Workers at St. Regis Kraft Co. are in the process of wrapping and weighing stacks of pulp for shipment in this February 5, 1937, photograph. St. Regis' Tacoma plant had undergone a $1,000,000 modernization project in order to manufacture bleached pulp. New machinery was brought in and the plant was reopened in late December of 1936 to provide jobs for hundreds of Tacoma residents. G37.1-069
St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Paper industry--1930-1940; Lumber industry--1930-1940; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940; Machinery;
1936 Daily operations at St. Regis. Although the specific St. Regis plant was not identified by the photographer, this was probably the Tacoma St. Regis located at 801 Portland Ave. Various sections of the facility and its machinery were photographed in a two-day period in December of 1936 by the Boland studios. The machine above may have been used to dry pulp since steam is shown rising from the rear roller. A million dollars had been spent to transform the Tacoma plant into a modern facility so that production of 60,000 tons of bleached pulp per year could be achieved. G37.1-016 (T.Times 10-14-36, p. 5-article; T.Times 11-25-36, p. 5-article)
St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Machinery; Paper industry--1930-1940; Lumber industry--1930-1940; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940;
1936 Daily operations at St. Regis. View of large funnels and other unidentified machinery in photograph taken on December 21, 1936. Plant is believed to be the St. Regis Tacoma location, 801 Portland Ave. The Tacoma facility had recently undergone an expensive remodeling to be transformed into a modern plant where 60,000 tons of bleached pulp were expected to be produced a year. Over 800 men had been employed in the reconstruction process boosting St. Regis' payroll to $15,000 a week. Much new machinery was purchased including electric saws and machines to bark logs. By late November of 1936, the Tacoma St. Regis had commenced operations with a crew of 250. A bleaching unit would be ready in three months. (T.Times 10-14-36, p. 5-article; T. Times 11-25-36, p. 5-article)
St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Machinery; Paper industry--1930-1940; Lumber industry--1930-1940; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940;
1936 daily operations at St. Regis. In late 1936 St. Regis Kraft Co.'s Tacoma plant began operating with a crew of 250 at its newly remodeled and modernized facility in the Tideflats. Boland studios paid visits to the pulp plant on December 21-22, 1936, to photograph the new interiors including machinery. Here two unidentified St. Regis employees focus their attention of one of the new machines. G37.1-048 (T.Times 10-14-36, p. 5-article; T. Times 11-25-36, p. 5-article)
St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Paper industry--1930-1940; Lumber industry--1930-1940; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940; Machinery;
1936 daily operations at St. Regis. The Tacoma St. Regis underwent expansion and modernization of its facility in the Tideflats during most of 1936. New machinery was brought in as the demand for bleached pulp grew. By the end of November of that year, the pulp plant had started operating with an initial crew of 250. Eventually the plant would run continuously on a 24-hour schedule with four staggered shifts of eight hours and provide employment for many Tacomans. (T.Times 10-14-36, p. 5-article; T. Times 11-25-36, p. 5-article)
St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Paper industry--1930-1940; Lumber industry--1930-1940; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940; Machinery;
Unidentified equipment at St. Regis. St. Regis Kraft in Tacoma had undergone a $1,000,000 modernization project so that the company could move into bleached pulp production. New machinery was purchased and the site expanded. The purpose of the tall structure shown above was not provided; each row had six concrete or metal handles. G37.1-027
St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma); Paper industry--1930-1940; Lumber industry--1930-1940; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940; Equipment;
Reconstruction and expansion of the St. Regis Kraft facility in the Tideflats was nearly completed in late December of 1936. The company had spent $1,000,000, a tidy sum in the Depression years, to update their large pulp plant to handle the production of bleached pulp. New machinery was purchased to deal with 25,000 short logs per hour, including electric saws to cut the logs into irregular-shaped chunks and machines to bark the logs before going to regular pulp chippers. The bleaching unit would be ready in early 1937. G34.1-104 (T.Times 10-14-36, p. 5-article; T.Times 11-25-36, p. 5-article)
