This photograph of the Mountain Lumber Company, located at 919 East F Street on the Tacoma tideflats, was taken on February 3, 1939. Paul Billings, born in Lyndon, Kansas, moved to Tacoma in 1920 and opened the Mountain Lumber Co. in 1924. The mill was rebuilt after it burned in a spectacular fire in 1931. In January of 1950 Mountain Lumber was purchased by the Dickman Lumber Company.
Columbia Brewing Company, exterior view of plant showing truck by loading area and automobiles parked on street. West Coast Grocery Company warehouse at far right.
Brewing industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1930-1940;
On February 17,1941, a log from a great fir tree has been delivered to St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. where it has been loaded on the carriage in the mill. The slab cut has been taken off and the saw is going into the log for the second cut. (T. Times 2/26/1941, pg. 13)
Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Logs; Saws;
St. Regis Paper Company (Kraft Pulp Division) showing an overaged destroyer that was to be sunk to provide a breakwater. Scuttling of the warship hulk commenced on Thursday, September 19, 1940. St. Regis took over the Union Paper company in 1936. Logs litter the waterway in the foreground. (T.Times)
Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Scuttling of warships--United States;
This birds eye progress shot was taken on August 20, 1940 of the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co.'s hull #3, the MC 121. Hull #3 would be launched November 29, 1940 as the Cape Cleare. It was one of five 415 foot merchant motorships. The shipyard would cash in on the coming war effort and be awarded many military contracts. The yard was soon running shifts around the clock. TPL-1855
Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Progress photograph of Hull #3 at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. The vessel was launched near the end of November of 1940 as the Cape Cleare. It was part of the shipyard's first contract for five 415 foot cargo ships. TPL-1852
Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;
ca. 1940. Pennsylvania Salt Mfg. Co. Gauges for Boiler No.2. The large chemical producing company was located in the Tideflats, along the Hylebos Waterway.
Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Gauges; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Aerial view of Atlas Foundry and Machine Company looking west along railroad tracks and northwest along Center Street. Nalley Valley. [Also dated 08-26-1941]
Laying of destroyer keel for "Hull #3," to be built at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation (Sea-Tac), Seattle facility. Large group of men doff their hats while in front of steel keel piece on crane.
Boat & ship industry--Seattle; World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Seattle;
Ben Cheney and an unidentified woman sit at the back of a convertible on the dock next to the "Oregon." Richard Studio notes state that this picture was taken in Oregon. The cargo ship was built by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. in Tacoma and was launched as the Cape Cleare.
The launching of the U.S. Navy Destroyer 408, the U. S. S. Wilson, took place April 12, 1939 at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton. At 90% complete, the vessel was 341-feet-long with 1725 tons displacement. It carried a complement of 9 officers and 175 men. It was commissioned July 5, 1939 and received eleven battle stars for service in World War II. After sustaining damage during the war, it was selected as a target during the atom bomb test at Bikini Atoll in July of 1946. It was decommissioned in August of 1946 but remained afloat and was finally scuttled off Kwajelein in March of 1948. (T. Times, 4/13/39, p.20)
Launching of the U.S. Navy Destroyer #408, the U. S. S. Wilson, on April 12, 1939. The ship was decorated with pennants and bunting and photographed at dock in the Puget Sound Navy Yard at Bremerton. Ship launchings at the Navy yard differed from those at Tacoma Shipyards. The craft was built in a construction dock which was flooded for launching, much like a bathtub. The launching consisted of the gates being opened and the boat towed out into the Sound. The destroyer under construction in the background was almost entirely submerged during the ceremony. (T. Times 4/13/1939, p. 20)
On May 22, 1939, employees at the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. mill walked out, halting operations in support of their fellow striking employees at the logging camps. The workers at the camps had ceased work on May 15th. Employees at the mill walked out and filed formal charges of unfair labor practices against the company when they found out that officials planned to keep the mill running, processing logs from other sources. (T. Times 5/23/1939, pg. 3-article only)
Lumber industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Strikes--Tacoma--1930-1940;
Sales Grange Baseball Team, 1938 Pierce County Champions. Saxton Lumber Company baseball team c/o Paul Froman. 12 men in uniform, man center back in suit, equipment in front; posed on wooden bleacher steps.
Flat cars for advertising use for Pennsylvania Salt. Man explaining pipe adjustment on equipment to workman at chemical plant. Industrial safety mask close by. Photograph was taken on May 17, 1940.
Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Gas masks;
Laying of first keel at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation. Seattle Mayor Arthur Langlie, center (later Governor), kneels down to help with equipment. Governor Clarence Martin is standing above him and Tacoma Mayor J. J. Kaufman, with hardhat on left, are among those in the forefront of this March 5, 1940 photograph. (T. Times)
Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Mayors--Seattle; Martin, Clarence D., 1887-1955; Governors; Kaufman, Joseph J.; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Electricians, Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co., Carl Brusberg- Foreman, July 10, 1940. A group of workers in hard hats poses in front of one of the buildings at the shipyard. Lettering over one door reads "electricians" or "electrical." One of the two men is suits is possibly foreman Brusberg. As war loomed, STSC became one of Tacoma's largest employers. TPL-2348
Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Brusberg, Carl;
Exterior views of Peterson Boat Building Co. for Mr. Heitman of Fidelity Rent & Collection. This site, adjoining the Foss yard on the outer edge of the Middle Waterway, was chosen by the father & son team of George and John Peterson for their shipyard. It was devoted entirely to the construction of fishing vessels. This is a view of hull #7 under construction. The finished vessel would be 11 feet in depth, 22 ft. beam, 85 ft. long and weigh 120 tons. Peterson operated at this location until 1969 when it was destroyed by fire. (TT 8/5/1942, pg. 3) TPL-9441
Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Peterson Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma;