This look at St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co.'s sprawling grounds was taken from the Puyallup Bridge on May 30, 1927. Col. Chauncey W. Griggs and associates had established one of Tacoma's first major sawmills located along Commencement Bay in 1888, one year before Washington became a state. Abundant sources of hemlock and Douglas firs were available for logging as St. Paul & Tacoma helped Tacoma become the "Lumber Capital of the World." One of the area's largest employers, St. Paul & Tacoma would eventually merge with St. Regis Paper Co. in 1957. (History of Pierce County, Vol. 1- pg. 10-11-article) TPL-3235; G36.1-134
St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;
Elevated 1927 view of what is believed to be the Tidewater Mill Co. facilities located on the east side of the Hylebos Waterway at the end of 11th St. The Hylebos Creek Waterway drawbridge is up to permit ships to pass under. Multiple log dumps are located near the plant and readily accessible. The Tidewater Mill Co. was established in 1918 and had a capacity of 100,000 logs per day. Because it fronted 750 feet of deep water, several ships were able to load cargo at the same time. TPL-6476; G9.1-043
Defiance Lumber Co. facilities, including smokestack and railroad tracks, and neighboring hillside as viewed on June 19, 1928. This scene was photographed for a court case that may have involved pollution claims against the company. G36.1-056 (for another view of smokestack see Boland photograph B18783)
This photograph of trains of logs on and along Northern Pacific Railway tracks with Northern Pacific boxcars adjacent to the logs was taken in March of 1929. It was later used in a News Tribune article dated October 20, 1930 to help bolster Tacoma's claim to be "the lumber capital of the world." Great trains of logs like these were brought to Tacoma's mills for cutting into lumber before being sent out to the world. More than 80 Tacoma mills converted lumber into finished products. 21 local furniture-making factories used Tacoma lumber to built tables, chairs and all manner of wood products. Tacoma had led the nation in lumber production since 1905. TPL-1542; G44.1-114 (TNT 10-20-30, 4-B)
Two photographs were artfully combined in this March, 1936, work by photographer Marvin Boland. Large logs are pictured aboard an open railroad car on tracks while in the background are three unidentified men posed at the base of an enormous old-growth tree. TPL-2117; G75.1-081
This is a view of St. Regis logging operations in May of 1936. The forest location was not given. Here a worker is driving an earthmover of some sort. He is possibly clearing the way for a makeshift road so that trucks could access the area.
Lumber industry--1930-1940; St. Regis Paper Co.; Machinery;
Logging equipment at a Peterman logging site, location at or near Morton, in June of 1936. Equipment is a "donkey" used to move logs. These early diesel yarders were designed to yard logs to a landing using a spar tree. The "donkeys" were mounted on sleds made out of two logs which allowed them to be moved on trucks or railcars. It was possible for them to pull themselves over rough grounds to where they needed to be set up. This diesel yarder is possibly one of the first "Berger" brand yarders with the first V8 Caterpillar engine power plant. TPL-9855; G75.1-046 (Additional information provided by a reader)
ca. 1918. Puget Mill Co. New England style "Saltbox" houses for company employees in Port Gamble, circa. 1918. Company officials insisted on a hierarchy in housing; managers had the best homes on the highest ground, skilled workers and their families came next, immigrant workers (Scandinavian, German, Swiss, Slovaks and Greeks) arriving in the 1880's were housed on the other side of the second growth forest west and south of the town in areas known as "New England" and "Murphy's Row," unmarried men lived in bunk houses and cabins on the spit near the mill and Chinese workers lived separately out of town, as did native Americans workers. The worker housing was surrounded by picket fences and had fireplaces, electric lights, bathrooms and a water closet. Rent for a three bedroom was about $7.00 a month. (Historylink.org) Boland #21
Side view of logging equipment on wheels belonging to the Wilson Logging Co. Photograph taken at unidentified location on August 23, 1919. TPL-9852 ; G36.1-032
In August of 1919, a steam donkey mounted on a sled was photographed loaded on a truck for ease in transport to a logging site. Only the sled itself, built from huge logs, is clearly visible. The cable and winch on the donkey could be used to help load and unload it from the truck. This photograph was ordered by the Wilson Logging Co. There was a C.C. (Chan) Wilson Lumber Co. located in Hudson, just west of Rainier, Oregon. G75.1-082
Extended view of St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. planing mill and "monorail" as pictured in November of 1919. This may be the aerial tramway constructed to transport lumber from dry kilns to various other parts of the plant, replacing the old horse-and-truck system. St. Paul & Tacoma were putting in improvements to their sawmill on the Tideflats totaling nearly half-a-million dollars. Two new dry kilns were being built as well as an aerial tramway. The improvements were expected to reduce the cost of plant operation. St. Paul & Tacoma employed about 800 men at the time including a considerable night shift. G36.1-155 (T.Times 8-22-19, p. 12-article; TDL 7-19-20, p. 6-article)
Lumber industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma);
