Launching "Oceanic" by Pacific Boat Building.

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pacific Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

Launching of the "Oceanic" by Pacific Boat Building Co. in June of 1942. The shipbuilding company was started in 1941 by Haldor Dahl (believed to be left in the picture) and Arne Strom (believed to be center forward.)

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pacific Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Renton housing project showing use of "Cheney Studding". Ordered by Cheney Lumber Company. [Also dated 06-09-1942]

Cheney Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Housing developments--Renton;

Renton housing project showing use of "Cheney Studding". Ordered by Cheney Lumber Company. [Also dated 06-09-1942]

Cheney Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Housing developments--Renton;

Renton housing project showing use of "Cheney Studding". Ordered by Cheney Lumber Company. [Also dated 06-09-1942]

Cheney Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Housing developments--Renton;

New fence around Air Reduction Company and old Peterman Manufacturing Company fence. In May of 1942, construction was begun on the Air Reduction Company, an oxygen manufacturing company, located at 702 Alexander Ave. Peterman Manufacturing had been located at 600 Alexander Ave. but in June of 1942 they moved to Garibaldi, Oregon. Their location had been taken over by the government for expansion of the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co., 100 Alexander Ave. The expansion was needed due to the increase of wartime contracts during World War II. Oxygen gas was used in large quantities for cutting steel plates in ship building and was also used in welding. The Air Reduction plant was able to support the war effort by producing the chemical necessary for building government vessels, and making it available locally.

Factories--Tacoma; Air Reduction Sales Co. (Tacoma); Peterman Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma);

Before a crowd of about 200, Tacoma Boat Building launched the YMS 244 on December 18, 1942. Later in the day, the company was presented with an "E Award" flag for excellence in the wartime production of minesweepers. More than 4,000 "E Pennants" were present to plants during WWII. They were a visible recognition of the patriotism and devotion of the company and its employees. (T. Times 12/19/1942, pg. 1)

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

December 18, 1942 was a very special day for Tacoma Boat Building. The company launched its newest minesweeper YMS 244 and received an Army/Navy "E" award flag. The "E" award was given for excellence in war production. The famous flag with the big "E" emblazoned on it became a badge of patriotism in action. The award consisted of a flag to be flown over the plant and a lapel pin for every employee within the plant. During the ceremony, an unidentified military officer makes a speech before a crowd of around 200. Music for the ceremony was supplied by the Coast Artillery Band.

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Following the launching of the YMS 244 on December 18, 1942, Capt. A. C. Thomas presented "E" pins to the employees of Tacoma Boat Building. The pins were in recognition of their excellence in the production of mine sweepers. Various foreman from the Company's yard posed with Captain Thomas for this photograph. Pictured are, back row left to right, Lawrence Teasley, Clarence Hopkins, Bill Kvam, Clarence White, George Rau, John Kvamme and Walter Oliver. Front row, John Flintoff, F.L. Criswell, Capt. Thomas and Hugh McCreadie. (T. Times 12/23/1942, pg. 16)

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

On December 18, 1942, Tacoma Boat Building received an "E Award" for excellence in wartime minesweeper production. One of several military men makes a speech at the ceremony. The sign board over speaker's box reads, "And if our lives should form and break; Because of things you fail to make; The extra tank or ship or plane; For which we waited all in vain; And the supplies that never came; Will you then come and take the blame; For we, not you, will pay the cost; Of battles you, not we, have lost!"

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

December 18, 1942 was a Red Letter Day for Tacoma Boatbuilding. The company, owned by Arne Strom and Haldor Dahl, received an "E" Award flag and launched a minesweeper, the YMS 244. The "E" Award was from the Army & Navy for excellence in the wartime production of mine sweepers. The shipyard was located at 2142 E. "D." Arne Strom was able to be present but Mr. Dahl was at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester , Minn. and was unable to get there on time for the ceremony. (T. Times 12/19/1942, pg. 1)

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Two men wearing slacks, shirt and vest, standing in front of numerous signs for St. Paul and Tacoma Lumber.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma);

Lg. belt drive in Tacoma oxygen plant, Air Reduction Sales Co., Neg No. ARS-64

Factories--Tacoma; Air Reduction Sales Co. (Tacoma);

Henry Mill, construction of prefabricated trusses. Photograph shows piles of timber and a wood form that is being constructed at the Mill, located at the foot of Starr St., near the water. Sperry Mills, located on what is now Schuster Parkway, can be seen in the background. During the war, Henry Mill was active in lumber prefabrication.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trusses--Tacoma; Structural frames--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma; Henry Mill & Timber Co. (Tacoma);

Interior of the remodeled Great Northern Railroad Ticket Office in November of 1942. Pictured are the long, curved ticket counter with agents seated at the desks lying beyond. Three large landscape paintings decorate the walls. The office was located in the Drury building. It was part of "Transportation Row," 112-18 So. 9th St., which housed the ticket offices of all area railroads.

Railroad companies--Tacoma; Offices--Tacoma--1950-1960; Ticket offices; Great Northern Railway Co. (Tacoma);

Back of Photo:
First Air-Cushion Cruiser
Photograph By Bob Rudsit

Back of Photo:
"St. Regis - Western Star Paper Machine
Clipping taped to back: "READ ALL ABOUT IT--Seven St. Regis Paper Co. officials, her for this morning's official dedication of the company's $30,000,000 expansion of its Tacoma kraft pulp and paper mill, look over a special 18-page section of The News Tribune, marking the event. Seated, left to right, are Phillip B. Duffy, vice president, the corrugated container division; Reginald L. Vayo, vice president, kraft division sales; and Kenneth D. Lozier, vice president, of advertising and sales promotion, all of New York. Standing are George J. Kneeland, New York, assistant vice president; Russell R. Major, Tacoma, assistant comptroller; John A. McDermott, Jacksonville, Fla., vice president, pulp and paper manufacturing; and Dr. William R. Haselton, general manager of the Tacoma plant."

Firemen Wally Johnson, of the Milwaukee Road, poses with the grateful woman that he rescued. Johnson scooped her up off the track, saving her life. The pair pose standing in front of a train. Chicago Milwaukee St. Paul Railways had made Tacoma its chief manufacturing point in the west. They had 300 acres with an extensive work shop and terminals, located near the tideflats. They offered transcontinental service and daily departures to Chicago.

Railroad employees; Aged persons--Tacoma; Railroad locomotives--Tacoma; Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma);

Pacific Iron and Steel Works, Joseph E. Lansburg, 1602 Canal St. (now Portland Ave.) Manufacturing plant interior. Wheels connected to each other lie on a track to facilitate movement of materials throughout the machine shop.

Machine shops--Tacoma--1940-1950; Foundries--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pacific Iron & Steel Works (Tacoma);

This photograph, which dates from around 1890, was reproduced by Richards Studio in March of 1946 under the direction of Ernest G. Heinrich, the owner of Heinrich Locker & Ice Co. It is a view of a man with two boys, wearing hats, sitting by railroad tracks. Ernest Heinrich is the boy seated on the lap of Bill Plummer. Mr. Plummer was the bridge watchman for the St. Paul & Duluth Railroad Bridge across the St. Croix River in Rushseba Minnesota, Chisago County. The other boy is unidentified. The trio are at the ferry landing. TPL-3566

Railroad tracks; Children & adults; Smokestacks; Heinrich, Ernest G.--Family;

Younglove Fruit & Produce Co. was founded by E. A. Younglove in 1907. They moved in 1935 to a larger better equipped building that allowed them access to rail and water transport systems. Their new location made them one of the most complete and efficient wholesale food distributing centers on the Pacific Coast. View of produce, photo ordered by Robert Baker, manager of Younglove Fruit and Produce Co.

Farm produce--Tacoma; Agriculture--Tacoma; Fruit industry--Tacoma; Younglove Grocery Co. (Tacoma);

A. H. Cox & Co. at St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. logging operation at Puyallup. A log train transports the logs from the logging grounds to the sawmill plants located in Tacoma. The logs are then dumped into a log pond where they are stored. View of log train cars, with laborer making some final checks, mountain view in background.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Machinery; Logs; Woodcutting--Puyallup; Railroad tracks--Puyallup; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Rainier, Mount (Wash.)

