Clean up goes slowly in the aftermath of the massive Tacoma Boat Building Company boatworks fire of August 24, 1951. Several days after the early morning blaze, photographs of the interior of buildings showed blackened and crumbling fish wells and main engine tanks. No injuries were reported in Tacoma's sixth major fire of the year. Photograph commissioned by Board of Marine Underwriters of San Francisco. (TNT 8-24-51, p. 1) TPL-9054

Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fires--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1950-1960;

View of taping machine manufactured by Globe Machine; photograph ordered by Earl Sutton. Globe Machine Manufacturing Co. were manufacturers of veneer, plywood and woodworking machinery. The company was located at 301 East 11th Street. According to the 1951 City Directory, Calvin D. Bamford was listed as Secretary-Treasurer of the firm. He was listed as president by the time of the 1953 City Directory. The firm was listed in the City Directory from 1929 to 1988.

Machinery industry--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; Globe Machine Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Bamford, Calvin D.;

Construction continues on new buildings at the St. Regis Paper Company on Portland Avenue. Still in its early stages in August, 1951, the new buildings have been mapped out with low walls but as the mounds of dirt indicate, no flooring is in place. St. Regis was nearing completion of its eight year expansion plan; this structure is probably the multiwall bag plant which was completed in 1952. Anticipated to add an additional 400 workers to the St. Regis payroll, the new plant, constructed of steel and concrete, would be used for the production of industrial-use bags for cement, fertilizer, and other heavy-duty items. Hooker Electrochemical's tank cars can be seen in the background close to the St. Regis water tower.

Progress photographs; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Factories--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Group portrait of Columbia Breweries' accounting and office staff in 1951. Columbia Breweries was a well established business by the early 1950's; their Tacoma staff alone would have totaled over 350 workers. Names are listed in the newspaper. (TNT, 1/8/1952, p.B-9)

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Group portraits--1950-1960; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--People;

Group portrait 32 Columbia Breweries employees from the brewhouse, cellars and wash house posed for their photograph on October 30, 1951. Columbia Breweries had undergone massive expansion in the late 1940's; it would enable them to increase production of their Columbia Ale and Alt Heidelberg brands. Names are listed in the newspaper. (TNT, 1/8/1952, p.B-9)

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Group portraits--1950-1960; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--People;

Kegging operations at Columbia Breweries. A Columbia Breweries employee, mallet in hand, stands behind a large black manifold which is part of the kegging process in this October, 1951, photograph. Tanks such as the above would serve as buffers between the flow of beer from filters and to the kegs. Columbia Breweries was well known for their Heidelberg brand of beer and Columbia Ale. (Additional information provided by a reader)

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1950-1960;

An employee of Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation's Seattle plant has his hands on the large valve of a machine in a photograph taken in September, 1951. Another employee in checkered jacket stands by finished steel products. Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel had several facilities in the Seattle area including a rolling mill, nut and bolt department, tank farm and mill depot. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp., San Francisco.

Factories; Steel industry; Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (Seattle);

Conveyor link belt at St. Regis Paper Company. Link Belt Company. Long conveyor containing wood chips.

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Conveying systems--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Columbia Brewing Company, interior of dining room, as pictured on October 29, 1951. Long utilitarian tables, folding metal chairs and checkered linoleum floor. Two vases of flowers help to brighten the room.

Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Dining rooms--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Log dump at Wheeler-Osgood Company. The log dump at the Wheeler-Osgood Sash & Door Company on East D Street measured 150 feet by 150 feet. Company buildings are located around the opposite side of the logs with a planked walkway in foreground. Wheeler-Osgood was a door and plywood manufacturer located on the tideflats at 1216 Saint Paul Ave. next to St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. and Wilkeson Fuel Co. It was established in 1889 and closed its doors in 1952. It was destroyed by fire during demolition in 1959. Photograph ordered by Charlie Rembert, 3410 S. Washington Street. TPL-5732

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Logs; Wheeler, Osgood Co. (Tacoma);

Interior view of Nalley's exhibit at Puyallup Fair. Nalley's had a very large exhibition booth at the Western Washington Fair in Puyallup whose design remained basically the same for several years. In September, 1951, Nalley's Beef Stew was the featured advertised product, "the meatiest stew you ever tasted". Previous years had seen Tang Salad Dressing and Lumberjack Syrup take center stage. Potato chips and cucumber chips were also on display in 1951. On the long balcony above the exhibit booth were cutouts of people holding onto various Nalley products including Shoestring potatoes, Pure Mayonaise, Treasure Pickles and Lumberjack Syrup.

