charley Marquardt, and Mac Wilson. The small buses at the far right in the picture were tourist buses that were used to take riders to Wilkeson and Carbonado, Washington. (Photograph courtesy of the Jack Conlon collection)

Buses--Sumner; Bus drivers--Sumner; Sumner Tacoma Stage Co. (Sumner); Gratzer, Pete; Conlon, Frank; Conlon, Peter; Conlon, John W.; Marquardt, Charley; Wilson, Mac;

ca. 1921. The steamship "Indianapolis," one of two ships used in the Seattle to Tacoma steamship passenger service, docked at the Municipal Dock. The dock was located on the City Waterway (now the Thea Foss Waterway.) The ships would dock with their bows headed up the channel. The services of a tug would be required to turn the bow of the ships around to head back to Seattle. The Foss #12 and its captain William T. Case were assigned this duty. The "Indianapolis" was launched on May 5, 1904 as a Great Lakes steamship. Her inability to serve the large holiday crowds prompted her sale to the Puget Sound Navigation Co. in October of 1905. The vessel travelled around the Cape and began her new run in April of 1906. She served as a passenger transport from 1906-1938. She was converted in 1933 to a car ferry and scrapped in 1939. (photograph courtesy of the William T. Case collection) ("Ferryboats" by M.S. Kline and G.A. Bayless; "Puget Sound Ferries" Carolyn Neal & Thomas Kilday Janus)

Steamboats--Tacoma--1920-1930; Puget Sound Navigation Co. (Tacoma); Ferries--Tacoma--1920-1930; Marine terminals--Tacoma;

Officers of the dirigible USS Shenandoah stand in front of the mooring mast at Camp Lewis in October, 1924. The Shenandoah was the first rigid airship built on US soil. It was first airborne in September of 1922, one of a proposed fleet of German Zeppelin-like lighter than air craft. It came to a tragic end in September of 1925 when it broke apart during a thunderstorm, killing 14.

Military air pilots; Airships; Mooring masts;

Officers and crew of the dirigible "Shenandoah" pose in front of the mooring mast at Camp Lewis in October of 1924. The mooring mast was constructed by the Navy for this two day visit. The Shenandoah was the first rigid airship built in America. Commissioned by the Navy, it was a copy of the German Zeppelin that so impressed our military in World War 1. The Shenandoah was first airborne in 1922. It came to a tragic end in September of 1925 when it broke apart in a thunderstorm with 43 persons aboard, killing 14.

Military air pilots; Airships; Mooring masts;

Donna Francisca. The 'bald-headed' four masted steel barque 'Donna Francisca', 2277 tons, under sail. This ship is 'Jubilee-rigged' [steel 4 mast barque, 2277 tons. ON99059. 277.5 x 42.0 x 24.5. Built 1892 (4) Russell and Co. Greenock. Owners: J Hayes and Co. registered London. Sold 1910 and renamed Herbert and registered in Germany, renamed Lemkenhafen in 1922 and was wrecked in 1924. One of the early ships to be fitted with water ballast tanks. State Library of South Australia, B 3456, PRG 1218/3 or OH 456/1, Digital Collections, South Australiana Collection, Photographs, A. d. Edwardes Collection, https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/PRG+1373/1/81

Sailing ships;

Crompton, The four masted steel barque 'Crompton', 2810 tons, under sail [steel 4 mast barque, 2810 tons, ON97800, 310.0 x 45.3 x 24.9. Built 1890 (7) T. Royden and Sons Liverpool. Owners Steel Sailing Ship Crompton Co. MacVicar, Marshall and Co. registered Liverpool. State Library of South Australia, B 3456, PRG 1218/3 or OH 456/1, Digital Collections, South Australiana Collection, Photographs, A. d. Edwardes Collection, https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/PRG+1373/6/67

Sailing ships; barks; barques;