ca. 1948. This photograph, taken in 1948, shows Engine No. 903 of the Tacoma Municipal Beltline Railway. In January of 1948, Tacoma bought two almost new 65-ton diesel locomotives through the War Assets Administration. The Beltline Railroad was able to buy both locomotives from the federal government for only $41,000. They had originally cost over a quarter of a million dollars. (TNT 01/14/1948 p.14)

This photograph from the 1940s shows a man welding a seam in a large pipe section. He is inside the open pipe. Neither the man's name nor his employer's was given. TPL-9514

ca. 1948. This photograph, taken in 1948, shows Engine No. 903 of the Tacoma Municipal Beltline Railway pulling freight cars on the Tacoma Tideflats. In January of 1948, Tacoma bought two almost new 65-ton diesel locomotives through the War Assets Administration. The Beltline Railroad was able to buy both locomotives from the federal government for only $41,000. They had originally cost over a quarter of a million dollars. (TNT 01/14/1948 p.14)

ca. 1943. Originally built for the Tacoma Biscuit & Candy Co. in 1904, this building at 17th & Jefferson Ave. was sold to the Union Pacific Railroad two years later. After stints as a spice factory and many years as the Tacoma Paper & Stationery Co., it was taken over by Blake, Moffitt & Towne, Inc. in January of 1943. The firm was a wholesale distributor of printing paper, wrapping paper and stationery and remained at the Jefferson address until 1954 when it moved out to the industrial Tideflats. Since 1971, The Old Spaghetti Factory restaurant has been the primary occupant.

Pioneer Beer display. TPL-8149

Undated photograph of the Port of Tacoma grain elevators, taken for the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce.

Foundation Co., Yard #4, located on the Tacoma Tideflats - Rigger Storage and Water Tank, May 10, 1918. The Riggers Store House measured 32' x 27'6", 14' high, 880 sq. feet and built at a cost of $250. The water tank cost $1241 to build and consisted of a 25' diameter tank 16' high and a 26 x26 platform, 18' high. Due to the fact that most of the machinery was steam driven, an abundance of water was very important.

Women are pictured hard at work at their sewing machines in this undated photograph by photographer Chapin Bowen of the Shull-Day, later Day's Tailor-d, Clothing Co. They are surrounded by piles of the finished product, men's trousers. The company, founded by Frank Eugene Day in 1902, became the Northwest's largest manufacturer of trousers. The company perfected the assembly line where over 33 different types of sewing machine performed one function each, with the pants product being passed between the machines until completed. TPL-9501, BOWEN 2657

A Medosweet milkman, carrying a load of bottles, is on his way to deliver milk on this sunny morning in this undated Chapin Bowen photograph. He has parked his small insulated truck and left the door ajar. Medosweet Dairies, a merger of the Royal Ice Cream & Milk Co. and the Producers Dairy, had a modernized plant located at South 25th & Pacific Avenue. It emphasized its pure milk products and adherence to strict standards of cleanliness as far back as 1928. Medosweet had a laboratory, the first of its kind in Tacoma, to guarantee the highest quality of their products, including milk, cream and buttermilk. The company's pasterurized milk was delivered to home and chosen grocers the same day it was brought in by the firm's selected producers. Customers could be assured that their milk was fresh.

View looking south of the Northern Pacific Railroad track along Commencement Bay, Tacoma, Washington Territory, circa 1885. Sidewheeler steamship North Pacific at dock. The Northern Pacific wharf lay below today's Stadium Way and would serve, according to historian Murray Morgan, as a "third world between Old Tacoma and New Tacoma." (Morgan: South on the Sound, p. 48-49) KING-001, TPL-018.

Wharf scene on Commencement Bay, terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad, Tacoma, Washington Territory. Photograph was taken circa 1885. Masted ships are docked waiting to unload/load cargo.

Northern Pacific Railroad track along Commencement Bay, Tacoma, Washington Territory, circa 1885. Mt. Tacoma (Rainier) and tideflats in background. The railroad tracks were built on fill dirt. The water-filled half-moon section would also be filled in to become the railroad yard, called appropriately the "half-moon yard." KING-008, G76.1-101 (Digital copy only. No print or negative available).

ca. 1908. Northern Pacific shops in South Tacoma.

ca. 1910. G. W. O'Brien, contractor, and men laying pipe in South Tacoma.

ca. 1908. Garret W. O'Brien, contractor, and men laying pipe in South Tacoma.

ca. 1908. Garret W. O'Brien, contractor, and men laying pipe in South Tacoma.

ca. 1908. Water rushing though power generator at Electron Dam.

Mrs. Duthie, sitting in a rocking chair, on Prospect St., young girl and doll on porch of house. Probably house of George Duthie at 5124 So. Prospect. Mr. Duthie worked for the Northern Pacific Railroad.

ca. 1908. Northern Pacific Railroad workers at South Tacoma Shops. Steam locomotive and crew

ca. 1908. Steam locomotive No. 10 probably on the Tacoma & Eastern Railroad outside Mineral, Washington.

