Washington Cooperative Farmers Association refrigerated delivery truck. The truck is painted with the logo for the Lynden brand, one of the co-op's brands. Lynden sold eggs, chicken and turkey. Washington farmers banded together and sold under the co-op's brands in order to get better prices for their goods. The grain elevators can be seen on the left.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Grain elevators--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

As the holidays approached in 1953, the Washington Co-operative Farmers Association stood ready with their refrigerated delivery trucks. This truck was painted with the logo for the Lynden brand, one of the Co-op's brands, and their most popular holiday product - turkey. Lynden sold eggs and chicken, as well as the holiday gobbler. The truck was posed at the Co-op's Mill and grain elevators, located at 1801 Taylor Way, on the tideflats. The Co-op was formed of Washington farmers who banded together and sold under the Co-op's brands in order to get better prices for their goods.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Grain elevators--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

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);

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;

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);

Don Dunn and his family are seen outside the completed seven room modern home given to the 30 year old WWII veteran as part of the "Farm-in-a-Day" project at Moses Lake. Building the home, out buildings, and fences, and fertilizing and planting 80 acres took volunteers 22 hours. The "butterfly" house was designed by a group of five architects headed up by Paul Kirk of Seattle. Ordered by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (Popular Mechanics "They Built Him a Farm in a Day" Dec. 1952, pg 118-22+)

Farms--Moses Lake--1950-1960; Farmhouses--Moses Lake; Dunn, Don--Homes & haunts; Families--Moses Lake;

The 4-H Club ice cream stand was a popular stop on Friday August 21, 1936 at the 9th annual Washington Cooperative Association picnic held in Sumner. 2000-3000 farmers and grange members attended the all-day affair. Three county commissioners (l to r) A.A. Rankin, John Schlarb, and Harvey Scofield were all two-fisted cone eaters. They were served by (l to r) Marion McChesney, Elsa Wahlquist, and her sister Edna.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Picnics--Sumner--1930-1940; Ice cream & ices; 4-H Club, Pierce County Chapter; McChesney, Marion; Rankin, A.A.; Wahlquist, Elsa; Schlarb, John; Wahlquist, Edna; Scofield, Harvey;

In August of 1938, a work crew of women sorted and hand cleaned bulbs at the George Lawler bulb farm at Gardenville, near Fife. They removed husks and separated daughter bulbs. Diseased or cut bulbs were discarded before grading. In 1910, George Lawler built a house on 5 acres of muddy deserted land near Fife and planted over 2000 flower bulbs with which he launched Pierce County's first commercial bulb business. The area was renamed Gardenville in honor of his flowers. After his death in 1948, the company's signature daffodil stock was sold to United Bulb Co. of Woodland.

Farms--Fife--1930-1940; Lawler Bulbs (Fife); Crops; Lawler, George--Homes & haunts; Agricultural laborers--Fife--1930-1940;

George Lawler bulb farm at Gardenville. Five men working with winch and pulley in open-frame structure. Truck beside structure is loaded with wooden boxes. In 1910, George Lawler bought 5 acres of land in Gardenville, near Fife, where he built a house and planted 2200 bulbs. As the commercial bulb business took off, he purchased land in North Puyallup and Roy.

Farms--Fife--1930-1940; Lawler Bulbs (Fife); Crops; Lawler, George--Homes & haunts; Agricultural laborers--Fife--1930-1940; Trucks--1930-1940;

Marine Iron Works located at 1120 East D Street, was designing and building lightweight garden tractors, known as the "Mighty Man". These small tractors were intended for use on small farms and gardens, they could pull up to 8,000 pounds on a 2% grade. These tractors were becoming very popular with the urban farmers. View of "Mighty Man" garden tractor in action, photo ordered by Condon Advertising Company. TPL-9140

Agricultural machinery & implements--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tractors--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; Marine Iron Works, Inc. (Tacoma); Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Douglas Fir Plywood Association. This interior view of a silo shows that the walls are built of sheets of plywood. This view also provides a closer view of the conveyor belt system for moving silage. An electric motor seen in the opening of the silo rotates two wheels that pull a chain the length of the wooden trough. The chains in turn, pull the belt with the silage material on it. Prefabricated silos built with treated plywood were built by a number of companies in Washington state during the 1940s including Modular Structures Incorporated of Tacoma.

