Laying of first keel at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation. Governor Clarence Martin, center, Seattle Mayor Arthur Langlie, 2nd from right, and Tacoma Mayor J. J. Kaufman, far right, with other dignitaries attended the March 5, 1940 event. (T. Times)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Martin, Clarence D.--1887-1955; Governors; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Mayors--Seattle; Kaufman, Joseph J., Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Laying of first keel at Tacoma-Seattle Shipbuilding Corporation. Group of 10 women dressed in fur-trimmed coats and hats. (T. Times)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Group picture at the Northern Pacific Railroad roundhouse. Roundhouse employees standing on or in front of train engine w/A.A. Huston, Roundhouse Foreman

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma)--People; Railroad locomotives;

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation baseball team at Midland; taken on May 26, 1940. (filed with Argentum)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma)--Employees; Baseball players--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Pouring of metal at the Atlas Foundry. Men with cigarettes clamped in their teeth work the machinery that pours molten metal into a container. With America's entry into World War II just around the corner, production in metal would have been stepped up.

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma);

Workers stand outside the gates of the Columbia Powder Co. in Frederickson rather than reporting to work on the morning of December 2, 1940. Much of the plant had been leveled when, at 7:11a.m., 2,000 pounds of dynamite exploded in the mixing shed of the plant. Four plant employees were killed, but the time of the explosion prevented a greater loss of life. A crew of 65 was due to report to work at 8 a.m. Plant employees would be out of work until the beginning of the year as the mixing plant furnished the raw materials needed for the other plant processes. (T. Times 12/2/1940, pg. 1)

Industrial facilities--Frederickson; Nitrates; Chemical industry--Frederickson; Explosions--Frederickson; Disasters--Frederickson; Columbia Powder Co. (Frederickson);

St. Paul and Tacoma Lumber Company. Men work logs in sawmill. (T. Times)

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Logs; Saws;

ca. 1940. Pennsylvania Salt Mfg. Co. boiler at chemical plant located in industrial Tideflats. This photograph was taken circa 1940.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Boilers; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Views of Atlas Foundry and Machine Company looking south from hill above Nalley Valley. [Also dated 08-26-1941]

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1940-1950;

By July of 1941, when this photograph was taken, the sprawling Atlas Foundry had already been located at South 30th and Wilkeson Streets for almost 40 years. Their complex of buildings was located between Center Street (the road showing at the bottom) and South Tacoma Way in the Center Street Industrial District at the east end of "Nalley's Valley". The Atlas Foundry was built right next to the Northern Pacific Rail Road tracks which ran past their north side. The dirt road going up the hill at left-center is Wilkeson Street. [Also dated 08-26-1941]

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Laying of destroyer keel for "Hull #3," to be built at Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) Shipbuilding Corporation, Seattle facility.

Boat & ship industry--Seattle; World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Seattle; Hoisting machinery;

Cheney Lumber Mill at Chehalis.

Cheney Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Chehalis; Logs;

Launching of the Cape Alva at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. on August 1, 1940. Cape Alva of Tacoma was the name given to the first vessel launched at the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation. The ship was the largest Tacoma-built vessel since World War I and was the first of 5 merchant ships. She was built in near record time and launched four months after the keel was laid. The 416-foot motorship was named for the promontory of land which lies 20 miles south of Cape Flattery on the Washington seacoast. It is the site of the Ozette Indian Reservation. (T. Times 7/18/1940, pg. 1) TPL-8801

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

Employees of the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. pose proudly prior to the launch of their second vessel, the Cape Flattery. The Cape Flattery was the second of five contracted vessels. It was named after the location of the most northwestern United States lighthouse, where the Puget Sound joins the sea. Workers were understandably proud, the vessel was built in record time.

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

Launch of Seattle Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. Hull #3, the Cape Cleare. The launch was held November 29, 1940 and was not open to the public. The Cape Cleare was the 3rd of a quintet of 415 foot merchant motorships contracted by the U.S. Maritime Commission. All five would be identical cargo vessels with room for eight passengers plus a crew of 40, built at a cost of $2, 125,00 each. The ultra modern vessels were welded steel throughout. The keel for third vessel was laid August 7th and it was scheduled for completion late in February. The Cape Cleare was named after a prominent headland in Alaska. Mrs. William E. Boeing was the sponsor. TPL-1851 (T. Times 11/12/1940, pg. 1)

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

Close-up of chlorine tank cars for Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company. Three men on top of tank car adjusting equipment overhead in this photograph dated July 2, 1940.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad tank cars--Tacoma;

Man on platform of Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company chlorine tank car in this photograph dated July of 1940. Hylebos Waterway in background.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad tank cars--Tacoma; Hylebos Waterway (Tacoma);

Pacific Iron and Steel Works, Joseph E. Lansburg, 1602 Canal St. (now Portland Ave.) Manufacturing plant interior. Machinery stands ready in a spacious workshop. Large windows line the wall at one side.

