The new Point Defiance to Gig Harbor ferry, "Defiance." The 180-foot wooden ferry constructed of Douglas fir, with a capacity of 70 cars, was built by the Skansie Shipbuilding Co. in Gig Harbor and started on her Gig Harbor run on April 3, 1927. She had her "builders trial test" the day before. The new ferry was designed to speed up traffic between Tacoma and the Gig Harbor peninsula. She was licensed to carry 500 foot passengers and 70 cars. Skansie Brothers was founded in 1912 by four Yugoslavian brothers, Pete, Mitchell, Andrew and Joe Skansie. Beginning in 1922, the company was one of the first yards to build automobile ferries. They also were pioneers in the use of diesel ferry engines. By 1926, Mitchell Skansie had also begun an early ferry service company called the Washington Navigation Co. It had taken over operation of all ferries in Pierce County on January 1, 1927. By the 1930's, the company had many ferries running on contracted routes in the south Puget Sound. (Neal & Janus "Puget Sound Ferries") TPL-8269; G66.1-101 (TNT 1-15-27, p. 14-article; TNT 1-17-27, p. 15-article; TDL 4-2-27, p. 1-article; TDL 4-3-27, A-11)

Ferries--1920-1930; Skansies Shipbuilding Co. (Gig Harbor);

On March 15, 1927, an unidentified logging crew at Camp #1 was taking a lunch break next to giant logs stacked and ready to be transported. Some of the men found that a cut log makes a fairly comfortable perch. Metal lunch pails were scattered around the area and there were clumps of snow visible. TPL-2445; G75.1-102

Loggers; Logs; Lumber industry--1920-1930; Eating & drinking;

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;

On display at the Union depot, 1717 Pacific Avenue, in early February of 1927 was the giant Great Northern electric locomotive #5007. It had made its way from East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Washington State, a distance of 2600 miles. This unidentified group of men, some of the hundreds in attendance, took the opportunity to have their photograph taken with the latest "Iron Horse" before it left town. #5007 weighed in at 715,000 pounds and had an overall length of 94'4". G44.1-097; G44.1-069 (TNT 2-3-27, p. 14-article)

Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1920-1930; Union Station (Tacoma);

Ferry "Wollochet" docked at the Skansie's Shipbuilding Co.'s dock on November 12, 1926. It had been built by the Gig Harbor firm the previous year. TPL-680; G37.1-171

Ferries--1920-1930; Skansies Shipbuilding Co. (Gig Harbor); Boat & ship industry--Gig Harbor; Piers & wharves--Gig Harbor;

Employees of the Skansie Shipbuilding Company, in Gig Harbor, posed around a Fairbanks Morse engine intended for the "Defiance," the Pt. Defiance to Gig Harbor ferry which had been launched on January 16, 1927. By the mid 1920's, ferries were being designed to carry automobiles. The Skansie Brothers yard in Gig Harbor was one of the first to build the auto ferries. The "Defiance" had an 70-car capacity. Mitchell Skansie pioneered the use of diesel engines in ferries and the "Defiance" had a 360 hp engine which could travel with a speed of 10 knots. (Neal & Janus "Puget Sound Ferries") G66.1-091 (TNT 1-15-27, p. 14-article; TNT 1-17-27, p. 15-article)

Ferries--1920-1930; Skansies Shipbuilding Co. (Gig Harbor); Boat engines;

Mayor Melvin G. Tennent and several Tacoma commissioners joined the hordes of Tacomans on February 2, 1927, in viewing the giant Great Northern electric locomotive #5007 on display at the Union depot. The latest and greatest "Iron Horse" had an overall length of 94'4" and a total weight of 715,000 pounds. It was built jointly by Baldwin Locomotive and Westinghouse Electric. A banner on the locomotive proclaimed it to be the "most powerful motor-generator electric locomotive ever built." It had traveled from East Pittsburgh, Pennyslvania to Skykomish, Washington, a distance of 2600 miles, hitched to the end of a through freight. After stops in Portland and Everett, it would be put into service. From L-R above are: Mayor Tennent (on steps), Commissioners Jesse Silver & Dyer Dyment, Commissioner Ira S. Davisson, and Llewellyn Evans, superintendent of City Light. The two men standing on the ground were not identified. (TDL 2-3-27, p. 12; TNT 2-3-27, p.14-article) G44.1-069; TPL-675; TPL-5813

Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1920-1930; Mayors--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tennent, Melvin Green; Silver, Jesse; Dyment, Dyer; Davisson, Ira; Evans, Llewellyn; Municipal officials--Tacoma--1920-1930; Banners--Tacoma; Union Station (Tacoma);

