Aerial view of Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. Storage tanks dot the area around the plant and one of the Pennwalt barges can be seen being maneuvered to the dock by two tugs. The large corporation, now known as Pennwalt, had its beginnings in 1850 when five Philadelphia Quakers organized the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. and constructed a plant to produce lye and alkaline salts of soda from natural salt. Today Pennwalt, with its headquarters in Philadelphia, is a worldwide manufacturer of chemicals, health products and precision equipment. The chlorine produced by the company is used in paper and pulp manufacturing, but also in water purification, bleach and the manufacture of adhesives. Caustic soda is also used in pulp production. ("South on the Sound" by Murray Morgan)

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma);

E.L. Cliffe (L), plant superintendent, and Col. Edward Schmitt, commanding officer of the Army Personnel Center, Ft. Lewis, met with Pennsalt employee William Otto at the company's facilities on November 10, 1954. Col. Schmitt toured the plant in preview of industry tours for military personnel on Armed Forces Appreciation Day, November 30th. Mr. Otto shows the two men the machinery used in making corrosion-resistant molds used in the manufacture of chlorine and caustic by Pennsalt. Other companies, including Puget Sound Plywood, Brown & Haley, Heidelberg Breweries and Hooker Electrochemical, would also be offering tours for the military on Armed Forces Appreciation Day. (TNT 11-21-54, B-11)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Machinery; Cliffe, E.L.; Schmitt, Edward; Otto, William;

An unidentified couple poses in May of 1943 at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Worker with oil can at Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company plant. After the war Penn Salt would return to manufacturing household and industrial goods: chlorine, hydrogen gas, caustic soda, sodium arsenate, sodium and potassium chlorate, and sodium hypochlorite. (T.Times, 2/23/43)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--1940-1950;

A man is working with machinery in May of 1943 at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. "PennSalt" manufactured chemicals for use in other industries. During World War II, they stepped up production to include chemicals needed to make ammunitions.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

One of the business offices was photographed in May of 1943 at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. "Penn Salt" manufactured chemicals used by other industries. During World War II, they increased production to included chemicals needed by the ammunitions industry.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In May of 1943, workers at Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. move barrels of chemicals on dollies. Many of these barrels will be shipped to the ammunitions industry.

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Working class--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company, coverage of "E" award during a May 15, 1943 outdoor ceremony. A woman wearing a corsage is pinning a ribbon on an African-American man wearing a suit with vest. (T.Times, 5/17/1943, p.16)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Awards;

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company, coverage of "E" award ceremony on May 15, 1943. Col. Arthur J. Ericcson, U.S. Army, is presenting "E" pins to employees. The Tacoma Times indicated that Ina Hagedorn and Thomas George James represented the employees in receiving "E" pins. (T.Times, 5/17/1943, p.16)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Awards;

The "E" Award ceremony at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company was followed by a luncheon for 800 employees, family members and guests. Several military dignitaries smile brightly while holding their trays in the lunch buffet line. (T.Times, 5/17/1943, p.16)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Awards;

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company, coverage of "E" award on May 15, 1943. Luncheon was served to some 800 employees, their families and guests. The serving staff are shown in front of one of the company's buildings. (T.Times, 5/17/1943, p.16)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Awards;

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company, coverage of "E" pennant awarded the company during a noontime outdoor ceremony on May 15, 1943. Women are seated on the stage with two men standing behind them. The award was granted for efficiency in production of vital chemicals to serve war-time needs. (T.Times, 5/17/1943, p.16)

World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Awards;

Tanks are placed in lines in one of the buildings of Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company's Tacoma plant. A workman is seen attaching parts to the tanks between the rows.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington began operations in their Taylor Way plant in June, 1929. Then known as Tacoma Electrochemical Company, they produced liquid chlorine, caustic soda and sodium hypochlorite for the area's pulp mills. Previously, mills had to import these products from the East. A plentiful supply of low-cost electricity, pure water, moderate climate, and good supply of labor provided incentive for Pennsalt and other chemical plants to locate in Tacoma. View of Pennsalt worker turning bolt with a wrench; photograph was taken in October, 1951.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Pennsalt (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1950-1960; Machinery; Pipes;

General American Evaporators shown in evaporator room at Pennsylvania Salt. Penn Salt began a $172,000 plant expansion program in March 1951. The biggest investment was to be in new equipment in the plant's chlorine and caustic soda departments. Some building modification was also included. The expansion was necessitated by both increased normal demands and those spurred by war production. (TNT, 3/30/1951)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Factories--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company. The exterior of one of the buildings at the plant is pictured on June 7, 1947. The roof line includes elongated V shapes: the shorter side is translucent to allow light into the factory during daylight hours.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Factories--Tacoma;

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company. Two men stand by a large control panel. One of the men is turning a valve. Dials are displayed on the large metal face of the panel.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Factories--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma;