St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma); Paper industry--1930-1940; Lumber industry--1930-1940; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940;
Streetcar tracks head toward the waterfront in this December 30, 1936, photograph. Information on the picture states that it is "144 ft. to intersection No. 41st & Cheyenne Sts." There is a store or restaurant at the left which advertised the Olympic brand of milk, cream and ice cream. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Railway & Power Co. G58.1-022
Residential streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Street railroad tracks--Tacoma--1930-1940;
Huge sheets of bleached pulp are being manufactured at the Tacoma St. Regis Kraft plant in February of 1937. The plant had recently reopened a few months ago after much remodeling and expansion. St. Regis was moving into the growing bleached pulp business. According to the Tacoma Times, five million board feet of giant hemlock logs were chewed into chips every month and converted into pulp to be used in the manufacture of paper. This meant that the Tacoma plant produced 150 tons of pulp daily; the whole process from sawing logs to chipping to cooking with chemicals, washed and dried and finally baling took about six hours. St. Regis Kraft was a wholly owned subsidiary of the St. Regis Paper Co. Pulp from Tacoma supplied the eastern paper mills of the St. Regis Paper Co. as well as being exported to foreign countries, including Japan. G37.1-061 (T.Times 1-27-37, p. 1, 5-articles on St. Regis)
St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Paper industry--1930-1940; Lumber industry--1930-1940; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940; Machinery;
Posing in front of the "Infallible" on her June 19, 1936, launching date are the ship's sponsor (with roses) and other guests. The "Infallible" was launched from Western Boat facilities. She was an 86-foot diesel cannery tender with 240 hp. Capt. Ed Strand was her skipper. G37.1-132
The schooner "Commodore," the last of the offshore sailing fleet in regular service on the Puget Sound, was photographed in September of 1936 while taking on a load of lumber at one of the mills in Tacoma. She was built in 1919 by the J.H. Price Construction Company, a Lake Washington shipyard, and by 1935 the wooden four masted schooner had fallen on hard times. In 1937 she was operating in Alaska as the Iniskin. She met her end in 1942. She was towed to South America and broken up for lumber to build houses. ("Marine History of the Pacific Northwest" H.W. McCurdy) G50.1-118, TPL-5845
In October of 1936, members of the Scandinavian-American Democratic Club rallied for their party's candidates in the upcoming local and national elections. Portraits and signs for Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Clarence Martin line the walls. Both men were seeking re-election, Roosevelt for the presidency and Martin for Washington State governor. The rally was held at Valhalla Hall on October 14, 1936, with the general public invited. Initiatives and amendments on the general election ballot were discussed. G42.1-069 (T.Times 10-13-36, p. 10-article)
Scandinavian- American Democratic Club (Tacoma); Political participation--Tacoma; Political campaigns; Political elections--Tacoma--1930-1940;
1936 daily operations at St. Regis. View of a thick cluster of narrow steel or cement pipes at a St. Regis Paper Co. facility, probably the Tacoma location at 801 Portland Ave. in December of 1936. The St. Regis plant in Tacoma had undergone massive remodeling for several months to make it into a modern plant capable of producing 60,000 tons of bleached pulp per year. G37.1-026 (T.Times 10-14-36, p. 5-article; T. Times 11-25-36, p. 5-article)
St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Paper industry--1930-1940; Lumber industry--1930-1940; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940;
1936 daily operations at St. Regis. This is believed to be the St. Regis Paper Co. facility in Tacoma at 801 Portland Ave. as pictured in December of 1936. This exterior view of the plant shows its close proximity to railroad tracks which meant easier transport of its products. Pieces of lumber are strewn about and a wheelbarrow and other small carts are present. The Tacoma St. Regis Kraft Co. pulp plant had undergone modernization of its facility earlier in 1936 including new machinery and expansion of the plant. By the end of November, 1936, the plant was operating with a crew of 250. St. Regis expected that the bleaching unit would be ready in 90 days; until then, unbleached pulp as formerly produced would be manufactured. G37.1-021 (T.Times 10-14-36, p. 5-article; T. Times 11-25-36, p. 5-article)