Pacific States Lumber Co. plant, Selleck, Washington. This elevated view of the large, sprawling facility was taken on October 4, 1926. Selleck was a mill town in southeast King County formed by the owners of the Pacific States Lumber Co. about 1908 and named after Frank Selleck. It grew into a bustling community of 900 people housed in company buildings and included a hospital, hotel, school, gathering hall and mill buildings. Pacific States Lumber Co. built the world's highest railroad trestle, 204 feet over the Cedar River. The plant, running with modernized equipment, built a good reputation and landed a contract with Tokyo to supply lumber to rebuild the city after the massive earthquake there of 1923. Many Japanese workers and their families were sent to Selleck as laborers and formed a cohesive community of their own. Pacific States Lumber declared bankruptcy in 1939 and the company town's population shrank until its present number of about 90. It was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. (Seattle Times, 7-31-07) G75.1-077

Pacific States Lumber Co. (Selleck); Lumber industry--1920-1930;

This is a view of the devastation caused by fire racing through timbered lands near the Mineral Lake Logging Co. Camp 17 in Lewis County in late summer of 1926. Trees are tossed about like matchsticks and the railroad bridge pictured above may also have been damaged by flames.

Mineral Lake Logging Co. Camp 17; Fires; Lumber industry--Washington--1920-1930;

These ornamental iron light poles, manufactured by Atlas Foundry, will be placed along Commence St. in downtown Tacoma in the fall of 1926. Atlas had been in business in Tacoma since 1899.

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1920-1930; Lampposts--Tacoma;

Close-up of burnt timber at the Mineral Lake Logging Co.'s Camp 17. Photographer Boland ventured out to the remote logging camp located in north central Lewis County on September 3, 1926, to document the damage that fire had caused to timberlands. Burned sections of cut timber are piled haphazardly on the ground, obscuring many tree stumps.

Mineral Lake Logging Co. Camp 17; Fires; Tree stumps; Logs; Lumber industry--Washington--1920-1930;

This burned railroad bridge was located near Mineral Lake Logging Co.'s Camp 17 in 1926. The area had suffered fire damage which included part of this railroad bridge constructed out of logs. The bridge curved around a gulch.

Mineral Lake Logging Co. Camp 17; Logging industry--Washington--1920-1930; Fires; Logs; Railroad bridges--Washington--1920-1930;

This is part of the damage resulting from a fire near the Mineral Lake Logging Co. Camp 17 in 1926. It looks like there was a significant loss of timber, including the blackened logs above. Not shown is a company railroad bridge made of logs which was partially destroyed in the fire.

Mineral Lake Logging Co. Camp 17; Lumber industry--Washington--1920-1930; Logs; Fires;

Fire damage at Mineral Lake Logging Co. Camp 17 as viewed on September 3, 1926. In the right foreground are scorched tree stumps. G75.1-086 (photograph is marked B15570; however, correct image # should be B15569, per photographer Boland's notes.)

Mineral Lake Logging Co. Camp 17; Fires; Tree stumps; Logs; Lumber industry--Washington--1920-1930;

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

Tidewater Mill Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cargo ships--1920-1930; Shipping--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Heisler locomotive on railroad tracks at Whitney Engineering Co. plant on October 10, 1925. Heisler was considered the fastest of the three most prevalent geared steam locomotives. It was manufactured until 1941. TPL-2126; G44.1-050 (www.gearsteamed.com/heisler/heisler.htm-article on locomotive)

Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1920-1930; Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1920-1930; Whitney Engineering Co. (Tacoma);

Just after 6 p.m. on November 17, 1925, Northern Pacific passenger train #424 derailed about 2 miles west of Olympia. The train, travelling about 30-50 mph, plowed into the bank on the side of the track, burying itself in the earth before it turned over on its side, crushing veteran engineer Edward M. Putnam. Subsequent train cars were knocked off their wheels. Twenty-five people were injured, several critically, with passenger Laura Hahn dying of her injuries on November 21st. Days after the wreck, the cause of the accident was still undetermined. The track appeared to be in good condition and the engine was too badly damaged for further assessment. (TNT 11/18/1925, pg. 1-article; TNT 11-23-25, p. 9-obituary of Mrs. Hahn; TNT 11-30-25, p. 20-article) G77.1-068

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1920-1930; Railroad locomotives--1920-1930; Railroad accidents--Olympia--1920-1930;

The "Silksworth" was docked at the Tidewater Mill, 3901 E. 11th St., the first stop of four, on November 19, 1925. She would continue on to the Defiance Lumber on November 22nd, and then on to Dickman and St. Paul mills. The Australian-bound vessel, on her first visit to Tacoma, was under the command of Captain R. Deans. The 429-foot "Silksworth" was a relatively new ship, in operation less than three years, and had a 53-foot beam. She would be taking 4,080,000 feet of lumber to Australia, 3 million feet of which would be loaded in Tacoma. As the ship is tied up at Tidewater, numerous logs, waiting to be processed, float in the waterway. The mill, located on the east side of the Hylebos Waterway, exported most of its timber. Because of its 750 feet of deep water moorage, Tidewater Mill was capable of loading several vessels at the same time. (photograph has been damaged) (TNT 11-21-25, p. 5-article on the "Silksworth")