Machine shops--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pacific Iron & Steel Works (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);

St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. had three logging camps located near Tacoma. St. Paul and Tacoma lumber company provides enough lumber and plywood to build 48 homes per day. They were one of the largest lumber companies in the Pacific Northwest. View of cleared land near one of the logging camps.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cutover lands; Logs; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma);

A. H. Cox & Co. at St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. logging operation at Puyallup. On a day to day basis St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber produces enough lumber and plywood to build 48 homes per day. View of sky line collapsible steel spar skidder and loader. A crew of nineteen men are needed to operate this machine and in an eight hour period 15 cars of logs are produced. Railroad tracks allow for easy transport.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Machinery; Logs; Woodcutting--Puyallup; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma);

A. H. Cox & Co. at St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. logging operation at Puyallup. On a day to day basis St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber produces enough lumber and plywood to build 48 homes per day. View of sky line collapsible steel spar skidder and loader. A crew of nineteen men are needed to operate this machine and in an eight hour period 15 cars of logs are produced. Railroad tracks allow for easy transport.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Machinery; Logs; Woodcutting--Puyallup; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma);

A. H. Cox & Co. at St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. logging operation at Puyallup. On a day to day basis St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber produces enough lumber and plywood to build 48 homes per day. View of logs being loaded onto log carriers by using the sky line collapsible steel spar skidder and loader. A crew of nineteen men are needed to operate this machine and in an eight hour period 15 cars of logs are produced. Railroad tracks allow for easy transport.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Machinery; Logs; Woodcutting--Puyallup; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma);

A. H. Cox & Co. at St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. logging operation at Puyallup. The first meeting of the stockholders of the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. took place on June 4, 1888. The first official officers were appointed at that time. View of five laborers in front of the Ollin-Chalmers machine.

Machinery; Laborers--Puyallup; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Food; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Loggers;

30,000 pounds of butter arrived in a Santa Fe refrigerated car for Franklin Food Stores in July 1946. This photograph was featured in an advertisement for Franklin Food Stores. With every fifty cent or more purchase of groceries or meats, you could buy one pound of "Fresh and Sweet, High 92 Score" butter for sixty nine cents (T. Times, 07/17/1946, p. 2).

Railroad cars--Tacoma; Advertisements--Tacoma; Advertising--Tacoma; Publicity; Butter; Franklin Food Stores (Tacoma);

Northern Pacific Railroad officials from Seattle and St. Paul, Minnesota came to Tacoma in May of 1946 to present the company's "president's safety plaque" to the workers at the Northern Pacific shops in South Tacoma, 5200 South Proctor St. The Tacoma shops had had an almost spotless safety record for over three years. In 1945 they recorded only one on-the-job injury; during the first four month of 1946 there were no injuries recorded. This safety record included all the departments at the Tacoma facility from locomotive and car repair, to the rolling mill and the wheel shop. The NP shops in Tacoma closed in July of 1974. (T. Times, 5/9/46, p. 5).

Railroad companies--Tacoma; Railroad shops & yards--Tacoma; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; Celebrations--Tacoma; Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma);

Northern Pacific Railway was awarded the President's Safety Plaque for 1945 for practicing the virtues of safety. View of ceremony with Northern Pacific shop employees gathered to celebrate the honors given to them for their outstanding record. Machine Shop No. 1 and Office buildings in background (T. Times, 5/9/46, p. 5). TPL-8021

Railroad companies--Tacoma; Railroad shops & yards--Tacoma; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; Celebrations--Tacoma; Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma);

Atlas Foundry & Machine Company. Cranes and lifts for Broderick & Bascomb wire rope. A crane picks up metal scrap using a large magnetized plate. Atlas Foundry worked on their shop layout to increase efficiency as they prepare for possibly unprecedented large volumes of business this year. The foundry manufactured steel, iron and brass castings. The company was established in 1899 on a ten acre site at 3012 South Wilkeson. They were capable of producing 80,000 pounds of steel per day. (T.Times, 8/28/1946, p.5)

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hoisting machinery;

Independent Insulation, exterior of plant. The factory was located near Fife and opened March 1946. The equipment used in the plant was developed by the staff over an experimental period covering the last two years. (TNT, 3/22/1946; 3/30/1947)

Factories--Fife--1940-1950; Independent Insulation, Inc. (Fife);

Martinac Shipbuilding. An ariel view of the Martinac Shipbuilding company. Two boats are currently under construction; Hull No. 110, a 100 foot tuna clipper and Hull No. 111, an 80 foot yacht being built for a local attorney. The company now has a crew of 50 regulars and are hoping to expand that number to 100 shortly. (T.Times, 8/30/1946, p.7) TPL-8910

J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Waterfronts; Piers & wharves--Tacoma--1940-1950;