Living room 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 with the farmer in mind. One of its main innovations was to place the fireplace in the dining room, so that the farmer could relax in the evening without changing clothes. The living room could then be kept in pristine condition for entertaining guests.Exposed beams and cedar walls gave a rustic but comfortable touch to the living room.All the furnishings and appliances for the house were provided, down to the food on cupboard 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; Living Rooms--Moses Lake--1950-1960; Farms--Moses Lake--1950-1960;
Two of Don Dunn's daughters enjoy two piglets housed in the new pig house that was included in the "Farm-in-a-Day" at Moses Lake given to Donald Dun, a decorated GI and top notch farmer who had been flooded out by the Cottonwood River in Kansas. Ordered by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (Popular Mechanics "They Built Him a Farm in a Day" Dec. 1952, pg. 118-22+)
As the United States moved into a peacetime economy after WWII, Tacoma's industries began manufacturing new products for the growing domestic market. In December of 1947, the Marine Iron Works, 1120 East D Street, was building "Mighty Man" garden tractors. Designed by B.A. Winter, a top aviation engineer, the "Mighty Man" was aimed at home owners and small suburban farmers. It could operate as a two wheeled, walk behind tiller, or be easily converted to a four wheeled riding machine. (Photo ordered by Condon Advertising Company) TPL-9139
Agricultural machinery & implements--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tractors--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; Marine Iron Works, Inc. (Tacoma); Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma);
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;
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;
Exterior Washington Co-op Farmers Association buildings. Located close to the modern feed mill appears to be the Washington Cooperative Farmers Association garage. The Co-op owned several delivery trucks that would transport bulk feeds and petroleum to its customers. They could be stored and maintained at this facility, which included three gas pumps. Photograph ordered by Washington Cooperative Farmers Association.
Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Garages--Tacoma--1950-1960; Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Washington Cooperative Farmers Association's Feed Mill. The Co-op spent a million dollars in the late 1940's to construct the modern feed mill pictured above. The feed mill would utilize the most modern techniques to blend and weigh its grains. In addition, a bulk feed unit was constructed where the feed could be funneled directly into waiting delivery trucks or rail cars. The Washington Co-op had been serving the Tacoma area since 1920. Its feed mill manufactured much of the formula feeds used by Western Washington members. As the Co-op continued to grow, new additions were made to improve efficiency including eight huge tanks added to the bulk feed loading-out line to increase storage by 50%. A completely new overhead conveying system was added to speed the handling from the mill to the truck. It made it possible to convey two different products simultaneously and increased the loading capacity from 40 to 100 tons per hour. (TNT 9-1-58, C-2)
Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Food storage buildings--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Quality control testing in the bulk grain storage, photograph ordered by the Washington Co-op. The uniformed man is selecting samples of the grain in the compartments of a long pole. The length of the pole is perhaps due to the need to test samples from the core of the pile of grain.
Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Grain elevators--Tacoma; Mills--Tacoma; Food storage buildings--Tacoma; Product inspection; Food adulteration & inspection; Testing;
Representatives of the 4-H Clubs of Washington meet with a Washington Co-op Farmers Association official on April 26, 1957, outside the association's headquarters on Taylor Way. Two of the 4-H'ers are standing on the running board of the Co-op's bulk feeds delivery truck. Photograph ordered by the Washington Cooperative Farmers Association.
Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; 4-H Club (Tacoma);
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+)
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;
The area surrounding Wenatchee Washington. Wenatchee is a city on the Columbia River, at the mouth of the Wenatchee River, in southeast Chelan County. It is primarily an agricultural area and is close to being the geographic center of the state. Here hay has been cut & stacked and waits to be baled. A barn and farm house sit on the rolling hills. This area was revitalized with the availability of irrigation after the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam.
Grange, Redmond. The one-story building appears to be located on a field of gravel in Redmond. It is part of the National Grange, the nation's oldest national agricultural organization formed in the years following the Civil War. This is possibly Happy Valley #322, organized in 1909 by E.M. Smith, incorporated in 1930. Photograph ordered by the R.G. Williams Co.
Doris Lee and Bobby Seeber may not be riding a bicycle built for two, but she appears comfortable sitting in the front basket of the boy's bicycle. The pair enjoy ice cream cones at an area farmers' picnic in Sumner. A day off was declared by Pierce County farmers in August of 1936 as they and their families and friends attended the 9th annual picnic sponsored by area agricultural organizations and the County Agent's office. (T. Times 8/22/1936 p. 1) Series D1721, Image 6 has been enlarged and cropped to make the figures more prominent in this version.
Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Lee, Doris; Seeber, Bobby; Picnics--Sumner--1930-1940; Children riding bicycles & tricycles--Sumner--1930-1940; Ice cream & ices; Children eating & drinking--1930-1940;
George Lawler bulb farm at Gardenville. Four men working inside a dark bulb shed. They are pouring bulbs onto a bulb sorting machine constructed of wood with four metal rollers. The machine is possibly a grading machine, that divides the bulbs by size.
George Lawler bulb farm at Gardenville, near Fife. Several women sorting bulbs on a conveyor inside a bulb shed. These women are cleaning the bulbs by hand. Old husks are removed and daughter bulbs are separated. Diseased and cut bulbs will be discarded before grading. This image is similar to A7411-1.
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;
Douglas Fir Plywood Association. A silo built against a barn in rural Pierce County. A conveyor belt type loader stands next to the silo as well as the farmer and his dog.
Spraying hop fields. Man seated in tractor on dirt road through hop fields. Tractor and spray equiment are parked along road. Boy on bicycle in background. Meek, manager and former owner.
Doris Lee appears to be comfortable as she sits in the basket on the front of Bobby Seeber's bicycle on August 21, 1936. The pair were enjoying ice cream cones at the 9th annual area farmers' picnic in Sumner. A day off was declared by Pierce County farmers as they and their families and friends attended the gathering sponsored by area agricultural organizations and the County Agent's office. (T. Times 8/22/1936 p. 1)
Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Lee, Doris; Seeber, Bobby; Picnics--Sumner--1930-1940; Children riding bicycles & tricycles--Sumner--1930-1940; Ice cream & ices; Children eating & drinking--1930-1940; Vehicles - Bicycles
Exterior views of some Washington Co-op Farmers Association buildings were taken on February 1, 1956. The brick Farm Service Store was open Mondays-Fridays from 8 am to 4pm for the convenience of its members. A truck and passenger car are parked at the store's loading dock. A Great Northern boxcar is located close to the truck. Photograph ordered by Washington Cooperative Farmers Association.
Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Railroad freight cars--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Wilson, ordered by the Washington Coop. He holds pruning shears and she holds what appears to be a Washington state business license. They are perhaps starting their own orchard or berry business.
Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Wilson, Carl; Pruning; Scissors & shears;
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;
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);