Nalley's, Inc. (Tacoma); Exhibit booths--Puyallup; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Puyallup; Canned foods;

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;

Exterior at new anhydrous ammonia plant, Hooker Electrochemical, completed in May of 1952. Design and erection of the plant were supervised by the Chemical Construction Corporation. The general contractor for the construction of buildings and erection of equipment was Roy T. Earley Co. of Tacoma. The plant went into production in June of 1952, with a output of 40 tons every 24 hours. It operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (TNT 10-19-1952)

Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1950-1960; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exteriors new anhydrous ammonia plant, Hooker Electrochemical, completed in May of 1952. Hooker also produced liquid chlorine, caustic soda and muriatic acid. The ammonia plant began operation in June of 1952 with an output of 40 tons every 24 hours. It was immediately deemed too small and scheduled for a $6 million expansion, which would increase production by 50 per cent. The plant operated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and employed 18 men. (TNT 10-19-1952)

Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1950-1960; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Views of the plant at Hudson Machinery Company, Inc. Hudson Machinery were dealers in machinery located at Townsend at Minneapolis, Tacoma Tideflats. Frank C. Hamprecht was president and Walter E. Liggett was secretary-treasurer.Long metal rods occupy most of this picture with rolled up chains lying to the right.

Hudson Machinery Company, Inc. (Tacoma); Warehouses--Tacoma--1950-1960; Machinery; Machinery Industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1952. J.M. Martinac's "branch office" located in leased space on Baker Dock, where the firm is operating a laminating plant. Martinac became the first Pacific Coast firm to be designated by the Navy as a "qualified laminator." Frames for the minesweepers were completed here, laminated and barged up City waterway to the plant for placement in the new boats. The firm was proud to report that only 1 of 1,000 laminated pieces to be used in the four contracted 171 foot minesweepers failed to pass Navy tests. Approximately 460,000 board feet of lumber was used in the frames. (T. Reporter 8/11/1952, pg. 2)

J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Baker Dock (Tacoma); Laminated wood; Machinery;

Tacoma Boat Building, the launching of the A.M.S. (motor minesweeper) #113 for the Navy, sponsored by Evelyn Langlie, wife of Governor Arthur B. Langlie. Mrs. Langlie holds the ceremonial champagne bottle and and an unidentified young girl holds flowers. The AMS 113 was the first minesweeper to be launched in Tacoma since WWII and on completion would cost upward of $1,000,000. Tacoma Boat Building had received the contract to build the minesweepers prior to the devastating fire of 1951 that destroyed their plant. By December of 1951, their new plant was almost complete and construction begun on 3 of the 144 ft class and 5 of the 57 ft. class. (T. Reporter 7/22/1952, pg. 2)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Langlie, Evelyn;

Tacoma Boat Building, the launching of the A.M.S. #113 (motor mine sweeper.) Group of 21 at banquet table on July 19, 1952, including Naval officers. Mayor John Anderson is at the left of the seated row, Governor Arthur B. Langlie fifth from left, owner Arne Strom in the center of the same row with Evelyn Langlie to his right and co-owner Haldor Dahl is third from left in the standing row. The worst fire of 1951 totally destroyed the Tacoma Boat Building plant with the co-owners Strom and Dahl holding contracts for the building of Navy minesweepers. A new plant was quickly built on the strip of land separating the Milwaukee and Sitcum Waterways and production of the sweepers began. (T. Reporter 7/22/1952, pg. 2)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Strom, Arne; Dahl, Haldor; Langlie, Arthur B., 1900-1966; Governors; Langlie, Evelyn; Anderson, John H.; Mayors--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Launching of the USS Endurance (AMS 435) at J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding, the largest wooden-hulled vessel to be built in Tacoma since WWI. Martinac had a contract to build four 171 foot minesweepers and was also the first firm on the Pacific coast to be designated by the Navy as a "qualified laminator." When completed in early spring, the ship would represent an expenditure of approximately $3,500,000. The total Navy contract was worth 8 million dollars, a large portion of the 20 million in Navy contracts held by Tacoma boat building firms. (TNT 2-10-1952, pg. B-6, T. Reporter 7/8/1952, pg. 8, T. Reporter 8/11/1952, pg. 2)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Launching of the USS Endurance (AMS 435) at J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding, sponsored by Gerry Ann Borovich. Gerry Ann, the 16 year old daughter of Fred Borovich vice president-treasurer of Martinac, holds the ceremonial flower bouquet. The vessel was the first of her size to be launched in a Northwest yard under the Navy's minesweeper program. The firm was constructing four 171 foot minesweepers. (T. Reporter, 8/11/1952, pg. 2)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Borovich, Gerry Ann;