Tidewater Mill Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Logs; Cargo ships--1920-1930; Shipping--Tacoma--1920-1930;

On March 4, 1926, firefighters from seven companies fought desperately to save the building at 1953 So. C St. The structure, built in 1907, was home to the Henningsen Creamery Co. Flames swept through the three story brick and concrete building as firefighters worked with ladders and hoses from the outside. The fire broke out at 7:40 a.m. caused by the explosion of tar being heated on an oil stove by workmen. The workers were remodeling the lower floor of the building, installing an ice cream plant. Damages were estimated at $50,000 - 100,000. This restored building is now part of the University of Washington Tacoma campus. TPL-7959, BU- 12644, G26.1-078 (TNT 3/4/1926, pg. 1+, pg. 22-picture)

Henningsen Creamery Co. (Tacoma); Fires--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Railroad tracks within St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. complex, part of series taken for court evidence on July 17, 1925. Assorted buildings in the distance; boards outdoors in the open. G36.1-161

Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1920-1930; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma);

On July 17, 1925, a series of photographs were taken at the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. complex for court evidence. Here three men stand on or near railroad tracks. Logs are stacked nearby. G36.1-162

Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1920-1930; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma);

Henry Mill in Old Town. A new and very modern mill opened in Old Town on July 20, 1925, located on the waterfront at 3001 North Starr St. Henry Mill & Timber Co. would remain in business there until 1945 when it was taken over by the Tacoma Lumber Fabricating Co. During WWII, Henry Mill became active in prefabricated structures for the military. They specialized in bridges and hangars. TPL-2048; G36.1-143B

Henry Mill & Timber Co. (Tacoma); Mills--Tacoma--1920-1930; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Two men are balanced on extremely long logs in this August 14, 1925, photograph. They are believed to be connected with the Peterman Mfg. Co. who were local door manufacturers. Peterman Manufacturing, according to an advertisement placed in the Tacoma Daily Ledger on April 8, 1925, produced quality fir doors and 3-ply fir veneer panels. TPL-9376; G36.1-066 (TDL 4-8-25, p. 4-ad)

Logs; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Log dump next to railroad tracks as pictured on August 14, 1925. G36.1-086

Logs; Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1920-1930;

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)

Henry Mill & Timber Co. (Tacoma); Mills--Tacoma--1920-1930; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Four unidentified men gaze at a long line of railroad flat cars stacked with mahogany logs on May 1, 1925. The log train was bound for the Buffelen Lumber & Mfg. Co. The logs had arrived at the Port of Tacoma on the "Wheatland Montana" and were a product of the Philippines. The arrival of the logs marked a transition to direct transactions between the overseas grower and a Tacoma manufacturer. Prior to this, mahogany used in fine furniture, cabinets and other uses was brought here in board form. G36.1-030 (TNT 5-4-25, p. 6)

Logs; Railroad cars--Tacoma--1920-1930; Shipping--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The ferry "Wollochet" was under construction at the Skansie Shipyard in Gig Harbor early in April of 1925. Her 150 horsepower engine had been placed in late February. The 100-foot diesel ferry would replace the ferry "Transit" early in June, traveling from the 6th Ave. slip at Titlow Beach to points on Wollochet Bay and Fox Island. The Skansie Brothers Shipyard was founded in 1912 by four Yugoslavian Brothers: Pete, Mitchell, Andrew and Joe Skansie. The company was a pioneer in the construction of automobile ferries and diesel engine ferries. (TNT 4/21/1925, pg. 1; TNT 2-28-25, p. 5-article on engine) TPL-693; G37.1-168

Ferries--1920-1930; Skansies Shipbuilding Co. (Gig Harbor); Boat & ship industry--Gig Harbor;

St. Paul & Tacoma workers stand alongside a 48" x 48" x 70-foot sawn log on February 13, 1925. TPL-3237; G36.1-159

St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Side view of Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. locomotive #9505 showing wheels. Photograph was taken on January 23, 1925. G44.1-043

Railroad locomotives; Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co.;

ca. 1925. Copy negative of a photograph of the Henningsen Creamery Co., 1953 So. C St., Tacoma. "Home of Lake Park Butter" The structure was built in 1907 and was designed by Frederick Heath, architect. It was originally occupied by the Lindstrom-Berg Cabinet Works. It was purchased in 1923 by the Henningsen Creamery from the Tacoma Grocery Co. The plant was remodeled at this time. It was the object of a disastrous fire in March of 1926. The structure is now part of the campus of the University of Washington at Tacoma (UWT). TPL-7076

Henningsen Creamery Co. (Tacoma); Dairy products industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;