Bay City Lumber Company's crane in Aberdeen, WA

Industries; Bay City Lumber Company; Cranes; Aberdeen;

A lumber carrier built by Star Iron & Steel hard at work in a lumber yard in Enumclaw, WA.

Industries; Star Iron & Steel, Lumber, Enumclaw

Star Iron & Steel built lumber carrier at work in a lumber yard in Enumclaw, WA.

Industries; Star Iron & Steel; Lumber; Enumclaw;

Medusa on the ways. The USS Medusa, a $4,000,000 repair ship for the Pacific fleet, is pictured prior to launching at the Bremerton Navy Yard in April of 1923. The "Medusa," the first ship of her kind to be built on the Pacific coast, had a displacement of 10,000 tons. Her launching was rather unusual, as she did not not slide down the ways into water as normal but instead, water was poured into the construction dock where she was built. When floated, she was towed to her new berth and the dock emptied. She was 483-feet, 9 inches long and resembled a huge ocean liner except for the small guns mounted on her. The USS Medusa was launched on April 16, 1923, with Mrs. Burns Poe of Tacoma acting as sponsor. G37.1-121 (TNT 4-4-23, p. 17; TDL 4-7-23, p. 1-article; TDL 4-17-23, p. 1-article)

Boat & ship industry--Bremerton--1920-1930; Launchings--Bremerton--1920-1930;

This view of a boat loading lumber at the Defiance Lumber dock had been a common sight since 1906 when the Doud brothers, desiring a site closer to shipping facilities than Buckley, bought land on the Tacoma waterfront just south of the Tacoma Smelter. By 1907 a mill was built, 1400 feet of shoreline acquired among the 18 acres of land, and 150 men were employed. Ships from all nations visited Tacoma to load lumber and lumber was also transported via rail. WWI caused rail transportation to substantially decrease and ships once again entered the deep harbor to retrieve the fir products and bring them to as far away as Japan and the United Kingdom. The Defiance Lumber Co. would continue in business until December of 1951 when it closed its doors permanently. G36.1-013 (Martin: Leslie Lewis Doud; his family and ancestors, p.1-3; Bonney: History of Pierce County Washington, p. 656-659)

Defiance Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cargo ships--Tacoma--1920-1930; Shipping--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Close-up of floating log rafts in the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway. These logs were probably destined for pulp production. Washington was third in the nation at this time in pulp producing. The abundance of hemlock and accessibility of water transportation plus low utility rates made Tacoma a prime location for the manufacture of pulp and other lumber products. Photograph taken in March of 1937. TPL-3236; G36.1-080 (T.Times 1,5-articles on pulp)

Logs; City Waterway (Tacoma);

Construction on the new John Dower Lumber Company headquarters building at 733 East 11th Street began in late November, 1921. The company held an open house for the general public on March 11, 1922. The building, designed by Bullard & Mason, was one of the most unique lumber offices in the country. The finish on the exterior was designed to resemble a log house; the interior was finished in selected native woods, stained and varnished to bring out their natural colors. In 1922 the John Dower Lumber Company was one of the largest retail lumber companies in the United States. The St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Company purchased the Dower yard and headquarters building in 1942. BU-11057

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; John Dower Lumber Company (Tacoma); Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Two St. Regis employees, wearing white uniforms, are pictured at the Tacoma Kraft pulp plant on February 5, 1937. Steam is rising from some of the large unidentified machinery. St. Regis had undergone a $1,000,000 remodeling project to expand into the bleached pulp field. St. Regis was one of two pulp mills (Shaffer Pulp was the other) who manufactured high grade bleached and unbleached craft pulp for domestic and export markets. The plant was able to produce 150 tons of pulp daily. TPL-6804; G37.1-023 (T.Times 1-27-37, p.1, 5-articles on St. Regis)

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Paper industry--1930-1940; Lumber industry--1930-1940; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940; Machinery;

Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad, Engine #10254. On an official test trip in March of 1920, a brand new Bi-polar engine pauses for some publicity shots. The class EP2 engine was manufactured by Alco-GE. The bi-polars were unique in design because the bi-polar fields for each motor were carried on the truck frame. The huge 265 ton, 3,240 hp bi-polars were designed specifically for passenger service in the Cascades and were an immediate success when put into service in 1920. Their top speed was rated at 70 mph and they could pull 1, 120 tons (14 cars) up a 2% grade at 25 mph. The electric locomotives were also unique in appearance, riding low on 44" drivers, and in sound, their trademark a distinctive high pitched shrill from their air whistles. (Charles and Dorothy Wood "Milwaukee Road West") G44.1-079, TPL-2379

Railroad locomotives--Tacoma; Railroad cars--Tacoma; Railroads--Tacoma; Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Co. (Tacoma);

Timber on St. Regis land as photographed in August of 1936. Some trees have already been felled. G75.1-097

St. Regis Paper Co.; Trees; Lumber industry--1930-1940;

1936 daily operations at St. Regis. A series of photographs were taken in two days of a St. Regis facility by the Boland studios in December of 1936. It is believed that the plant was the Tacoma location at 801 Portland Ave. Many internal shots were taken including the above which appears to be a large steel covered vat. The St. Regis Kraft Co. plant had undergone a months-long remodeling which included new machinery and fixtures. All of this was to transform the outdated facility into a modern plant so that it could produce 60,000 tons of bleached pulp per year. (T.Times 10-14-36, p. 5-article; T. Times 11-25-36, p. 5-article) G37.1-031

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Paper industry--1930-1940; Lumber industry--1930-1940; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940;

1936 daily operations at St. Regis. Interior view of a St. Regis Paper Co. facility, believed to be the Tacoma plant located at 801 Portland Ave. in 1936. Steel beams and steel or concrete chutes in sight. St. Regis employed 845 men to remodel its Tacoma location in order to transform it into a modern plant for the production of 60,000 tons of bleached pulp per year. New machinery was purchased to handle 25,000 short logs per hour and electric saws and machines to bark logs were also included. Tacoma's prime location near rail, water and (later) highway access made it a valuable asset for manufacturers in the industrial Tideflats. (T.Times 10-14-36, p. 5-article; T. Times 11-25-36, p. 5-article)

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Paper industry--1930-1940; Lumber industry--1930-1940; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940;

1936 Daily operations at St. Regis. A St. Regis employee is shown on December 21, 1936, loading stacks of the company's pulp via forklift. Another tall stack of pulp is already on a raised pallet. This may be the St. Regis Tacoma facility located at 801 Portland Ave. which had recently undergone a $1,000,000 modernization. TPL-6803; G37.1-055

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Paper industry--1930-1940; Lumber industry--1930-1940; Hoisting machinery; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940;

1936 daily operations at St. Regis. Three employees of St. Regis Paper Co. stand behind a large cut log whose bark may have already been stripped. Although the particular St. Regis plant was not identified, this may have been the Tacoma plant located at 801 Portland Ave. The plant had purchased new machinery including machines to bark logs before going to regular pulp chippers and was undergoing transformation into a modern plant. By late November of 1936, the newly modernized Tacoma plant had commenced operations with a crew of 250. Eventually the plant would operate on a 24-hour day with four staggered shifts of eight hours. The modernization allowed for production of 60,000 tons of bleached pulp per year. TPL-2453; G36.1-023 (T.Times 10-14-36, pl 5-article; T. Times 11-25-36, p. 5-article)

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Paper industry--1930-1940; Lumber industry--1930-1940; Logs; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940;

1936 daily operations at St. Regis. Interior view of newly expanded and modernized St. Regis mill, presumed to be in Tacoma, as seen on December 21-22, 1936. The company was proceeding into the bleached pulp business and had to extensively update their facility at 801 Portland Ave. in the Tideflats. St. Regis had previously manufactured unbleached pulp but the demand for the bleached product was rising, necessitating modernization. It would take another 60 days or so for the bleaching unit to be ready so the company would continue to produce unbleached pulp. G37.1-063 (T. Times 10-14-36, p. 5-article; T. Times 11-25-36, p. 5-article)

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Paper industry--1930-1940; Lumber industry--1930-1940; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940; Machinery;

