Launching of the A.M.S. (motor minesweeper) #97 by Tacoma Boatbuilding. A.M.S. #97 would be the last minesweeper to slide into the water as the company fulfilled its contract of five. All five vessels were in various states of completion with the first completed one to be delivered to the Navy in the fall. Mrs. Henry F. Agnew was the sponsor of #97 and Capt. J.R. Topper was the speaker. (TNT 9/27/1953, pg. C-12)
Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Government vessels--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Representatives from Pendleton, Oregon, visited Heidelberg Brewery in April, 1954. The thirteen men and women pose in front of a Heidelberg doormat; it shows the familiar brewery symbol of a man quaffing a refreshing stein of beer. Heidelberg had purchased the brewery from Columbia Breweries a few years prior, although advertising until 1953 continued to emphasize the Columbia name. Carling Brewery eventually purchased Heidelberg in 1959; the plant was finally closed in 1979.
Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Heidelberg Brewing Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960;
Engine #E-4 pulls into the Milwaukee Road's depot on April 21, 1954. A "Danger 3000 volts" warning sign alerts people to the fact that this is an electric locomotive. The train stopped very close to the new passenger depot. It was much smaller than the original depot on East 25th St. and built on the tide flats parallel to the railroad's freight yards. The old depot was finally torn down in 1972, leaving only freight sheds; the site is now the bustling Freighthouse Square. (History of Pierce County, p. 22)
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad stations--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Passengers waiting to board the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad's trains could relax comfortably in the Milwaukee Road's new passenger depot at E. 11th and Milwaukee Way. In a photograph taken in April, 1954, there were many chairs available in a spacious, air conditioned room with plate glass windows to view incoming and departing traffic. A multi-window ticket office provided efficient service with gold-tone photo murals located above. The railroad had an open house for the public to tour the new $150,000 depot, hundreds apparently did so. (TNT 4-18-54, p. 1, TNT 4-22-54, B-4, TNT 4-24-54, p. 36)
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad stations--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Douglas Fir Plywood Association created laboratories to maintain high quality standards of its plywood; plywood was constantly being tested for durability and to detect any flaws. View of sheets of plywood in the D.F.P.A. warehouse undergoing testing. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Plywood; Product inspection--Tacoma; Testing--Tacoma;
Twenty-two employees of the General Mills Inc., Sperry Division, pose behind a large "C Day Parade '54" banner on April 2, 1954. The brand names of several General Mills cereals are listed on the banner, including Cheerios, Wheaties, Kix, and a new cereal, Sugar Jets. Nearly fifty years later, Cheerios, Wheaties and Kix are still being devoured by the hungry public.
Caught in mid-song are four members of a Pennsalt barbershop quartet in March, 1954. They are clutching top hats and dressed in the Gay 90's style, complete with false mustaches. Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington was a major producer of caustic soda and chlorine for several decades.
Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma)--People; Singing--Tacoma--1950-1960; Barbershop quartets; Mustaches;
United States Plywood Corp.'s logging operation at Kosmos, Wa., eight miles southeast of Morton in south central Lewis County. A tall timber is circled by ropes and pulleys. A piece of large hoisting machinery can be seen. The ropes possibly helped bring down the trees down safely when the timber was cut.
Plywood; Lumber industry--Kosmos--1950-1960; United States Plywood Corp. (Seattle);
Several views of chimneys at St. Regis Paper Co. were photographed on March 24, 1954. This may have been a new chimney constructed by the Boedecker Chimney Construction Co. It was not typically black, but seems to be lighter in color. Smoke is billowing out from the top. Photograph ordered by Boedecker Chimney Construction Co.
St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Chimneys--Tacoma;
Three Army Q-boats were launched within minutes of each other on April 20, 1954. These 63' crafts were built by Tacoma Boat Building for the Army under Navy supervision. View of several women and small children in front of Q-630; these were members of the christening party. From left to right are: Barbara Rutledge (flower girl), Mrs. Vincent J. Genn, sponsor of Q-630, Shanna Roley (flower girl), Mrs. Wilbert N. Nelson, sponsor of Q-628, Mrs. Alf R. Dahl, sponsor of Q-629, and Linda Dahl (flower girl). (TNT 4-21-54, A-5)
Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Government vessels--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);
The American Smelting and Refining Co. had celebrated its 50th anniversary as a business in 1949. It was one of the largest employers in Tacoma with well over a thousand employees. As its name indicates, it was primarily involved in the smelting of ore and refining of copper. View of storage tanks at smelter, with truck parked alongside fence. Photograph ordered by David Somerville.
