The George R. Marvin Co. was a steel fabrication plant located on Taylor Way in the Tideflats. Besides manufacturing cranes and other hoists, they also were involved in fabricated steel products. A model in an October 4, 1957, photograph is examining a piece of machinery manufactured by the Marvin Co. The exact use of the product is not known; it does appear to be solidly constructed and capable of containing either solids or liquids. What appears to be an Air Force fuel tank is in the background of the photograph. Photograph ordered by the George R. Marvin Co.

George R. Marvin Co. (Tacoma); Steel industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A view across the Tideflats and adjacent pond shows the expanded Kaiser Aluminum plant in November, 1957. Built originally for Olin Corporation in 1942, and purchased by Kaiser four years later, heavy demand for aluminum products post-war made expansion of the plant necessary. Kaiser spent nearly three million dollars in 1952 to improve their Tacoma plant facilities which led to a large increase in aluminum production. Photograph ordered by Kaiser Aluminum.

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

Weber Lumber Co., on January 8, 1958, was the site of a series of photographs taken on behalf of the Douglas Fir Plywood Association on the usage of plywood for a variety of products. Here an employee appears to be measuring a long sheet of plywood against a box beam. The sheet of plywood may have eventually covered the open box beam. These box beams may have been especially constructed to be used at the South Tacoma Airport.

Plywood; Weber Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel's works were booming in the 1950's, necessitating a $25 million dollar expansion in Seattle, as well as improvements and new construction elsewhere. New electric furnaces promised to boost steelmaking capacity 70% to 420,000 tons annually. Workers are pictured on March 6, 1958, seemingly dwarfed by the size of the huge equipment used in the Seattle plant. A cascade of sparks and smoke stream from an open hearth. The men are wearing hard hats and long coats for protection.

Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle); Steel industry--Seattle; Industrial facilities--Seattle;

A man, possibly Don Jaenicke, gives his shoes a high glossy shine as he has one foot on a plywood step containing an Esquire shoe shine kit. Cans of polish and a towel can be tucked away inside the plywood container and the container itself be stored in a closet. A convenient shoe rack is already in this Sylvan Park closet and space could be found for the shoe shine device as well. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Plywood; Shoe shining--Tacoma; Shoes; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Nalley's advertises their 1 cent sale, buy one relish at regular price and get a second one for just one penny. Pictured is a mound of relish jars backed by jars of salad dressing, mayonaise, "Tang" spread, more pickles and canned meals.

Nalley's, Inc. (Tacoma)--Products; Food--Tacoma--1950-1960; Food industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950;

A new Diamond-T petroleum truck is parked near the Washington Cooperative Farmers Association's feed mill in April, 1954. The Co-op continually upgraded their equipment; this new truck would be used to deliver gasoline, lube and heating oils to Co-op customers. No passengers would be permitted on board and smoking was strictly prohibited.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Diamond T trucks; Signs (Notices);

The South Tacoma Shops of the Northern Pacific Railroad received an impressive plaque from the company in honor of their achieving the best safety record for 1953. It was apparently the fourth time the South Tacoma Shops had won this award; previous years noted on the plaque included 1943, 1944, and 1945. Northern Pacific employees and guests enjoyed a special banquet in the Fellowship Hall at the Masonic Temple on May 27, 1954, where awards were presented. Seated in the photograph are: R.H. Spellmeyer and H.J. McLain. Standing left to right are: J.J. Schmidt, A.J. Cecchi, F.L. Steinbright, F.G. Moody, G.L. Ernstrom, and C.T.DeWitt. (TNT 5-27-54, A-10, TNT 5-28-54, p.14)

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma)--People; Awards;

Employees of the Northern Pacific Railroad enjoy a safety awards banquet on May 27, 1954, in the Fellowship Hall at the Masonic Temple. Those seated at the head tables on the stage are presumably dignitaries. A five piece orchestra and singers provided music while 900 employees and guests dined on turkey dinners. The banquet was to honor the South Tacoma Shops for their near perfect accident record in the Northern Pacific Railroad's national safety competition. There was only one reportable accident among 800 employees in over a year's time. George L. Ernstrom, general mechanical superintendent of Northern Pacific, was chosen to give the award to R.H. Spellmeyer, shop superintendent at the South Tacoma Shops. (TNT 5-27-54, A-10, TNT 5-28-54, p. 14)

