ca. 1931. Two men in the quality control lab at Tacoma Grain Company do chemical tests on the flour being produced. A bag of Centennial silk-sfted flour sits on the lab bench.

Tacoma Grain Co. (Tacoma); Flour & meal industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Grain industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Laboratories--Tacoma--1930-1940

In 1900 Puget Sound Flouring Company was turning out flour on the waterfront between North 8th and 10th Streets. Later in the century General Mills (Sperry Division) bought up the Puget Sound company and maintained the main mill on the waterfront. A farm service division was located at 5446 South Washington. Here large bags of flour are being loaded onto a ship at the Sperry Ocean Dock. Ordered by General Mills. (TNT, 2/14/1950, p.A-14)

Flour & meal industry--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery; Grain industry--Tacoma; General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma); Sperry Ocean Dock (Tacoma); Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960;

General Mills Sperry Flour Division was located on Tacoma's waterfront near Sixth Avenue. The company's officers were: Paul A. Folquet, District Coordinator, and Willard H. Meinecke, Plant Supervisor. Interior view of plant, new machinery and equipment has been installed. Sperry was planning to increase their production to fill the demand for their products.

Flour & meal industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Grains--Tacoma; Grain industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Grain elevators--Tacoma; Remodeling--Tacoma; General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma);

General Mills Incorporated Sperry Division were the leading manufacturers of flour, cereal, poultry and dairy products in Tacoma. The flour company had first been the Puget Sound Flouring Mills, this company was absorbed by Sperry Flour then General Mills merged with Sperry. In 1947 General Mills decided to expand their facilities, interior view of new plant.

Flour & meal industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Grains--Tacoma; Grain industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Grain elevators--Tacoma; Remodeling--Tacoma; General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma);

At 7:57 a.m. on the morning of January 30, 1947 a malfunctioning switch at the Centennial Flour Mill ignited flour dust in the building setting the massive structure located on Bayside Drive (now Schuster Parkway) on fire. Fanned by stiff winds, the fire defied the combined efforts of all the Tacoma Fire department units, including the off-shift personnel who had been called in to fight the blaze. The mill was totally destroyed at a loss of $2,400,000. By using the Tacoma fireboat, the fire scow from the shipyard and the Coast Guard fire tug, the firefighters were able to keep the flames from spreading to the Sperry Flour Mill, which was located just north of Centennial. The Centennial Flour Mills Company fire was the first fire in Tacoma history with property damage that exceeded $1,000,000. (T. Times, 01/30/1947, p. 1). TPL-9760

Fires--Tacoma--1940-1950; Smoke--Tacoma; Disasters--Tacoma; Centennial Flouring Mills Co. (Tacoma); Holroyd Co. (Tacoma);

The Centennial Flour Mill fires completely destroyed the flour mill, export building and the eight floor storage building. Over one hundred Centennial employees working in these buildings were safely evacuated. View of Centennial site about one week after the fire, photo ordered by Underwriter's Salvage Company of New York.

Laborers--Tacoma; Salvage--Tacoma; Fires--Tacoma--1940-1950; Underwriter's Salvage Co. of New York; Centennial Flouring Mills Co. (Tacoma);

The Centennial fire caused more than $2,500,000 worth of damage, this included an estimated 300,000 bushels of wheat and other grains and thousands of sacks of flour ready for exporting or shipping. The clean-up would included the actual site and tons of water soaked grain and debris that spilled out over nearby roads and railroad tracks, railroad traffic had to be re-routed for many days. View of Centennial site one week after fire, photo ordered by Underwriter's Salvage Company of New York.

Salvage--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery; Laborers--Tacoma; Underwriter's Salvage Co. of New York; Railroad tracks--Tacoma; Centennial Flouring Mills Co. (Tacoma); Fires--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Centennial Flour Mills had a massive fire that completely destroyed the plant, damages were estimated at $2,500,000. Centennial was discussing new possible site locations. Holroyd Company sold and manufactured concrete building materials, they were working with Centennial on a new building materials contract. View of Centennial building after the fire, photo ordered by Holroyd.

Disasters--Tacoma; Fires--Tacoma--1940-1950; Centennial Flouring Mills Co. (Tacoma); Holroyd Co. (Tacoma);

General Mills Sperry flour plant was one of the oldest businesses in Tacoma, and had been in the flour and grains industry for over 97 years. The plant was conveniently located in Tacoma's waterfront area by Commencement Bay, this gave the plant easy water and railroad access. Interior view of plant; view of dock in warehouse featuring an 18 inch turntable and hydraulic hoister; photo ordered by Mathews Conveyor Company of Seattle.

Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Laborers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Flour & meal industry--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery; Grain industry--Tacoma; General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma); Mathews Conveyor Co. (Seattle);

Exterior of bulk feed truck, labelled Larro Feeds, at General Mills, on Schuster Parkway near 6th. The truck is a White Truck 3000. The long protruding arm is possibly used for loading and/or discharging the grain. It appears to extended with the use of the cable in the man's hands. General Mills grain elevators can be seen in the background. TPL-4480

General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma); White trucks--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Flour & meal industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Grain elevators--Tacoma--1950-1960; Grain industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Board of Directors of General Mills honored Tacoma with a visit on April 22, 1957. After a board meeting, attendees were given a tour of the local plant. Plant officials answered questions from the board as they surveyed machinery used to package the flour. John W. Geddis, Sperry Mill plant superintendent, (left foreground) escorted a board member around the mill. Harry Bullis, General Mills Chairman of the Board, spoke at the meeting; he is believed to be the man to the furtherest left in the background. Tacoma's Sperry Flour Mill had a capacity of 8400 hundredweight of flour daily. The mill employed 250 local residents. Photograph ordered by General Mills, Inc. (TNT 4-22-57, p. 20)

General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma); Flour & meal industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Geddis, John W.;

Progress photograph of Schuster Parkway. Construction continues on Schuster Parkway (formerly Bayside Dr.) in early 1975 as a crane lifts material for the road bed. The old Northern Pacific Headquarters Bldg. (later City Hall Annex) with steeple and round roof can be seen on the left, mid-center and the new Continental Grain Terminal is visible in the distance. Contracts for Bayside Dr. were approved after years of legal challenges and political discussions in April of 1973. The Old Sperry Mill and grain silos were demolished as part of the preparation to build the 5.7 million dollar Bayside Dr. along part of the waterfront. The City of Tacoma also paid to relocate Burlington Northern's railroad facilities and also to relocate city utility poles. Bayside Dr. would be renamed Schuster Parkway in May of 1975 in honor of Public Works head Gilbert M. Schuster. Color photograph ordered by Butler-Jarvis Construction. (TNT 4-18-73, A-1 article)

Parkways; Road construction--Tacoma--1970-1980; Progress photographs; Hoisting machinery; Northern Pacific Headquarters Building (Tacoma);

ca. 1931. An older male employee at the Tacoma Grain Company stands next to a large, belt-driven piece of machinery.

Tacoma Grain Co. (Tacoma); Flour & meal industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Grain industry--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1931. A line of men employees work at the flour bagging machines at the Tacoma Grain Company. A supervisor in white shirt, vest and tie oversees their work. The machines are used to fill a number of different bags. Bags are marked "Centennial - Silk Sifted - Family Flour"; "Cross Spears - Wong Sui Yuen"; and "Seattle - 100% Entire Whole Wheat Flour".

Flour & meal industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Grain industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Grain Co. (Tacoma); Bags

ca. 1931. Employees of the Tacoma Grain Company work at what appear to be belt driven grain grinders, to make flour from grain.

Tacoma Grain Co. (Tacoma); Flour & meal industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Grain industry--Tacoma--1930-1940;

A Consolidated truck, loaded with "fertilizer," is parked outside the old Sperry Mill on Bayside Drive in mid-February, 1969. The Sperry plant was owned by General Mills. Its flour mill had closed in July of 1965. Photograph ordered by Export Pacific, Inc.

General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Port of Tacoma for Times Special Edition, studio stock, B of R. The interior of the Sperry Division mill of General Mills, Inc. The Sperry division had five flour mills, in Ogden, Utah; Spokane and Tacoma, Washington; and Vallejo and Los Angeles, California. As of 1963 General Mills, Inc. was the largest milling company with 17 flour mills in the United States. It was one of the chief producers of breakfast cereals, flour mixes and refrigerated doughs. Washington state was foremost in flour production among the Pacific and Mountain states as of 1963. Two workmen check the status of the processing.(Flour Milling in America, Herman Steen)

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

Installation of electrical work at Sperry Mill for Industrial Page, Hubman Manly Electrical Contracting, Mrs. Hubman. Hubman-Mann Electrical Contracting were installing a motor control panel at Sperry Division of General Mills during the expansion that was taking place at the Sperry Mill. The electrical contractors had already completed re-wiring the mill. L-R, George Hubman, partner with Joe Manley, contractors; Herman Miller, Hubman-Manley foreman; Willard Meiceke, assistant superintendent with Sperry Division; Geroge Gayle, Don Wintermute and Johnny Covelli, electricians. (T.Times, 4/19/1948, p.5)

General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma); Hubman Manly Electrical Contracting (Tacoma); Flour & meal industry--Tacoma; Hubman, George; Miller, Herman; Meiceke, Will; Gayle, George; Wintermute, Don; Covelli, John;

Centennial Mills was completely destroyed after a massive fire in January 1947. The fire started in the mill building then spread to the storage building and up to the export offices. The fire is one of the costliest in Tacoma history. View of Centennial Mills, concrete building two months after the fire, photo ordered by fire insurance company's adjustment bureau.

Fires--Tacoma--1940-1950; Disasters--Tacoma; Buildings distinguished by material; Ruins--Tacoma; Centennial Flouring Mills Co. (Tacoma);

Sperry Flour Company. Sperry planned to expand its facilities at this time by leasing the former site of the Centennial Flouring Mills Company that was destroyed by fire in late January 1947. Negotiations were being conducted between General Mills (owners of Sperry Flour Company), the Centennial Flouring Mills Company and the Northern Railroad Company which holds title to the waterfront property. This expansion to the old Centennial site never took place. A worker from Sperry is filling a 50 pound bag of enriched flour (called "Drifted Snow") from an overhead chute.

General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma); Centennial Flouring Mills Co. (Tacoma); Flour & meal industry--Tacoma; Mills--Tacoma; Machinery; Mechanical systems--Tacoma;

Interior view of newly expanded and remodeled Sperry Flour Mill, workman is measuring two grain slides, the grains go through processing machinery before they are made into flour and cereal. The expansion project should be completed later this year, General Mills should have their new facilities in full operation by the end of this year.

Flour & meal industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Grains--Tacoma; Grain industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Grain elevators--Tacoma; Laborers--Tacoma; Remodeling--Tacoma; General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma);

General Mills Sperry flour plant was one of the oldest businesses in Tacoma and had been in the flour and grains industry for over 96 years. The plant was conveniently located in Tacoma's waterfront area by Commencement Bay which gave the plant easy water and railroad access. Interior view of facility taken on May 31, 1948 with grain processing equipment on right side, workmen on left side.

Flour & meal industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Grains--Tacoma; Grain industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Grain elevators--Tacoma; Laborers--Tacoma; Remodeling--Tacoma; General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma);

In 1947 Centennial Flour Mills was completely destroyed by a fire, for some time, Centennial was unsure whether they would rebuild. General Mills was hoping to acquire the old Centennial Mills site and begin remodeling and expanding their facilities. Sperry and Centennial went through extended negotiations to determine whether Sperry Flour could lease the property. Interior view of Sperry Flour plant.

Flour & meal industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Grains--Tacoma; Grain industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Grain elevators--Tacoma; Remodeling--Tacoma; General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma);

General Mills Sperry Division flour mills was remodeling and expanding their facilities. The Bechtel Corporation of California was in charge of the building construction project. View of equipment, possibly a control panel.

Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Grain industry--Tacoma; Engineering--Tacoma; Remodeling--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma); Bechtel Corp. (Tacoma);

Centennial's fire is expected to be one of Tacoma's costliest fires. The only thing left standing is a 210 foot stack, as a reminder of the flour mill that once stood here. Their company records have been salvaged from the fire proof office vault, just slightly before the vault roof caved in. View of Centennial fire site one week after fire, photo ordered by Underwriter's Salvage Company of New York.

Salvage--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery; Laborers--Tacoma; Railroad tracks--Tacoma; Underwriter's Salvage Co. of New York; Fires--Tacoma--1940-1950; Centennial Flouring Mills Co. (Tacoma);

General Mills had now been in the flour business for 95 years. The company had steadily expanded and was about to go through more expansions. Their flour products were marketed both domestically and in the international markets as well. Sperry flour products were exported to South and Central America, many East Asian countries and many others. Interior view of storage building with thousands of sacks of flour stacked up.

Flour & meal industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Grains--Tacoma; Bags; Food storage buildings--Tacoma; Storage facilities--Tacoma; General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma);

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);

Exterior of bulk feed truck, labelled Larro Feeds, at General Mills, on Schuster Parkway near 6th. The truck was manufactured by White trucks. General Mills, Sperry Division, grain elevators can be seen in the background. The White truck will be loaded with grain that will then be delivered to area farmers for feeding their livestock.

General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma); White trucks--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Flour & meal industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Grain elevators--Tacoma--1950-1960; Grain industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1931. Tacoma Grain Company, Pyramid Flour plant taken from a boat on Puget Sound.

Flour & meal industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Grain industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tacoma Grain Co. (Tacoma); Pyramid Flour (Tacoma)

ca. 1931. Testing bakery at the Tacoma Grain Company. A woman hold a fresh loaf of bread as she stands next to a testing oven. There is a line of seven loaves of bread on the shelf behind her. A bag of Centennial Silk-Sifted Flour is prominently displayed on the shelf next to the oven.

Tacoma Grain Co. (Tacoma); Flour & meal industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Grain industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bread--Tacoma--1930-1940;