Farmers--Puyallup; Silos--Puyallup; Conveying systems--Puyallup; Plywood; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Buck & Sons manufactured farm machinery, sold Ford and Ferguson Tractors, repaired tractors and sold tractor tires. Exterior view of their building, Ferguson System tractor sign above entrance, shop windows, garage on left side.

Agricultural machinery & implements--Tacoma; Machinery; Tractors--Tacoma; Storefronts--Tacoma; Buck & Sons Tractor & Implement Co. (Tacoma);

Buck & Sons manufactured farm machinery, sold Ford and Ferguson Tractors, repaired tractors and sold tractor tires. Exterior view of their building, Ferguson System tractor sign above entrance, also visible are Puget Sound Paint and Hardware store and Signal gas station.

Agricultural machinery & implements--Tacoma; Tractors--Tacoma; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma; Storefronts--Tacoma; Buck & Sons Tractor & Implement Co. (Tacoma);

Buck and Sons was holding a tractor and farming equipment demonstration for the local farmers. They were showing their new merchandise and their new and modern facilities. Buck and Sons had modern equipment and supplies to meet a farmer's needs. Interior view of Buck and Sons.

Agricultural machinery & implements--Tacoma; Tractors--Tacoma; Meetings--Tacoma; Buck & Sons Tractor & Implement Co. (Tacoma);

In June of 1952, the Washington Cooperative Farmers Association operated a grain elevator, feed mill and warehouse complex at 1801 Taylor Way on an 8 1/2 acre site on the Hylebos Waterway. The mill, including its 163 Foot tall "headhouse" was completed in 1949 and was the last word in mill construction at that time. The site was served by the Tacoma Belt line, giving it access to all transcontinental railroads, and had a dock to accomodate ocean-going vessels. The mill was sold to Land O'Lakes/Cenex Feeds, Inc. in the 1980s and closed in 1990. TPL-9616

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Grain elevators--Tacoma--1950-1960; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A three-axle International truck has been fitted with a tank on the rear for Washington Cooperative Farmers Association. The truck is seen in front of two of the storage tanks at Standard Oil Company.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Standard Oil Co. of California (Tacoma); Storage tanks--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; International trucks;

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association held their 1952 stockholders' meeting at Temple Theater in Tacoma. Nearly 2,000 people from Pierce County and Enumclaw attended the annual nomination meeting of District No. 6 of the Washington Cooperative Farmers Association. Harold D. Foster of Sumner was renominated for director. He had held the post 21 years. Poultryman James Anderson of Edgemont was nominated for director as well. The vote would be made by ballot before the February 12, 1953, meeting. (TNT, 11/20/1952, p.3)

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Stages (Platforms); Temple Theatre (Tacoma);

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association held their 1952 stockholders' meeting at Temple Theater in Tacoma. This was the 35th anniversary meeting of the cooperative. Wide interest was shown in news brought by Harry J. Beernink, general manager, that the Co-Op was arranging to acquire reserves of both petroleum and phosphate to be able to produce fertilizer for Co-Op members. (TNT, 11/20/1953, p.3)

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

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);

Washington Coop Farmers Association, a truck carrying bulk feeds being filled directly from the feed mill. Built on 8 1/2 acres on the Hylebos Waterway, the feed mill was one of the most modern structures in the country. The Coop used both trucks and railroads to move its product across the country .