St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Paper industry--1930-1940; Lumber industry--1930-1940; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940;
1936 daily operations at St. Regis. Interiors of the newly remodeled and expanded St. Regis Kraft Co. plant on the Tideflats were photographed on December 21-22, 1936. The company had spent a million dollars in the extensive remodeling project during 1936 which was nearly completed. This view appears to be of wood framed windows with two latches apiece. G37.1-014 (T.Times 10-14-36, p. 5; T. Times 11-25-36, p. 5-articles, no pictures, on both pages regarding remodeling)
St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Paper industry--1930-1940; Lumber industry--1930-1940; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940;
Tacoma Railway & Power Co. requested photographs be taken of the North 41st & Cheyenne Sts. area in late December of 1936. According to information noted on the print, the view is of "center No. 41st St. 81 ft. west from property line." North 41st appears to have been a gravel road in the north end of Tacoma with houses on both sides of the street. The church steeple up the street is believed to be part of the Bethany Presbyterian Church, 4420 N. 41st St. G57.1-043
This internal view of St. Regis was taken in December of 1936. The location was not specified but it is believed to be the big paper mill at 801 Portland Ave., the former location of Union Bag & Paper Co. This particular view shows wet floors, drains, and machinery on both sides. It is possible that a washer had broken causing the wetness. TPL-6802; G37.1-013
St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Paper industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Mills--Tacoma--1930-1940; Machinery;
Lumber operations at St. Regis. Although photographer Boland's notes do not mention the location of this particular St. Regis Kraft Co. plant, it is probably the large concern in Tacoma as photographed in December of 1936. The Tacoma plant had been transformed into a modern facility for the production of 60,000 tons of bleached pulp per year. The company had spent a million dollars for new machinery and reconstruction. The pulp plant was operating by the end of November, 1936, with a crew of 250. The bleaching unit would open about three months later. (T.Times 11-25-36, p. 5-article)
St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Paper industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1930-1940;
St. Regis logging operations, location unknown, in May of 1936. A heavy duty truck with five coils of wire/chain/rope hanging on one side is mired off the dirt road. Many logs have already been downed and a "donkey" is billowing steam. G75.1-043
Lumber industry--1930-1940; St. Regis Paper Co.; Trucks--1930-1940; Logs; Donkey engines;
An enormous log is being hoisted onto a heavy duty truck using a "spreader bar" (at left) in this June, 1936, photograph. It will be taken to Tacoma to be processed for Peterman Manufacturing Co. This view is of one of Peterman's old White trucks unloading its load at the railhead in Morton. Al Peterman had purchased several old Whites, then completely rebuilt and heavily modified them to be used in his logging operations at Morton. In 1933-34 Mr. Peterman had purchaed 11 sections (7040 acres) from the Northern Pacific Railroad and began logging in late 1934 to provide materials for his Tacoma door plant. Logging operations were finished in Morton in 1940 after 190 million feet of timber were logged. G75.1-056 (Additional information provided by a reader)
One-lane road, curving by forested land. Photograph requested by Peterman Logging (Manufacturing Co.) in June of 1936. Hillside on the right has been decimated of trees. This is a view of Peterman Manufacturing Co.'s main truck road just down the ravine below the trestle in Boland B25874. According to a reader, Mr. Peterman kept his roads in excellent shape to make it easier and faster for his logging trucks. It is said that his trucks could do 50 mph coming down off the hill into Morton which was unheard of at that time. G75.1-064
Spar tree used in Peterman Logging operations in June of 1936. This tall straight tree has had its limbs chopped off and has been topped. It would be used to support cables that would drag the felled timber to where trucks could transport it to mills. Spar trees have since been supplemented by portable steel towers. This view was taken of one of Peterman's landings on top of Peterman Hill near Morton. Next to the spar tree is an 11 x 13 steam yarder ("donkey") yarding logs. Nearby are some of the trucks waiting to be loaded and then transporting logs down the hill to the railhead at Morton. According to a reader, the road to Tacoma was not good enough to transport the logs via trucks in a safe and timely manner, hence the use of rail. G75.1-057 (Additional information provided by a reader)
