Log dump & saw mill - Wheeler-Osgood Co. as photographed on January 17, 1924. The company focused on door and plywood manufacture and was located in the industrial tideflats. It had been established in 1889 and remained in business until 1952. G36.1-062

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Wheeler, Osgood Co. (Tacoma); Logs; Sawmills--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Defiance Lumber Company's Cranes at their mill at 4601 Ruston Way, Tacoma

Industries; Defiance Lumber Company; Cranes; Ruston Way

Defiance Lumber Company's cranes at their mill on Ruston Way

Industries; Defiance Lumber Company; Cranes; Ruston Way

Cranes built by Star Iron & Steel for the ASARCO smelter at 5300 N 52nd St, Tacoma

Industries; Star Iron & Steel; ASARCO; Smelters;

Cranes built by Star Iron & Steel for the ASARCO smelter at 5300 N 52nd St, Tacoma

Industries; ASARCO; Star Iron & Steel; Smelters;

On February 19, 1924, this giant 40-foot log was successfully loaded onto a Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad freight car by employees of the St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. The log, measuring 72 inches in diameter, would be a prime exhibit when shown in the East and Midwest the following summer. The sheer size of the log would remind viewers that lumber from Tacoma mills came from logs similar to the one displayed. TPL-2375; G44.1-093

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Logs; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Railroad freight cars--Tacoma; Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Co. (Tacoma);

On February 19, 1924, workers at the St. Paul & Tacoma lumber mill were loading a giant log onto a Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway car. The log was being sent on an exhibition tour. It would be shown at agricultural fairs and educational exhibits in the East and Midwest during the coming summer as a sample of the giant logs from which Tacoma mills got their lumber. The log was 72 inches in diameter and 40 feet long. (TNT 2/20/1924) G36.1-042

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Logs; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma; Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Hoisting machinery;

Piles of logs waiting to be removed via railroad flatcars from a West Fork Logging Co. site in March of 1924. G75.1-088

Logs; West Fork Logging Co.;

Logging operations in the woods, in the Seabeck, Washington, area. West Fork Logging Co. apparatus on railroad tracks photographed on March 23, 1924. L.T. Murray was the president of the firm. Mr. Murray would move his logging operation to Lewis County in 1927. G75.1-089 (Additional information provided by a reader)

West Fork Logging Co.; Lumber industry--1920-1930;

On March 23, 1924, West Fork Logging Co. employees posed near the company's steam donkey on a sled. The donkeys were a replacement for the horse and oxen power formerly used to pull logs from the woods. This photograph was probably taken in logging areas near Seabeck where the company was then based. Logging operation would move to Lewis County three years later. G75.1-033 (for an earlier view of a steam donkey, see B2726) (Additional information provided by a reader)

West Fork Logging Co.; Lumber industry--1920-1930; Steam donkeys; Donkey engines;

Logging operations at West Fork Logging Co. site #1. Logs are being "loaded," per photographer Marvin Boland's notes. This was probably located in the Seabeck, Washington, area, in March of 1924. (Additional information provided by a reader)

West Fork Logging Co.; Lumber industry--1920-1930;

Boxcars at West Fork Logging Co. site. These boxcars, some with wooden steps, may have been used as offices or living quarters by West Fork Logging Co. personnel in March of 1924. G75.1-083

Railroad freight cars; West Fork Logging Co.;

Defiance Lumber Company's crane at 4601 Ruston Way, Tacoma

Industries; Defiance Lumber Company; Cranes; Ruston Way

The "Artigas" is docked awaiting the loading of a cargo of lumber from Tidewater Mill on May 2, 1924. The Tidewater Mill, located on the east side of the Hylebos Waterway, exported most of their timber. The "Artigas" would set sail directly for San Francisco on Saturday, May 3rd. G49.1-094

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

On May 29, 1924 engine # 2505 of the Great Northern Railroad pulled into Tacoma's Union Station. The powerful engine was used to pull the new, all steel Pullman cars of the Oriental Limited, one of the ten trains operated by Great Northern from Chicago to Tacoma. The train, accompanied by a select group of company officials, was on a special introductory cross-country tour. Its new Pullman cars were very luxurious with a full spacious dining room, baths for men and women, and sleepers with headboards, reading lights and individual ventilators. (TNT 5/29/1924, pg. 3) G44.1-131; TPL-673

Railroad locomotives; Union Station (Tacoma); Great Northern Railway Co. (Tacoma);

