In July of 1937 the Tacoma Times newspaper chartered the steamer Arcadia to carry several hundred Times carriers from Tacoma to Redondo Beach for the annual carriers picnic. A "perfect day" marked the outing which included athletic events of all kinds and plenty of food for all. The carriers returned at the end of the day with no injuries or untoward events to report. (T. Times 7/12/1937 p.5).
Ferries--1930-1940; Mass transit--1930-1940; Transportation--1930-1940; Newspaper carriers--Tacoma; Newspaper vendors--Tacoma; Recreation--Tacoma; Tacoma Times Publishing Co. (Tacoma);
Old London Dock destroyed by fire on January 7, 1936, as the Waterside Milling Co. wheat warehouse is engulfed by flames. The 2000 foot structure was divided into long sections separated by brick fire walls. It is believed that wood dust exploded causing the fire; fortunately, there were no fatalities listed. Damages were set at $260,000. The city fireboat, led by Chief Emory Whitaker, and four Foss tugs succeeded in successfully containing the blaze. (T. Times, 1-7-36, p. 1, TDL 1-8-36, p. 1, 100 Years of Firefighting in the City of Destiny Tacoma, Washington, p. 94-95).
Fires--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fireboats--Tacoma--1930-1940;
ca. 1936. Tacoma Fire Company, Fireboat No. 1. Firefighters at stations on fire boat directing far-reaching sprays of water into Commencement Bay. Industries in background.
Pleasure craft stream out into the Puget Sound at the beginning of the "Capital to Capital" annual cruiser race. In 1935, the race course covered 150 nautical miles from Tacoma to Nanaimo, BC. 51 vessels started the annual race and 49 finished. A Tacoma vessel, the "Irvinetta," skippered by I.C. Rowlands finished 2nd overall. (T. Times 7/25-27, 1935; T.Times 7/29/1935, pg. 1)
Cutter "White Cloud" moored near the shore. On June 1, 1936, Skipper Radner R. ("Rad") Pratsch and his daughter Carol were preparing their sailboat, the cutter "White Cloud," for the annual July Santa Monica to Honolulu yacht race. At 35 feet, the sailboat was just over the minimum size limit. It represented the Tacoma Yacht Club as Tacoma's only entry in the race. Skipper Pratsch and his crew sailed the 2,566 mile race in approximately 30 days; a feat matched by Pratsch in a solo sail in December of 1939. (T. Times 6/1/1936, pg. 1)
On June 1, 1936, Skipper Radner R. ("Rad") Pratsch and his daughter Carol were photographed standing near their yacht, the cutter "White Cloud," that they were entering in the annual July Santa Monica to Honolulu trans- Pacific sailboat race. The 35 foot vessel was Tacoma's only entry in the race and was one of the smallest, just over the minimum size limit. Mr. Pratsch was a veteran sailor and a Rear Commodore of the Yacht Club. He was also the owner of the Realart Theatre in South Tacoma. (T. Times 6/1/1936, pg. 1)
ca. 1940. Three people on small wooden vessel docked in marina. Names of individuals and location not provided for this circa 1940 photograph. (T. Times).
A covered steel barge is shown docked at J. M. Martinac Shipbuilders on the Thea Foss Waterway on January 27, 1941. The vessel was ordered by the Navy and fabricated by Birchfield Boilers. The vessel is 110 feet long and 34 feet wide. [T Times, 1/27/1941].
This photograph from January 1941 shows a newly completed 110 ft. by 34 ft. covered steel barge being launched at the J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. yards. Built by the Birchfield Boiler Company, the barge was the second ship to be finished for the United States Navy in Tacoma in 1941. The J. M. Martinac shipbuilding facilities have been part of the Tacoma waterfront since 1924. They are the Thea Foss Waterway's oldest continuous tenant. [T. Times, 1/27/1941, pg. 12].