Several views of Wheeler-Osgood Buildings, Wheeler-Osgood, spec. An evening view of the exterior of the Wheeler-Osgood office building with the Tacoma skyline in the distance. An automobile stands across the street under a large tree and several more automobiles are parked beside the building.

Wheeler, Osgood Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cityscapes;

In 1949 Nalley's had been a stable part of Tacoma's industries for more than thirty years; the company had been referred to as, one of Tacoma's "payroll builders". The company's plant had modern food processing buildings; they were expanding in order to keep up with the growing demands for their products. Interior view of plant; view of machinery used in processing the Nalley's food products.

Food industry--Tacoma; Containers; Machinery; Equipment; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Assembly-line methods--Tacoma; Nalley's, Inc. (Tacoma);

Nalley's Incorporated was founded in Tacoma in 1918, Nalley's has gained an impressive reputation in the food industry; pickles, potato chips and salad dressings are just a few of the food items they produce in their line of well known products. Nalley's maintains a high quality control with all of the products, this helps to achieve the great tastes and flavors in their products. Interior view of plant; view of containers where the food items are processed and produced.

Food industry--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; Containers; Assembly-line methods--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Nalley's, Inc. (Tacoma);

Nalley's has always maintained a consistent building and development program; the company was expanding throughout Tacoma and the Pacific Northwest. In later years the company would acquire other food processing plants. In Tacoma, the company would begin expanding throughout the industrial area and continue operations at the company's original plant located on Puyallup Avenue. Interior view of Nalley's; view of machinery in food processing department.

Food industry--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; Containers; Assembly-line methods--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Nalley's, Inc. (Tacoma);

Interior view of Tacoma Moving and Storage Company facilities, two unidentified workers are applying "Owens-Corning Fiberglas" to the wall; "Owens-Corning Fiberglas" boxes containing the insulation product are located throughout the work area. Photo ordered by Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation, a building insulation company based out of Seattle, Washington.

Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Building materials; Glass fiber industry--Tacoma; Maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Construction workers--Tacoma; Tacoma Moving & Storage Co. (Tacoma); Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp. (Seattle);

Interior view of Buffelen's facilities taken on January 10, 1949; two laborers appear to be stacking plywood panels onto a machine that will lift them and place them in another area of the plant. Dryer is large piece of machinery next to men. American Manufacturing Company Inc. specialized in hoisting equipment for the lumber and plywood industries of Tacoma. American's company officers were: Thomas G. Gepford, President, Henry J. Loquvam, Vice-President, Jack M. Moe, Secretary; their business was located at 2119 Pacific Avenue. TPL-8280

Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Elevators; Hoisting machinery; Laborers--Tacoma; Machinery industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Buffelen Lumber & Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); American Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma);

Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation was located at 710 2nd Avenue in Seattle, Edmund N. Still was the manager. Interior view of Tacoma Moving and Storage Company facilities, two unidentified workers are applying "Owens-Corning Fiberglas" on the warehouse floor; photo ordered by Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation, a building insulation company based out of Seattle, Washington.

Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Glass fiber industry--Tacoma; Maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Construction workers--Tacoma; Tacoma Moving & Storage Co. (Tacoma); Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp. (Seattle);

Tacoma Moving and Storage Company specialized in furniture and piano moving; they were located in downtown Tacoma at 2136-38 Pacific Avenue. Interior view of Tacoma Moving and Storage Company facilities, an unidentified worker is applying "Owens-Corning Fiberglas" to the wall; photo ordered by Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation, a building insulation company based out of Seattle, Washington.

Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Glass fiber industry--Tacoma; Maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Construction workers--Tacoma; Tacoma Moving & Storage Co. (Tacoma); Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp. (Seattle);

Tacoma Moving and Storage Company's officers were: Alex K. Johnson, President, M. Clark Johnson, Treasurer, and Jorgina Pande, Secretary. Interior view of Tacoma Moving and Storage Company facilities, two unidentified workers are applying "Owens-Corning Fiberglas" to the wall; photo ordered by Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation, a building insulation company based out of Seattle, Washington.

Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Glass fiber industry--Tacoma; Maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Construction workers--Tacoma; Tacoma Moving & Storage Co. (Tacoma); Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp. (Seattle);

In 1949 St. Regis ranked among the top companies in the paper and pulp industry. Interior view of St. Regis plant, Ederer cranes with 24 ton capacity are being used in paper mill. Photo ordered by Ederer Engineering Company, cranes, hoist and veneer machinery manufacturers based out of Seattle, Washington.

Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hoisting machinery; Pulleys; Equipment; Machinery industry--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Ederer Engineering Co. (Seattle);