Peterman Logging operations near Morton in June of 1936. This may be a "skid road," where heavy logs are partially sunken so that felled timber can be dragged over them to a skidway or landing. According to a reader, this is a view of one of Peterman Manufacturing Co.'s truck roads about a mile past the trestle (shown in Boland B25874) to the south of the beaver pond area. The assorted logs in the foreground were part of a bridge under construction. Because the ground was very swampy, the brush was cut down and laid crossways in the roadbed and gravel dumped on top. The road is still there decades later. G75.1-051 (Additional information provided by a reader)
Peterman Logging operations at or near Morton, June of 1936. According to a reader, this photograph shows a "Triple Drum" yarder in action. Unlike earlier models, this vehicle was mobile with tracklaying capability. The caterpillar mounted set of drums could easily maneuver over rough terrain to yard logs out of a ravine or canyon. The logs could then be either yarded with a crawler tractor or directly loaded onto trucks. TPL-9854; G75.1-044 (Additional information provided by a reader)
These units were listed as "preventorium" by Marvin Boland in 1934 as he spent the day photographing the Pierce County Sanatorium, 1 Command Circle, Lakewood. Tuberculosis patients would undergo treatment at this county facility which would remain open until 1952. It would later be called Mount View Sanitarium and also Lakeview Sanitarium. G30.1-019
Pierce County Sanatorium (Lakewood); Sanatoriums--Lakewood; Tuberculosis;
One-lane road curving slightly through stand of trees not far from the start of Peterman Manufacturing Co.'s main truck road going up to the top of Peterman Hill, south of Morton. According to a reader, Mr. Peterman used a contract rock crusher to crush rock and a full time roadgrader to make an all-weather road at a time when most logging roads were planked or just mud. Al Peterman had bought 11 sections (or 7040 acres) from the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1933-34. He began logging in late 1934 to supply his Tacoma door plant. The area had originally been called Cotter's Rock after a pioneer homesteader but became known as Peterman Hill. His logging operations ceased in Morton in 1940 but not before logging 190 million feet of timber. Photograph ordered by Peterman Logging (Manufacturing Co.) in June of 1936. G75.1-065; G74.1-111 (Additional information provided by a reader)
This was the Administration Building at the Pierce County Sanatorium as viewed in March of 1934. Photographer Marvin Boland took a series of pictures of the hospital complex one day that month. The sanatorium, also known as the Lakeview Sanitarium, provided care for tuberculosis patients in the county. Adults and children had separate wards. The sprawling campus included treatment facilities, residential housing and even a separate maids quarters set aside for live-in housekeeping help. Mountain View Sanatorium in Tacoma replaced the Lakewood county facility in 1952. Three years later in 1955 the old hospital campus was purchased by McChord AFB. G30.1-023
Pierce County Sanatorium (Lakewood); Sanatoriums (Lakewood); Tuberculosis;
This angled view of the Twin Gates restaurant was taken from across the street in January of 1936. The large restaurant was located next to a Richfield service station a short distance south of Tenino in Thurston County. By the 1970's, it was a secondhand store. The building has since been destroyed by fire. (Additional information provided by a reader) G77.1-078, TPL-10521
Twin Gates (Tenino); Restaurants--Tenino; Automobile service stations--Tenino;
Hull #213 was under construction at Martinolich Shipbuilding in February of 1936. The firm was well known for their building of purse seiners. A big fishing fleet of at least 12 purse seiners was under contract in Tacoma's three yards and six more were expected to be started by the end of January, 1936. The Martinolich-Cosulich plant had recently been erected at the south end of City Waterway and had four contracts for fishing craft. G37.1-149 (TNT 1-18-36, p. 1-article)
Three unidentified men posed at a logging site in Mineral, Washington, on the first of March, 1936. The hillside beyond the men is strewn with fallen timber. The men are sitting and leaning against a much bigger log. G75.1-098