Full size glued up plywood beams are set up where they will be tested to determine how much pressure they can withstand without collapsing. View of unidentified man testing plywood at Parkland, photo ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Plywood; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Testing--Tacoma; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Northern Pacific Railway was awarded the President's Safety Plaque for 1945 for practicing the virtues of safety. G. L. Ernstrom, General Mechanical Superintendent for the company came from St. Paul, Minnesota to present the award. View of ceremony with Northern Pacific shop employees gathered to celebrate the honors (T. Times, 5/9/46, p. 5).

Railroad companies--Tacoma; Railroad shops & yards--Tacoma; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; Celebrations--Tacoma; Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma);

Northern Pacific Railway was awarded the President's Safety Plaque for 1945 for practicing the virtues of safety. Northern Pacific employees were paid compliments for their safety consciousness. View of ceremony with Northern Pacific shop employees gathered to celebrate the honors (T. Times, 5/9/46, p. 5).

Railroad companies--Tacoma; Railroad shops & yards--Tacoma; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma; Laborers--Tacoma; Celebrations--Tacoma; Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma);

An aerial view of Philadelphia Quartz' plant on the Tacoma tideflats. Philadelphia Quartz, with its plants in Berkeley, Los Angeles and Tacoma, was the leading producer of soluble silicates. Its products were used in paper mills, soaps, detergents, high octane gasoline, plywood, corrugated boxes and television sets. Silicates were the unknown product that made modern conveniences possible.

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Minerals; Philadelphia Quartz Co. of California (Tacoma); Aerial photographs;

Independent Insulation, Inc., exterior of plant. Independent Insulation produced rock wool as insulation for factories and homes. Rock was poured in at one end of the production line and it came out as rock wool at the other end. Three kinds of rock; copper slag from the Tacoma smelter, quartz silica and basalt, with limestone added as a flux, were layered with coke, and heated to 2,600 degrees farenheit. The molten stream which flowed off was broken up by live steam under pressure. (TNT 3/22/1946; 3/30/1947)

Factories--Fife--1940-1950; Independent Insulation, Inc. (Fife);

Independent Insulation Inc. of Fife produced rock wool to be used for insulation in factories and homes. Three kinds of rock - copper slag from the Tacoma smelter, quartz silica, ands basalt - were layered with coke and limestone, as a flux, and heated to 2,600 degrees Fahrenheit. Once molten the rock was combined under pressure with live steam; it shot out of a man-made volcano and into a long blowing chamber. The rock emerges from the furnace in molten globulets and the speed at which it is cooled creates its thread-like texture. (TNT 3/22/1946; 3/30/1947)

Factories--Fife--1940-1950; Independent Insulation, Inc. (Fife);

In July of 1946, a young logger, holding an adze, leans against the base of a newly cut old growth douglas fir. The base of the tree is almost 14 feet in diameter. A section from the trunk of this tree was shipped to the Northwest Door Company in Tacoma where it was displayed. The tree was found southwest of Mt. Rainier in the center of western Washington at 1,050 feet elevation. Its lowest branch was 95 feet above ground level. However, the tree had been damaged by natural causes and was shattered 198 feet from the base and beginning to rot. Its rings showed the tree to be about 586 years old. (TNT 8/21/1946, pg. 1)

Logs; Forests--Washington; Lumber industry--Tacoma

ca. 1946. A section of Douglas Fir tree trunk almost 14 feet in diameter arrives at the Northwest Door Co. plywood plant. Marilyn Maras (now Cade,) daughter of Anthony "Spike" Maras, peeks from the top of the trunk, showing by comparison the huge size of the log. The log was cut by the Davis & Maras Co. from the Northwest Door Co.'s logging lands southwest of Mt. Rainier. A section of the log remained on display at Northwest Door from 1946 - 1965, when it was moved to the Lakewood branch of the Pierce County library.

Logs; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Northwest Door Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Tree stumps--Tacoma--1940-1950; Logging trucks--1940-1950; Maras, Marilyn;