A St. Regis employee maneuvers a lift to hoist stacks of pulp at the big pulp plant in late December of 1936. The St. Regis Kraft Co. had resumed operations with a crew of 250 after months of modernization and expansion. Unbleached pulp would be produced until the new bleaching unit was ready in 1937. G37.1-056 (T.Times 10-14-36, p. 5-article; T.Times 11-25-36, p. 5-article)

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Paper industry--1930-1940; Lumber industry--1930-1940; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hoisting machinery;

Workers at St. Regis Kraft Co. are in the process of wrapping and weighing stacks of pulp for shipment in this February 5, 1937, photograph. St. Regis' Tacoma plant had undergone a $1,000,000 modernization project in order to manufacture bleached pulp. New machinery was brought in and the plant was reopened in late December of 1936 to provide jobs for hundreds of Tacoma residents. G37.1-069

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Paper industry--1930-1940; Lumber industry--1930-1940; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940; Machinery;

1936 Daily operations at St. Regis. Although the specific St. Regis plant was not identified by the photographer, this was probably the Tacoma St. Regis located at 801 Portland Ave. Various sections of the facility and its machinery were photographed in a two-day period in December of 1936 by the Boland studios. The machine above may have been used to dry pulp since steam is shown rising from the rear roller. A million dollars had been spent to transform the Tacoma plant into a modern facility so that production of 60,000 tons of bleached pulp per year could be achieved. G37.1-016 (T.Times 10-14-36, p. 5-article; T.Times 11-25-36, p. 5-article)

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Machinery; Paper industry--1930-1940; Lumber industry--1930-1940; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940;

1936 Daily operations at St. Regis. View of large funnels and other unidentified machinery in photograph taken on December 21, 1936. Plant is believed to be the St. Regis Tacoma location, 801 Portland Ave. The Tacoma facility had recently undergone an expensive remodeling to be transformed into a modern plant where 60,000 tons of bleached pulp were expected to be produced a year. Over 800 men had been employed in the reconstruction process boosting St. Regis' payroll to $15,000 a week. Much new machinery was purchased including electric saws and machines to bark logs. By late November of 1936, the Tacoma St. Regis had commenced operations with a crew of 250. A bleaching unit would be ready in three months. (T.Times 10-14-36, p. 5-article; T. Times 11-25-36, p. 5-article)

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Machinery; Paper industry--1930-1940; Lumber industry--1930-1940; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940;

1936 daily operations at St. Regis. In late 1936 St. Regis Kraft Co.'s Tacoma plant began operating with a crew of 250 at its newly remodeled and modernized facility in the Tideflats. Boland studios paid visits to the pulp plant on December 21-22, 1936, to photograph the new interiors including machinery. Here two unidentified St. Regis employees focus their attention of one of the new machines. G37.1-048 (T.Times 10-14-36, p. 5-article; T. Times 11-25-36, p. 5-article)

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Paper industry--1930-1940; Lumber industry--1930-1940; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940; Machinery;

1936 daily operations at St. Regis. The Tacoma St. Regis underwent expansion and modernization of its facility in the Tideflats during most of 1936. New machinery was brought in as the demand for bleached pulp grew. By the end of November of that year, the pulp plant had started operating with an initial crew of 250. Eventually the plant would run continuously on a 24-hour schedule with four staggered shifts of eight hours and provide employment for many Tacomans. (T.Times 10-14-36, p. 5-article; T. Times 11-25-36, p. 5-article)

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Paper industry--1930-1940; Lumber industry--1930-1940; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940; Machinery;

Unidentified equipment at St. Regis. St. Regis Kraft in Tacoma had undergone a $1,000,000 modernization project so that the company could move into bleached pulp production. New machinery was purchased and the site expanded. The purpose of the tall structure shown above was not provided; each row had six concrete or metal handles. G37.1-027

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma); Paper industry--1930-1940; Lumber industry--1930-1940; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940; Equipment;

Reconstruction and expansion of the St. Regis Kraft facility in the Tideflats was nearly completed in late December of 1936. The company had spent $1,000,000, a tidy sum in the Depression years, to update their large pulp plant to handle the production of bleached pulp. New machinery was purchased to deal with 25,000 short logs per hour, including electric saws to cut the logs into irregular-shaped chunks and machines to bark the logs before going to regular pulp chippers. The bleaching unit would be ready in early 1937. G34.1-104 (T.Times 10-14-36, p. 5-article; T.Times 11-25-36, p. 5-article)