St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. yard as photographed on November 24, 1919. As reported in the August 22, 1919, Tacoma Times newspaper, St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber was spending nearly $500,000 in improvements to its sawmill on the Tideflats. An aerial tramway was constructed to carry lumber from dry kilns to other parts of the plant. This would facilitate handling of lumber in the mill. The company was established in 1888 and provided steady employment for many residents for decades. It would merge with St. Regis Paper Co. in 1957. G36.1-083 (T.Times 8-22-1919, p. 12-article)
St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1910-1920;
Two circular slices of logs placed on the small porch above welcomed delegates to the Pacific Logging Congress Convention on October 28, 1922. The tiny log cabin itself was built using white fir in 1889. 500 delegates from all Pacific Coast states and British Columbia had convened at the Tacoma Hotel in late October of 1922 for the 13th annual gathering of lumbermen. On the last day of the meeting they traveled to the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. camp in Kapowsin where the above photograph was believed to have been taken. G75.1-141 (TDL 10-23-22, p. 5-article; TDL 10-25-22, p. 1-article; TDL 10-26-22, p. 1-article)
Scores of delegates to the 13th annual Pacific Logging Congress Convention piled aboard a Northern Pacific Railroad flatcar on October 28, 1922. Railings prevent the passengers from unexpectedly exiting the freight car; indeed, the motto "Safety First," as painted on the railing, seems to be well heeded. They were visiting the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. camp at Kapowsin that day to view modern techniques of logging. G75.1-140 (TDL 10-23-22, p. 5-article; TDL 10-25-22, p. 1-article; TDL 10-26-22, p. 1-article)
A group of seven, including one woman, posed before the "welcome" log at the 13th annual Pacific Logging Congress Convention on October 28, 1922. Each year representatives of logging concerns would meet to discuss important issues affecting their industry. The 1922 convention was headquartered in Tacoma where one of the topics of discussion was the use of slack line cable systems in bringing logs out. This photograph is believed to have been taken at the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. camp at Kapowsin where delegates visited on a special day trip the last day of the convention. G75.1-139 (TDL 10-23-22, p. 5-article; TDL 10-25-22, p. 1-article; TDL 10-26-22, p. 1-article)
Smoke is billowing out of chimneys found in the neatly constructed cabins at the West Fork Logging Camp in Tacoma. There are several small painted cabins in a row with even a planked walkway before them. A road ends at the camp so that cars can be driven and parked outside the buildings. G75.1-031
Lumber camps--Tacoma--1920-1930; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; West Fork Logging Co. (Tacoma);
On February 19, 1924, workers at the St. Paul & Tacoma lumber mill were loading a giant log onto a Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway car. The log was being sent on an exhibition tour. It would be shown at agricultural fairs and educational exhibits in the East and Midwest during the coming summer as a sample of the giant logs from which Tacoma mills got their lumber. The log was 72 inches in diameter and 40 feet long. (TNT 2/20/1924) G36.1-042
Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Logs; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma; Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery;
The "Artigas" is docked awaiting the loading of a cargo of lumber from Tidewater Mill on May 2, 1924. The Tidewater Mill, located on the east side of the Hylebos Waterway, exported most of their timber. The "Artigas" would set sail directly for San Francisco on Saturday, May 3rd. G49.1-094
The Henry Mill & Timber Co. had just begun operating in late July of 1925, just about two weeks before this photograph of the plant's exterior was taken. The plant took over two years to build due to difficulty in preparing the foundation. Built on the 26-acre waterfront site of the old Tacoma Mill Co., the sawmill was designed to use the most modern equipment. It started with a head saw, edger and trimmer. Finished products could be easily transported via ship or nearby railroad tracks. G36.1-143A (TNT 7-20-25, p. 16-article)
On July 26, 1926, the "Cacique," an oceangoing cargo ship was pictured at the Tidewater Mill Co. The ship is being loaded with lumber for export. The Tidewater Mill was located on the east side of the Hylebos Waterway, at the end of 11th St. Over 3/4 of its timber was destined for export. In the foreground can be seen several large logs being floated to the mill for processing. The Tidewater was only one of a few mills on the Pacific Coast able to process large logs. (TDL 12/22/1918, pg. B-8) G49.1-086
On June 12, 1924, two unidentified workers lean their hands against the enormous cut log which will soon be hoisted and processed. The log will be made into sheets of plywood to be used by the Pacific Mutual Door Co. This photograph, in addition to a number of plywood operations shots, was taken in Olympia on behalf of the company. G75.1-027
In March of 1920, a steam donkey on a sled was photographed for the West Fork Logging Co. The donkey was used for pulling logs in from the woods. In its simplest form, a donkey was just a steam engine with a drum and a steel cable. The winch was used to pull in logs or load them. In this case, the boiler is mounted, along with the drums, on a sled to make the unit portable. The steam donkey replaced the logging horses and oxen with the power of steam. It was faster, cheaper and more reliable than animals. The West Fork Logging Co. was located in Mineral, about 14 miles north of Morton in Lewis County. It was owned and operated by L.T. Murray. G75.1-093; TPL-9856 (Labbe & Goe, Railroads in the Woods)
An unidentified mill in Tacoma's Tideflats was photographed by Marvin Boland in March of 1921. No workers are in sight. Piles of lumber are stacked throughout the yard. G36.1-043