A small stage, decorated in red, white and blue bunting, was constructed to be used in the February, 1953, launching of the USS Energy, #436, built by the J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corporation. Martinac had landed the contract to build a series of 171-foot mindsweepers for the Navy; this is the second completed after the USS Endurance the previous year. Photograph ordered by J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding.(TNT 2-1-53, B-2, TNT 2-14-53, p. 1)
The Pacific Coast Association of Pulp & Paper Manufacturers met in Tacoma in March, 1953. They were attending the 7th Annual Joint Labor-Management Safety Conference. They joined union and employer representatives from twenty mills; sponsors included the International Brotherhood of Pulp, Sulphite and Paper Mill Workers and International Brotherhood of Paper Makers. View of association members awaiting luncheon at the Winthrop Hotel. (TNT 3-1-53, B-10)
Pacific Coast Association of Pulp & Paper Manufacturers (Tacoma); Group portraits; Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);
Shadows darken the interior of Tacoma Boat Building as dim figures of spectators stand and gaze upon the A.M.S. #96 afloat in the distance. The 144-foot mindsweeper was the fourth of five being built by Tacoma Boat Building. The ship had just been launched the late afternoon of May 1, 1953. The launching was captured on television; it was the first launching to be televised in the area. (TNT 5-3-53, B-10)
Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Government vessels--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);
ca. 1953. St. Regis Paper Co.--Florida. St. Regis continued to expand its base of business to include the southern portion of the United States. Besides the "Kraft center" in Pensacola, Florida, St. Regis also built a new kraft paper and board mill, including pulp manufacturing facilities, in Jacksonville in 1952-53. View of multi-glassed office building in Jacksonville with St. Regis logo; it may have been the administrative offices of the company there.
St. Regis Paper Co. (Jacksonville, Fl.)--1950-1960; Paper industry--Jacksonville--1950-1960; Industrial facilities--Jacksonville--1950-1960;
Interior of Florida St. Regis plant. A huge metallic duct connects to a Worthington machine inside the Jacksonville, Florida, St. Regis Paper Co. facility. Brick walls and tanks are in the background. The Jacksonville kraft and pulp mill began to operate in January, 1953. It soon added to St. Regis' total kraft paper and board production which totaled 486,000 tons in 1953. This was a 38% increase over the previous year. Photograph ordered by Stebbins Engineering & Manufacturing Co. (1953 St. Regis Annual Report, p. 10)
St. Regis Paper Co. (Jacksonville, Fl.)--1950-1960; Industrial facilities--Jacksonville--1950-1960; Machinery;
Two enormous storage tanks, made of brick and concrete, were part of the Jacksonville, Florida, St. Regis Paper Co. plant in 1953. These tanks could have held chips or pulp. The Jacksonville kraft and pulp mill would undergo expansion, to be completed in 1957, to include a 1000-ton board machine which manufactured kraft board for the corrugated shipping container market. The enlarged mill would have more than four times as much pulp capacity as was originally built. Photograph ordered by the Stebbins Engineering & Manufacturing Co. (1955 St. Regis Annual Report, p. 10)
St. Regis Paper Co. (Jacksonville, Fl.)--1950-1960; Industrial facilities--Jacksonville--1950-1960; Storage tanks;
ca. 1953. St. Regis Paper Co. plant. The above photograph was taken of the Jacksonville, Florida, St. Regis plant in 1953, one of many that were located in the United States and abroad. Plants were carefully planned to have both rail and water transportation readily available. The new Jacksonville mill started production in January, 1953. Corrugating and liner boards were produced in tons. The one paper machine was being modified so that it could produce lightweight kraft papers as well as heavy boards. (1953 St. Regis Annual Report, p. 10)
St. Regis Paper Co. (Jacksonville, Fl.)--1950-1960; Paper industry--Jacksonville--1950-1960; Industrial facilities--Jacksonville--1950-1960;
ca. 1953. Close-up view of holding tanks at St. Regis; photograph probably taken in 1953. These tanks appear to be inter-connected with metal pipes leading from one tank to another. They may have contained pulp which would be pumped either to a plant to be bleached, to the paper mill to be made into paper or converted into pulp sheets. In another instance, the tanks might also have contained the black liquor which is removed from the pulp after much washing. Photograph ordered by IMPCO. (TNT 2-17-52, C-11)
New improvements in technology are responsible for kraft and board machines that can operate at speeds up to 1500 feet per minute and can produce a sheet that can be trimmed to 212 inches in width. These high production machines helped St. Regis Paper Co. to increase total tonnage of kraft paper and boards, thereby solidifying its position as a dependable long-term source of these products to industry customers. View of interior of Florida St. Regis plant, either in Jacksonville or Pensacola. Photograph ordered by Beloit Iron Works, Beloit, Wisconsin. (1955 St. Regis Annual Report, p. 15)
St. Regis Paper Co.; Paper industry; Machinery; Beloit Iron Works (Beloit, WI);
Interiors of A.M.S. #113 (minesweeper) built at Tacoma Boat Building. Crew and Chief Petty Officer lavatory, looking to starboard. The #113 was scheduled to be the first of Tacoma Boat's 144 foot minesweepers to be delivered. The delivery was scheduled for November 6th, after outfitting at the Naval Station. The vessel would be delivered to the French Navy. (TNT 10/25/1953, pg. B-3)
Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Crew quarters; Warships--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Interiors of A.M.S. #113 (minesweeper) built at Tacoma Boat Building. Aft crew quarters. Cots fold up for more space or down for sleeping. Built in foot lockers stand at the rear of the bunks. The delivery of Tacoma Boat's first minesweeper, the 113, was scheduled for November 6th, 1953. The 144 foot minesweeper was outfitted at the Naval Station before its delivery to the French Navy under the mutual aid program. (TNT 10/25/1953, pg. B-3)
Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Crew quarters; Warships--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Pennsalt; Plant & employees for magazine. This appears, from the large number of adding machines, to be the accounting department. Construction of the Pennsylvania Salt plant began in 1928; production of chemicals began in 1929. The 40 acre Tacoma plant was the western headquarters for the Philadelphia, Pa., parent company. Raw materials were brought to the plant by ship and rail. Pennsalt was the major consumer of city water and power.
Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma)--Employees;
Pennsalt; Plant & employees for magazine. President and general manager Fred C. Shanaman sits at the desk. Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co., with 40 acres on the Hylebos Waterway, was one of the larger plants in the Tideflats industrial section of Tacoma. It was the Western headquarters for its parent company, the world's largest chemical manufacturing firm. The company had other branches at Portland and Bryan, Texas. Together, the three branches produced an estimated 6 million dollars worth of products annually. The main products were sodium arsenate, hydrogen & sodium hypochlorite, chlorine salt, caustic soda and DDT. These products were used in pulp, paper, plywood and soap manufacturing and in sanitation.
Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma)--Employees; Shanaman, Frederick Charles, 1901-1982;
ca. 1953. Launching of naval ship #445, the U.S.S. Force, with the skyline of downtown Tacoma in the background. The all wood craft was the fourth of nine contracted 171 foot Naval minesweepers to be built by J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding. Mrs. Thomas D. Wilson, wife of a Navy Captain, served as sponsor and christened the ship with the ceremonial champagne. The band from the U.S.S. Essex played "Anchors Aweigh" as the ship slid down the ways. (TNT 6/21/1953, pg. B-2 & 6/27/1953, pg. 1)
Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel, steel in railroad boxcars being loaded onto Foss tugs for shipment to Alaska. This is the first shipment in a service announced jointly by Alaska Governor B. Frank Heintzleman and Henry Foss, president of Foss tugs. Foss will load railroad cars aboard the Foss 250, a car barge with transportation service to Alaska, at the Milwaukee Railroad's dock on the Milwaukee waterway. This marks the first time that railroad cars will come out of Alaska after discharging their cargo. The car barge will be towed by the tug Justine Foss. In the future, the car barges will leave every 8-10 days. (TNT 7/5/1953, pg. B-3)
Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel, steel in railroad boxcars being loaded onto Foss tugs. The current service extends to Ward Cove, 8 miles north of Ketchikan, and site of the $47,000,000 construction project by Ketchikan Pulp & Paper Co. The eight 53 ft. cars, containing steel primarily, will be emptied at Ward Cove and returned to Tacoma. The Foss 250 can carry twenty 40 foot cars on her four sets of tracks and bulk tanks have been built in the barge hull to carry 1,000 tons of caustic soda north for paper plant production. The one way trip to Ward Cove takes 3 1/2 - 4 days. (TNT 7/5/1953, pg. B-3)
Bulk feed is being poured into plywood storage units at the Ken Bergman Poultry farm on May 13, 1953. The feed is being delivered by the Washington Co-op Farmers Association using their Diamond T double-tank truck. Washington Co-op Farmers was able to provide home delivery of bulk feed to its members, as well as other bulk deliveries such as petroleum and gasoline. Bulk deliveries could then be stored in appropriate facilities until needed by the customer. Photograph ordered by Tom Sias, Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Storage tanks; Plywood; Shipping; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);
A long fleet of Ford and Chevrolet trucks stands ready to go outside the Columbia Breweries plant in May, 1953. They would be used to deliver very popular brands Columbia Ale and Heidelberg beer to waiting customers. Columbia Breweries, after much expansion, would be the largest brewery north of San Francisco and west of Milwaukee. In July, 1953, it would change its name to Heidelberg Brewing Co. and be purchased by Carling Brewery in 1959. After being a Tacoma fixture since 1900, it would finally close its doors in 1979. TPL-9289
Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Heidelberg Brewing Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Aerial view of American Smelting & Refining Co.'s (ASARCO) smokestack, smelter plant and surrounding area. ASARCO occupied a large area near Point Defiance and contributed greatly to Tacoma's economy in the fifties. As we know now, the by products of the smelting process were highly toxic, and qualified this area as a Superfund clean up area. TPL-9290
American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Smelters--Tacoma--1950-1960; Copper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;