On Tuesday, August 5, 1941, O.V. Snyder's yacht, the "Klatawa", was "drafted" into government service. It was the first private yacht in Tacoma to be taken over by the U.S. government to be used by the Coast Guard for harbor patrol work. It was to be used around the tide flats and the port to keep an eye on industrial plants involved in defense work. A representative of the Coast Guard stated at the time that 20 boats in the Columbia River and Puget Sound district would eventually be commandeered. The yachts were taken for specific periods. (T. Times 08-05-1941 p.4)
Several boats from the Tacoma Yacht Club practice maneuvers on Commencement Bay. In mid-July of 1946, members of the Shipmates Club and their husbands participated in the Pacific International Yachting Association race to Nanaimo. The boats raced by way of the Staits of Juan de Fuca and Swanson Channel. Ted Worthington and his wife planned a longer cruise that would take them past Nanaimo to Princess Louise inlet. (T. Times, 4/13/46, p. 2). TPL-9481
Interior view of two unidentified men working in a repair shop, tools and parts are visible throughout the work area. The men appear to be working on boat engines. Photo ordered by Finney Transportation Co. in Coeur D' Alene, Idaho.
Boat engines; Maintenance & repair--Idaho--Coeur D' Alene; Mechanics (Persons)--Idaho--Coeur D' Alene; Finney Transportation Co. (Coeur D' Alene, Id.);
Jubilee Water Carnival at Point Defiance Pavilion was a great success. Over 75,000 people attended the festivities and over 27,000 cars entered the park grounds throughout the day. Spectators cheered on their favorite boats in the races and their favorite bathing beauty in the contest. Fun has had by all who attended. View of fire boat show with many people enjoying watching the incredible display (T. Times, 7/1/46, p. 2).
Fireboats--Tacoma; Regattas--Tacoma; Bays; Spectators--Tacoma; Festivals--Tacoma; Point Defiance Pavilion (Tacoma);
Tacoma Boat just finished building "Supreme," a 45 foot combination troller in July of 1946. "Supreme" was a fishing boat built for Eberg Andersen of Tacoma. Tacoma Boatbuilding specialized in building fishing vessels and were the manufacturers of "Northern Drag and Anchor Winches." View of "Supreme" (T. Times, 7/3/46, p. 3). (Corrected identification provided by a reader) TPL-10478
Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);
Tacoma Boat was originally Strom & Dahl Boatbuilders, which was formed in 1936 by Arne Strom and Haldor A. Dahl. In 1938 the firm was incorporated as the Tacoma Boatbuilding Company. Tacoma Boat was well known and a leader in the fishing boat construction and built many minesweepers during World War II, they would later build more minesweepers for the United States Navy. View of Tacoma Boat built "West Point", a fishing vessel. TPL-8922
Fishing boats--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);
The "Southern Queen" is a refrigerated purse seiner, built and equipped specifically for tuna and sardine fishing. It is an all steel craft, 100 feet in length and has two twin six by six ice machines. It was bought by Joe Vilicich and A. K. Anderson and launched by Mrs. Van Camp of the Van Camp canneries. The boat was built by Tacoma Boat (Pacific Fisherman, January 1948, p. 182). TPL-8925
Fishing boats--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);
Interior view of boat. Expanding table is across from the boat's small kitchen, the stove is located on the foreground, additional kitchen space is behind the stove. The control panel, steering wheel and navigation controls are on the left center side behind the bench style seating. Sleeping quarters are located in the background. The boat interior was made with Douglas Fir plywood products, photo ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Boats--Tacoma; Galleys (Ship kitchens); Compasses; Navigation; Interiors--Tacoma; Plywood; Steering wheels; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);
J. M. Martinac's "South Pacific" is a 106'x25'x13' tuna clipper. The "South Pacific" has a 190 ton capacity, is easy to handle, compact, refrigerated, stable, and with her 525 horsepower diesel engine, plenty of power is available. The "South Pacific" was built for Captain Lou Brito, of the High Seas Tuna Packing Company (Pacific Fisherman, Yearbook, 1948). TPL-8937