Interiors at St. Regis Tacoma plant for 1952 Annual Report showing a recovery boiler. A major expansion program completed in 1952 increased the company's production capacity. St. Regis products made in Tacoma included sulphate pulp, kraft paper and board and multiwall bags. Products made in their other plants also included printing and publications papers and industrial and decorative plastics. A forerunner in conservation and recycling, Kaiser operated an efficient plant and originated the use of wood chips and ends in the paper process.

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Kitchen of the home built during the "Farm in a Day" project at Moses Lake, Wa. For Hal Hughes & Assoc. During a 22 hour period on May 29, 1952, 300 volunteers built a complete $75,000 farm- including seven room house, barns, livestock areas and planted fields- and gifted it to deserving WWII vet and farmer Donald Dunn. The house was designed by a group of five architects headed up by Paul Kirk of Seattle. It included such innovations as a fireplace in the dining room where the farmer could relax without having to clean up. It had two bathrooms, one near the back door so the farmer could cleanup without having to cross the house in muddy boots. It had less hallway space and was built on a concrete slab. The kitchen had a maximum of natural lighting, provided by the "butterfly" roof. The farm wife could see the fireplace, fields and playground through picture windows. The home came to the Dunns complete, even down to groceries stocked on the shelves. (Popular Mechanics "They Built Him a Farm in a Day" Dec. 1952, pg 118-22+)

Agriculture--Moses Lake--1950-1960; Reclamation of land--Moses Lake--1950-1960; Irrigation--Moses Lake--1950-1960; Houses--Moses Lake--1950-1960; Kitchens--Moses Lake--1950-1960; Farms--Moses Lake--1950-1960;

Interior exposure of gauges for the new Swenson Evaporator Co. installations at St. Regis Paper Co. Tacoma. An 8 year expansion program for the company was to be completed in 1952. Part of this program was focused on recycling and reusing processing elements in an efficient manner. The Evaporator was used to recover chemicals used. (TNT 2-17-1952, pg. C-14)

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior shot of new Recovery Building at St. Regis Paper Company. This new building housed the six story high combustion furnace and the Koppers electric precipitator. The precipitator collected odor bearing particles before they could escape the chimney into the open air. This was part of the company's program to reduce odor caused by the chemical processes of producing pulp. (TNT 2-17-1952, pg. C-14)

St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Paper industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A shopping cart has been filled to the brim with Nalley's candies with posters for "Nalley's Trick or Treat Candies" for Halloween.

Food industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Nalley's, Inc. (Tacoma)--Products; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Candy--Tacoma--1950-1960; Holidays--Tacoma;

An elevated view of a lumber camp showing several rows of bunk houses and several small houses as well as a couple of larger buildings, possibly the mess hall and machine shops. TPL-2040

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

An unidentified man is smoothing the top of a plywood coffee table using steel wool. A work bench fitted with a wood vice is standing behind him in his workshop.

Plywood; Woodworking--Tacoma; Men--Tacoma--1950-1960; Coffee tables; Workshops--Tacoma;

An unidentified man brushing a sealer on the bottom of a plywood coffee table as a primer. The legs, made of dowling stand up from the table. A work bench fitted with a wood vice is standing behind him in his workshop.

Plywood; Woodworking--Tacoma; Men--Tacoma--1950-1960; Coffee tables; Workshops--Tacoma;

An aerial view of Philadelphia Quartz' plant on the Tacoma tideflats. Since earlier in July 1952 the company has added another large tank on the left making a total of three and a smaller, vertical tank to the right of the main building and one at the far end of that building.

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

Plyron wardrobe door in Belfoy-Smith Homes. Plyron was a newly developed material that was found to have good strength for cabinet doors, with a smooth surface that accepted paint well. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Closets--Tacoma;