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma)--People; Banquets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Guitars; Saxophones;

Exterior brewery. The Silver Springs Brewing Co., "Home of Oldstyle Pilsener Beer", competed with Heidelberg Brewing (Columbia Breweries) for a share of the Northwest market. Their Oldstyle Pilsener and Hartz brands were brewed with artesian water. View of exterior of Silver Springs brewery; railroad crossing sign indicated that there would be easy transport of the bottled products from the brewery to customers. Silver Springs had been in existence since 1934 and located in Tacoma since 1950. They continued to expand their sphere of operations for many years.

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Silver Springs Brewing Co. (Tacoma);

Elevated view of Tacoma's downtown and industrial area. Smoke from various lumber and chemical companies in Tacoma's industrial area blends into the sky. Busy plants meant employment for thousands of local residents. The Tacoma Hotel and Tacoma Savings & Loan can also be spotted on the left of this September 2, 1954, photograph, taken from the seventh floor of the Winthrop Hotel.

Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma);

Long view exterior brewery. This photograph of the Heidelberg Brewing Co. was taken from down the street on August 26, 1954, and shows that the brewery's shipping & receiving department was apparently separated from the main buildings by the J.E. Bunker Co., a dealer in bicycles. Heidelberg had purchased the well-known Columbia Breweries in 1949 and changed its name formally in 1953. By 1954, it had tripled its size. The building between the bicycle store and the shipping department was the new three-story cellar building which was used for storage and fermentation. Costing $700,000, it had three floors full of storage tanks with enough beer to fill 45 million bottles. (TNT 9-3-54, C-16) TPL-6499

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Heidelberg Brewing Co. (Tacoma); Signs (Notices);

Night exposure Heidelberg brewery. The lighted buildings of the Heidelberg Brewing Co. appear as beacons in the night in an August 26, 1954, photograph. The company's name stands out in stark relief on the water tower and main facility. The photograph was taken from below the brewery's "C" Street location from the viewpoint of Chester Hauge's Hauge's Gateway Service at 25th & Pacific Avenue. Photograph ordered by Heidelberg Brewing Co.

Heidelberg Brewing Co. (Tacoma); Signs (Notices); Hauge's Gateway Service (Tacoma);

A special Plyscord Calculator was prepared by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association to help contractors or homeowners determine correct plywood thickness, nail size, nailing schedule, rafter spacing and FHA minimum property requirements necessary when roofing. Plyscord Roof Sheathing was 100% genuine Douglas Fir plywood. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Calculators;

Twelve salesmen are photographed in the National Biscuit Co.'s Tacoma office on October 2, 1954. Sixth from the right in the center of the photograph is branch manager, H.A. Messick. Messick had been with the company for twenty years and his promotion to district sales manager of the special products division was announced later that month. Messick and his sales staff are standing behind an array of Nabisco products, including Ritz crackers, Ginger Snaps, Fig Newtons and Snowflake Saltines. The Nabisco motto, "Be Sure...Buy Nabisco!" is prominently displayed. (TNT 10-28-54, A-9)

National Biscuit Co. (Tacoma); Messick, H.A.; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Crackers; Signs (Notices);

Ace Furnace & Steel Co. were steel fabricators whose plant was located at 3740 South Union Avenue. One of their trucks and trailers was loaded with large storage tanks when photographed in front of the company on October 16, 1954. There was plenty of advertising on the truck and trailer, and also on the tanks. The steel firm had expanded their business in the early 1930's which eventually led to including transport of their products to customers. Ace Furnace manufactured furnaces, tanks, gasoline tanks and pre-fabricated steel gas stations. According to the 1954 City Directory, Ace Furnace was owned by Alvin T. Davies; he also owned Birchfield Boiler and Tacoma Boiler Works. Photograph ordered by Ace Furnace & Steel Co.

Ace Furnace & Steel Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Storage tanks--Tacoma; Metalworking--Tacoma; Signs (Notices);

Exterior-Heidelberg Brewery. The Heidelberg Shipping Depot was located at S. 21st and Jefferson within sight of the lettered water tower and other parts of the brewery. A large delivery truck is parked outside the entry to the depot. Heidelberg had purchased Columbia Breweries in 1949 but waited until July, 1953, to change its name. Two years after this May 15, 1957, photograph was taken, the brewing company would be acquired by Carling Brewery. Photograph ordered by Heidelberg Brewing Co. TPL-5511

Heidelberg Brewing Co. (Tacoma); Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Workmen balance high atop the roof of a new hangar at McChord Field on September 24, 1954. They are in the process of inserting steel sections. One of the building's sides is already in place. The hangars were used to house and repair aircraft and were apparently made basically out of steel components rather than wood. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation.

Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle); Building construction; Progress photographs; Steel; Hangars;

The giant log on the truck bed appears to be twice as tall as the two men standing in front of it. It seems that the Native American chief is sharing a pipe with his white friend. Georgia-Pacific Plywood entered several giant peeler logs in a parade down the main streets of Bellingham on November 27, 1954. These men may have been taking a break from parade activity. Photograph ordered by Georgia-Pacific Plywood.

Logs; Parades & processions--Bellingham--1950-1960; Indians of North America--Bellingham;

A large fleet of trucks haul giant logs just past the Whatcom Feed & Seed on their way to join the parade down Bellingham's main streets on November 27, 1954. Georgia-Pacific Plywood had arranged for several entries in the parade, with trucks proceeding two by two, of giant peeler logs of Douglas fir. Each log contained enough plywood to make forty average homes. Photograph ordered by Georgia-Pacific Plywood Co. TPL-8195

Logs; Parades & processions--Bellingham--1950-1960; Trucks--Bellingham--1950-1960;

A long convoy of trucks bearing Georgia-Pacific giants logs participated in a parade down the streets of Bellingham on November 27, 1954. A policeman is on hand to monitor traffic while a sparse crowd watches outside the Hotel Bellingham. The giant logs on display were peeler logs of Douglas fir. Banners attached to the logs indicated that each log would supply enough plywood for forty average homes. Photograph ordered by Georgia-Pacific Plywood Co.

Logs; Parades & processions--Bellingham--1950-1960; Trucks--Bellingham--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);

Members of the Washington Cooperative Farmers Association display Lynden Broadbreast Turkeys during their luncheon at the Masonic Temple's Fellowship Hall on December 8, 1954. The Lynden firm is part of the Cooperative and provided ready to roast turkeys. This group is standing in front of a large poster demonstrating how the Co-op's eggs "go to market"; egg production was just one of the many enterprises they supported. 1600 Co-op members from District #6 attended the annual meeting and dined on turkey. At the meeting, Roy McChord was congratulated as the new manager of the Tacoma Station, replacing Dale Smith, who assumed management duties at the Co-op's credit division in Seattle. (TNT 12-12-54, F-8)

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Turkeys; Posters;

Puget Sound Plywood, founded in 1942, was the first cooperative plywood plant in the city. Located on East F Street and between the City and Middle Waterways, on the Tideflats, the company had easy access to rail facilities, making transport of their products economical and convenient. Alfred Anderson was the long-time president of Puget Sound Plywood with John Martison as vice president. View of interior of company offices show employees at work at sparsely decorated desks while two men stand perusing documents at a long counter. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Puget Sound Plywood, Inc. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Office workers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Cooperatives--Tacoma;

Exterior of mill and bulk feed station. The Washington Co-op Farmers Association built a modern, efficient feed mill in the late 1940's at a cost of $1,000,000+. Located on the Tideflats at the Hylebos waterway, the Co-op had immediate access to transcontinental railroads and sound or ocean going vessels which made transport of their feeds and grain extremely efficient. Bulk feed could be poured into the Co-op's Diamond-T trucks for delivery to waiting customers from the Bulk Feed Service area. Photograph ordered by Washington Cooperative Farmers Association. TPL-10077