On May 29, 1924, many interested Tacomans viewed the old wood burning locomotive #1, also known as "William Crookes," on display at Union Station. The train originally operated on the St. Paul & Pacific Railroad in 1862. As part of a joint display by the Great Northern Railroad and the Pullman Co., the locomotive pulled an old Pullman car, used by Abraham Lincoln and other Civil War luminaries. Also on display was Great Northern's newest and most powerful locomotive, Engine #2505. (TNT 5/29/1924, pg. 3) G44.1-129; TPL-674

Railroad locomotives; Union Station (Tacoma); Great Northern Railway Co. (Tacoma);

Three men operating machinery at an Olympia sawmill in June of 1924. Photograph taken on behalf of Pacific Mutual Door Co. G75.1-025

Sawmills--Olympia; Machinery; Lumber industry--Olympia--1920-1930;

Small sheets of plywood are being loaded from an Olympia sawmill directly onto a Northern Pacific car by three men on June 12, 1924. These will be used by the Pacific Mutual Door Co. G75.1-023

Lumber industry--Olympia--1920-1930; Plywood; Sawmills--Olympia; Railroad freight cars--Olympia;

Plywood operations. Workers at this Olympia sawmill are pictured in June of 1924 during daily plywood operations. Sheets of plywood are being laid out; stacks of plywood are in the fore-and-background. Photograph ordered by Pacific Mutual Door Co. G75.1-026

Lumber industry--Olympia--1920-1930; Plywood; Sawmills--Olympia;

Five workers are pictured on June 12, 1924, in an Olympia mill loading sheets of plywood for the Pacific Mutual Door Co. The men wear gloves, overalls and the ever-present caps. G75.1-024

Lumber industry--Olympia--1920-1930; Sawmills--Olympia; Plywood;

On June 12, 1924, two unidentified workers lean their hands against the enormous cut log which will soon be hoisted and processed. The log will be made into sheets of plywood to be used by the Pacific Mutual Door Co. This photograph, in addition to a number of plywood operations shots, was taken in Olympia on behalf of the company. G75.1-027

Logs; Lumber industry--Olympia--1920-1930; Hoisting machinery;

Union Pacific engine #3222 as viewed on June 13, 1924. The powerful locomotive was on the tracks at the Union Depot. TPL-66; G45.1-004

Railroad locomotives--Tacoma; Union Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma);

Ship propeller. Three unidentified men stand between the blades of a ship propeller at Todd Dry Dock & Construction's plant along the Hylebos Waterway in July of 1924. Todd Dry Dock's employees consisted of shipbuilders, engineers and boilermakers. TPL-1424; G37.1-118

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Todd Dry Dock & Construction Corp. (Tacoma);

Henry Mill & Timber Company crane at 3001 N Starr ST, Tacoma

Industries; Henry Mill & Timber Company; Cranes; Ruston Way;

This is the SS Bienville, nearly ready for launching, in early July of 1924. The combination freighter/passenger vessel was built by Todd Dry Dock & Construction for the Atlantic Steamship line of the Southern Pacific. She would be launched on July 16, 1924. The Bienville is a single screw steamer with a sea speed of 16 knots. After much fanfare, she was delivered to her owners in November but would suffer massive damage due to fire while undergoing repairs in New Orleans in March of 1925. G37.1-112 (TNT 7-9-24, p. 4; TNT 3-19-25, p. 1-article on fire; TDL 3-28-25, p. 1-article on fire)

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Boats--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Henry Mill & Timber Company crane at 3001 N Starr St, Tacoma

Industries; Henry Mill & Timber Company; Cranes; Ruston Way

Henry Mill & Timber Company crane at 3001 N Starr St, Tacoma

Industries; Henry Mill & Timber Company; Cranes; Ruston Way;

Stern of the SS Bienville. The Bienville would be launched the following day, July 16, 1924, from Todd Dry Dock & Construction facilities. The combination freighter/passenger vessel, 445 feet in length with a 57-foot beam, could hold 346 passengers. She was built at a cost of over one million dollars and would be used to travel between New York and New Orleans. The Bienville would catch on fire in mid-March of 1925 while being overhauled in New Orleans. The ship was ablaze from stem to stern but all aboard escaped. G37.1-113 (TNT 6-21-24, p. 1,9-articles; TNT 3-19-25, p. 1-article on fire; TDL 3-28-25, p. 1-article on fire)

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Boats--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Machinery at Star Iron & Steel foundry at 435 E 11th St, Tacoma

Industries; Star Iron & Steel; Machinery; Tideflats

Two unidentified men gaze at giant wheel constructed at Coast Iron & Machine Works, 1117 Dock St., in August of 1924. The machinery firm was operated by J.A. McRae and R.C.McRae. G35.1-088

Coast Iron & Machine Works (Tacoma);