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company. A large room filled with rows and rows of tanks in the electrolytic cell department. Two men are walking along the aisles to assure all is well. This electro-chemical company manufactured chlorine, caustic soda, sodium hypochlorite, bleaching powder, hydrogen and sodium arsenate among other substances. (TNT, 2/15/1949, p.A-6)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tanks (Storage); Factories--Tacoma; Laborers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma;

Fred H. Gillmaster is flanked by Marijane Argue, office secretary, on the left and an unidentified woman on the right, at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company of Washington's open house on August 8, 1950. Mr. Gillmaster has a white flower clasped in his hands while the two women wear small corsages. While the Tacoma plant has been in operation since 1929, its parent company is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma)--Employees; Pennsalt (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Gillmaster, Fred H.; Argue, Marijane;

Pennsylvania Salt manufactured the following chemicals: chlorine, caustic soda, sodium hypochlorite, bleaching powder, hydrogen, sodium arsenate, dairy and poultry germicides, special chemical cleaners and laundry and dry cleaning products. Frederick C. Shanaman was the President and General Manager of the company. Aerial view of the Tacoma plant, located at 2901 Taylor Way, in Tacoma's tideflats, near the Turning Basin, which is now known as the Hylebos Basin.

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Chemicals; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Aerial photographs; Aerial views; Waterfronts; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma);

Eight men stand outdoors at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company of Washington's open house on August 8, 1950. The open house, held at Pennsalt's Taylor Way location, drew a large crowd of interested visitors and employees. It was all in celebration of its parent firm's 100 anniversary. (TNT 8-6-50, p. A-9)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Pennsalt (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A large crowd awaits entry to the open house at the Pennsalt plant on August 8, 1950. They are listening to a welcoming speech by the gentleman standing next to the large American flag. Pennsalt, headquartered in Pennsylvania, has been in the chemicals business for 100 years. In that time, the firm has grown into a nationwide chain of eight manufacturing plants, including Tacoma's tideflats location, and research laboratories. (TNT 8-6-50, p. A-9)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Pennsalt (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company of Washington held an open house on August 8, 1950, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its parent firm. The Tacoma plant is located at on the tideflats at 2901 Taylor Way. Domestic salt is brought in from California and Tacoma's cheap electrical power and abundant clean water are used to produce caustic soda and chlorine. The industrial chemicals can then be transported easily back to California and other locations due to Tacoma's efficient shipping facilities. (TNT 8-9-50, p. 10)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Pennsalt (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

An open house and tour occurred at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company of Washington's Taylor Way plant on August 8, 1950, as the plant helped celebrate its parent firm's 100th anniversary. This long distance shot shows several women relaxing at a table in front of a brick building. The open house drew large crowds of interested visitors.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Pennsalt (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington: yard employees' Christmas party. Employees chat over bowls of soup, paper cups of coffee and long loaves of French bread. The Pennsalt plant manufactured caustic chemicals used in paper, pulp and plywood manufacturing. It was one of the largest plants in the Tacoma Tideflats industrial area.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma)--Employees; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Factories--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington; yard employees' Christmas party. Pennsalt president and general manager Fred C. Shanaman, in center, enjoys a bowl of soup with employees. Pennsalt, at 40 acres on the Hylebos Waterway, was one of the largest plants in the Tideflats industrial area. Materials were brought into the plant by ship and rail. The company was also the major user of Tacoma power & water.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma)--Employees; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Factories--Tacoma--1950-1960; Shanaman, Frederick Charles, 1901-1982;

This aerial view of Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company shows their building complex, 2901 Taylor Way, as it appeared in July 1956. Storage tanks dot the area around the plant and one of the Pennwalt barges can be seen being maneuvered to the dock by two tugs. In 1928, the eastern firm was invited to build a caustic soda and liquid chlorine plant on 14 acres of filled ground adjacent to the Hylebos Waterway. The plant opened the following year as Tacoma ElectroChemical Company. As the parent firm diversified the plants' chemical production, it became known as Pennsalt, and then Pennwalt. Pennwalt Corp. was taken over by Elf-Atochem in 1990. ("South on the Sound" by Murray Morgan)

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma);

Pennsalt; 8 people at a desk. The man in the lab coat holds a glass bottle with a grainy substance inside.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma)--Employees; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Factories--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Pennsalt; Plant & employees for magazine. As the western headquarters for Pennsylvania Salt, the Tacoma plant also employed a large office staff. This group may have been attached to the sales department. The chemicals produced at Pennsalt were sold mainly to pulp, paper, plywood and soap manufacturers.

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma)--Employees;

ca. 1960. Aerial photograph of the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. in 1960 Richards Studio's stock footage. This Tacoma plant, opened in 1929, covered nearly 40 acres of tideflats on the Hylebos Waterway. A ship is docked ready to transport Pennsalt's chemical products. TPL-6578

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Aerial photographs;