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Grain elevators--Tacoma; Mills--Tacoma; Food storage buildings--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Hundreds fill the Masonic Temple's Fellowship Hall on December 8, 1954, at the Washington Cooperative Farmers Association's luncheon and meeting. The group had begun decades ago as an egg and poultry cooperative but had expanded into the feed and grain business. Farmers found that they were able to get better prices and new markets for their products if they participated in a cooperative.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Masonic Temple (Tacoma);

The Cub Scouts' theme for January of 1955 was "Railroading." The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad provided one of their passenger trains for 1,500 Scouts and their leaders to tour at the Milwaukee passenger depot at 1102 Milwaukee Way. One of the highlights of the scout field trip was the opportunity to inspect a modern seven car passenger train and to sit in a railroad observation dome car. Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts from various Mt. Rainier Council packs, including Tacoma's pack 13, took part in the excursion. Besides Tacoma, boys came from Cub packs at Ft. Lewis, Tillicum, Steilacoom, Puyallup, Sumner, Enumclaw, Rosedale, Dash Point, Parkland, Fife, Fircrest, Federal Way, Midland, Buckley, and Eatonville. (TNT 1/23/1955, Pg. A-2-article)

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cub Scouts (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Boy Scouts (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Railroad passenger cars--Tacoma--1950-1960;

On January 22, 1955, Cub Scouts from the Mt. Rainier Council boarded a railroad car from the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad line. In keeping with the January Scout theme of "Railroading," the company provided a seven car train at their passenger depot for the scouts to tour throughout the day. More than 1,500 area Cub Scouts and their leaders took this opportunity to become better acquainted with trains. (TNT 1/23/1955, pg. A-2)

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cub Scouts (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Boy Scouts (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Railroad passenger cars--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1908. Emile Kliese, in a dark beard, and another man stand in the offices of Columbia Brewing Company by their tall desks. Emile Kliese was the German-born brewmaster who, with two other men, William C. Kiltz and John Smith, filled for articles of incorporation in 1900 "to brew and sell at wholesale and retail beer and other malt beverages" at a company to be known as "the Columbia Brewing Company". Emile Kliese was the first president and brewmaster of the Columbia Brewing Company from 1900 to 1916. Copies of old prints ordered by Heidelberg Brewing Company. (TNT, 10/6/1951, p.A-3)

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1900-1910; Columbia Brewing Co. (Tacoma); Kliese, Emile; Offices--Tacoma--1900-1910; Columbia Brewing Co. (Tacoma)--People;

ca. 1920. A fan of Columbia Brew, a "near beer" produced by the Columbia Brewing Company, models a suit for not-just-any occasion. The jacket and pants have been made by pasting labels for Columbia Brew on pants and a striped shirt. The top hat also displays an enlarged label for Columbia Brew. The Columbia Brewing Company opened their brewery on South C Street between South 21st and South 23rd in 1900. They made "Columbia Brew" during the dry period of prohibition. Columbia Brewing Co. was purchased by Heidelberg Brewing Co. in 1949; which was purchased by Carling Brewery in 1959. The plant closed in 1979. (Copies of old prints ordered by Heidelberg Brewing Company in December 1954.) Format 6" x 8". TPL-5565

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Columbia Brewing Co. (Tacoma); Costumes; Prohibition--Tacoma;

ca. 1919. Gustav Schuster was the manager of the Columbia Brewing Company in Tacoma from September 17, 1917 to October 31, 1929. For the whole time he was manager, the brewing industry was prevented from making beer by state and federal prohibition laws. In 1919 Mr. Schuster began producing "Colo - a malt beverage of quality" at the Tacoma plant. Colo was a nonalcoholic "near beer" and was classified as a soft drink. The Columbia Brewery managed to survive prohibition and in 1949 they were bought out by Heidelberg Brewery. Heidelberg was in turn purchased by Carling Brewery which operated the Tacoma plant at 2120-32 South C Street until 1979, when it closed.

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Columbia Brewing Co. (Tacoma); Offices--Tacoma--1910-1920; Desks; Writing materials; Safes; Columbia Brewing Co. (Tacoma)--People; Schuster, Gustav;