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Grain elevators--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

In July of 1943, with both an army and a civilian population to feed, harvesting the crops became a patriotic duty. With most of Washington's able-bodied men, and many of its women, serving in the military and in the defense industries, farm labor jobs fell to students. Two unidentified students are pictured working as farm laborers in Puyallup Valley in July of 1943. A young boy helps an older teenage girl lift a crate of leafy spinach onto a stack of crates placed in an open field. Boxes are labeled Kelley, Farquhar & Co., a major vegetable and fruit packing company with plants in Salem, Oregon and Tacoma. In 1958, Clyde Farquhar became sole owner of the company. (P.C. Herald 8/9/1984 p.3)

Agricultural laborers; World War, 1939-1945--Students--Tacoma; Croplands--Puyallup Valley;

In July of 1943, with our country at war and an army to feed, bringing in the crops became a patriotic duty. Most men were either in the service or working in the defense industry; therefore, the job of harvesting fell to women and youth. Especially targeted as a work force were youth organizations and the schools. Here, women and students work side by side in a Puyallup Valley spinach field. Wooden crates are placed in the field and Richards Studio's wood paneled station wagon is parked in the distance. Adults were also urged to join the youths in the harvest of valley peas and berries whose peak was to be reached soon. 1,200 kids had already been enrolled in Pierce County's harvest army through the Tacoma Agricultural Manpower Committee of the Chamber of Commerce. 7,000-10,000 adult workers were needed the first two weeks in July. Bus transportation would be provided by the Chamber of Commerce. (T.Times 7-2-43, p. 16-article on harvesting)

Agricultural laborers; World War, 1939-1945--Students--Tacoma; Croplands--Puyallup Valley;

General Mills plant. This exterior view includes the grain elevators and the retail outlet building. Sperry Flour Company, a division of General Mills, may be forced to suspend flouring operations because of wheat shortages. Other plants of General Mills and six other companies will be closing. The government is able to pay 30 cents more per bushel than the mills which are subject to ceiling prices. Before this happened Tacoma was the biggest four milling center west of Minneapolis and Kansas City. (T.Times, 5/15/1946) TPL-6517

Agricultural industries--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; General Mills, Inc., Farm Service Division (Tacoma);

Students working as farm laborers in Puyallup. Three young women take time out for lunch. They are sitting on the tail gate of a canvas covered truck parked among the crops, with open metal lunch pails on their laps.

Agricultural laborers; World War, 1939-1945--Students--Tacoma; Croplands--Puyallup Valley;

Close up of A64472-4 cuts off right front of Washington Cooperative Building.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Grain elevators--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Men are weighing a truck filled with bulk feed at the Washington Cooperative Farmers Association's grain elevator, feed mill and warehouses on the Hylebos Waterway. The truck in the foreground and two more in the background have been painted with the Washington Co-op name.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Grain elevators--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; International trucks;

Exposure of Washington Cooperative Farmers Association's grain elevator, feed mill and warehouses at 1801 Taylor Way, on the Hylebos Waterway. Trucks and railroad cars pull up directly to the warehouses for loading.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Grain elevators--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Kitchen of the home built during the "Farm in a Day" project at Moses Lake, Wa. For Hal Hughes & Assoc. During a 22 hour period on May 29, 1952, 300 volunteers built a complete $75,000 farm- including seven room house, barns, livestock areas and planted fields- and gifted it to deserving WWII vet and farmer Donald Dunn. The house was designed by a group of five architects headed up by Paul Kirk of Seattle. It included such innovations as a fireplace in the dining room where the farmer could relax without having to clean up. It had two bathrooms, one near the back door so the farmer could cleanup without having to cross the house in muddy boots. It had less hallway space and was built on a concrete slab. The kitchen had a maximum of natural lighting, provided by the "butterfly" roof. The farm wife could see the fireplace, fields and playground through picture windows. The home came to the Dunns complete, even down to groceries stocked on the shelves. (Popular Mechanics "They Built Him a Farm in a Day" Dec. 1952, pg 118-22+)

Agriculture--Moses Lake--1950-1960; Reclamation of land--Moses Lake--1950-1960; Irrigation--Moses Lake--1950-1960; Houses--Moses Lake--1950-1960; Kitchens--Moses Lake--1950-1960; Farms--Moses Lake--1950-1960;

Mr. Schaeffer. Washington co-op. Exposure of farm supply warehouse at Milwaukee Street taken on June 10, 1947. Supplies of DDT, garden tools, tires, paint, etc.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Merchandise display--Tacoma--1940-1950;