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma); Paper industry--1930-1940; Lumber industry--1930-1940; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Huge sheets of bleached pulp are being manufactured at the Tacoma St. Regis Kraft plant in February of 1937. The plant had recently reopened a few months ago after much remodeling and expansion. St. Regis was moving into the growing bleached pulp business. According to the Tacoma Times, five million board feet of giant hemlock logs were chewed into chips every month and converted into pulp to be used in the manufacture of paper. This meant that the Tacoma plant produced 150 tons of pulp daily; the whole process from sawing logs to chipping to cooking with chemicals, washed and dried and finally baling took about six hours. St. Regis Kraft was a wholly owned subsidiary of the St. Regis Paper Co. Pulp from Tacoma supplied the eastern paper mills of the St. Regis Paper Co. as well as being exported to foreign countries, including Japan. G37.1-061 (T.Times 1-27-37, p. 1, 5-articles on St. Regis)

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Paper industry--1930-1940; Lumber industry--1930-1940; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940; Machinery;

1936 daily operations at St. Regis. View of a thick cluster of narrow steel or cement pipes at a St. Regis Paper Co. facility, probably the Tacoma location at 801 Portland Ave. in December of 1936. The St. Regis plant in Tacoma had undergone massive remodeling for several months to make it into a modern plant capable of producing 60,000 tons of bleached pulp per year. G37.1-026 (T.Times 10-14-36, p. 5-article; T. Times 11-25-36, p. 5-article)

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Paper industry--1930-1940; Lumber industry--1930-1940; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940;

1936 daily operations at St. Regis. This is believed to be the St. Regis Paper Co. facility in Tacoma at 801 Portland Ave. as pictured in December of 1936. This exterior view of the plant shows its close proximity to railroad tracks which meant easier transport of its products. Pieces of lumber are strewn about and a wheelbarrow and other small carts are present. The Tacoma St. Regis Kraft Co. pulp plant had undergone modernization of its facility earlier in 1936 including new machinery and expansion of the plant. By the end of November, 1936, the plant was operating with a crew of 250. St. Regis expected that the bleaching unit would be ready in 90 days; until then, unbleached pulp as formerly produced would be manufactured. G37.1-021 (T.Times 10-14-36, p. 5-article; T. Times 11-25-36, p. 5-article)

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Paper industry--1930-1940; Lumber industry--1930-1940; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940;

1936 daily operations at St. Regis. Interiors of the newly remodeled and expanded St. Regis Kraft Co. plant on the Tideflats were photographed on December 21-22, 1936. The company had spent a million dollars in the extensive remodeling project during 1936 which was nearly completed. This view appears to be of wood framed windows with two latches apiece. G37.1-014 (T.Times 10-14-36, p. 5; T. Times 11-25-36, p. 5-articles, no pictures, on both pages regarding remodeling)

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Paper industry--1930-1940; Lumber industry--1930-1940; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940;

This internal view of St. Regis was taken in December of 1936. The location was not specified but it is believed to be the big paper mill at 801 Portland Ave., the former location of Union Bag & Paper Co. This particular view shows wet floors, drains, and machinery on both sides. It is possible that a washer had broken causing the wetness. TPL-6802; G37.1-013

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Paper industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940; Machinery;

Lumber operations at St. Regis. Although photographer Boland's notes do not mention the location of this particular St. Regis Kraft Co. plant, it is probably the large concern in Tacoma as photographed in December of 1936. The Tacoma plant had been transformed into a modern facility for the production of 60,000 tons of bleached pulp per year. The company had spent a million dollars for new machinery and reconstruction. The pulp plant was operating by the end of November, 1936, with a crew of 250. The bleaching unit would open about three months later. (T.Times 11-25-36, p. 5-article)

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Paper industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1930-1940;

St. Regis logging operations, location unknown, in May of 1936. A heavy duty truck with five coils of wire/chain/rope hanging on one side is mired off the dirt road. Many logs have already been downed and a "donkey" is billowing steam. G75.1-043

Lumber industry--1930-1940; St. Regis Paper Co.; Trucks--1930-1940; Logs; Donkey engines;