Workers and their families at the Pacific Boat Building Co. celebrate the launching of the A.M.S. (motor minesweeper) 116, hull 29 by munching on Nalley potato chips and drinking Nesbitt orange soda. In the background can be seen more hulls under construction. The AMS 116 was one of five 144 ft minesweepers contracted with the firm by the Navy. Naval rearmament was fueling the Tacoma ship building economy. (T. Reporter 7/23/1952, pg. 1)

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pacific Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Women in suits, hats and corsages pose around 7 year old Barbara Broback holding an engraved silver tray commemorating the launching of the A.M.S. (motor minesweeper) 116, hull 29 at Pacific Boat Building Co. Carolyn D. Anderson, wife of the Mayor, was the sponsor.The boat building firm was begun in 1937 by partners A. Strom and H. Dahl.

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pacific Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Broback, Barbara;

Launching of the A.M.S. (motor minesweeper) 116, hull 29 at Pacific Boat Building Co. Pictured are the owners, Naval officers and Barbara Broback, 7 year old daughter of Bert Broback, holding the ceremonial bouquet of flowers. Carolyn D. Anderson, wife of mayor John H. Anderson, acted as sponsor. Co-owners A. Strom, center, and H. Dahl, left, held a contract with the Navy to construct five 144 foot minesweepers worth approximately five million dollars. Strom and Dahl were also co-owners in Tacoma Boat Building Co. (T. Reporter, 7/23, 1952, pg.1 & 7/8/1952, pg.8)

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pacific Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Dahl, Haldor; Strom, Arne; Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Broback, Barbara;

The launching of the A.M.S. (motor minesweeper) 116, hull 29 by the Pacific Boat Building Co. The ship is being assisted after launching by Foss Tug #11 and another unidentified tug. More large ships can be seen in the background. Naval rearmament fueled the Tacoma ship building economy with local firms holding a total of over 20 million dollars in Naval contracts. (T. Reporter, 7/23/1952, pg. 1 & 7/8/1952, pg. 8)

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pacific Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The launching of the A.M.S. (motor minesweeper) 116, hull 29 by the Pacific Boat Building Co. The rear of the hull draped in red, white and blue bunting can be seen as it slides down the ways. Spectators view from platforms inside the dry dock where the ship was constructed. This vessel was the first of five 144 foot vessels to be built by Pacific Boat. (T. Reporter 7/23/1952, pg. 1)

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pacific Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The launching of the A.M.S. (motor minesweeper) 116, hull 29 by the Pacific Boat Building Co. The hull of the boat is attached to the ways prior to the launching ceremony. The minesweepers which ranged in size from 57 feet to 171 feet were being constructed at Pacific, Tacoma Boat Building and J. M. Martinac, as well as smaller boats for the Navy at other Tacoma yards. (T. Reporter 7/8/1952, pg. 8)

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pacific Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The rear of the hull of the USS Endurance (AMS 435) as they prepare for launching at J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding. The Endurance was the first of four 171 foot minesweepers constructed by Martinac for the Navy. Martinac was also the first firm on the Pacific coast to be designated by the Navy as a "qualified laminator." The frames for the minesweepers were laminated in their branch office on Baker dock and then barged up City waterway to the plant for placement in the new boats. (TNT 2-10-1952, pg. B-6, 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, 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;

Launching of A.M.S. (motor mine sweeper) #113 at Tacoma Boat Building Company for the Navy. Ship sliding down the ways into the water as it leaves building. The AMS 113 was the first Navy minesweeper to be launched in Tacoma since WWII. Tacoma was rapidly becoming a major center of Naval boat building in our nation's rearmament effort. Tacoma firms held a total of $20 million dollars in Naval contracts. (T. Reporter 7/22/1952, pg. 2 & 7/8/1952, pg. 8)

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

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 A.M.S.(motor minesweeper) #113 at Tacoma Boat Building Company for the Navy. View of the rear of the ship draped with an American flag. "Brynn Foss" tugboat on left side. Several men on deck. Mount Rainier and tideflats in background. The keel of the vessel was laid Oct. 19, 1951 and the completed minesweeper was scheduled to be delivered in early 1953. It was the first of five to be built by the firm. (T. Reporter 7/22/1952, pg. 2 & 7/8/1952, pg. 8)

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

Exposure showing small plywood fishing boats at the Puget Sound Boat Building Co. building. For DFPA. The small boats are backed by a larger fishing boat and two large ships. The boat building shed can be seen on the right hand side and industrial Tacoma in the background. In June of 1952, the Navy awarded a contract to Puget Sound to build 20 40 foot personnel boats at a cost of $300,000. This was in addition to an earlier Naval contract for 5 40 ft personnel boats of a different type at a cost of $85,000. The boat builder had lost an earlier Naval contract to an Eastern firm due to the claim that the Eastern yard was in a labor surplus area.

Puget Sound Boat Building Corp. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Progress photograph of plywood finishing- applying sealant to a plywood boat. DFPA

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Plywood;

Official visit of 13th District Naval Commandant Supervisor and Admiral Smith at Tacoma Boat Building Company. Officer on platform addressing crowd inside boat building facility.

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

Bow section being delivered to Martinac Shipbuilding Corporation. Flatbed truck delivering laminated wood bow on March 18, 1952. Ship under construction in building. For Al Shriner.

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

Eight people are gathered during a keel laying ceremony at Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. Martinac had recently been notified that they were the first firm on the Pacific Coast to be entitled to the Navy's designation of "qualified laminator". The Martinac yard learned of the honor when a party of Navy shipbuilding inspectors visited the firm to witness the start of the yard's program for the construction of four 171-foot minesweepers. The Martinac yard had set up a "branch office" in leased space on Baker dock where the firm operated a complete laminating plant. (TNT, 2/10/1952, p.B-6)

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

Overall view of three massive laminators with a man leaning over center one taken at the Baker Dock in November, 1951. J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corporation had its laminating operations at Baker Dock. The laminators were constructed so that workers could get close to the wood being laminated on semi-circular belts. Large overhanging lids appear to be able to fit tightly over the laminators. "No Smoking" signs warn workers not to light up when working with highly flamable materials.

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

Three men standing next to a half-circle laminator at Baker Dock adjust the clamps on wood curved in a semi-circle at the Martinac Shipbuilding Company's laminating operations. J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding was a well-known Tacoma business whose motto was "Martinac for Better Boats". Founded by Joseph M. Martinac, the company built a variety of boats ranging from pleasure craft to tuna boats.

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

Launching of "Southern Pacific" at J.M. Martinac. The 123 foot tuna clipper was built for Lu Brito (skipper) along with John Silva. She had a capacity of 270 tons and a crew of 15. She was equipped with a 800-hp Enterprise engine, two 150-hp 120 kw GM generating sets, one 60 kw GM generating set for auxiliaries at a cost of $400,000. She was also equipped with Sperry automatic power steering and an automatic pilot; Tacoma Range Company electric range; a Coolidge propeller, TCA radio, Intervox direction finder and a Submarine Signal fathometer. Additionally she was seaplane equipped. (Ledger, 11/4/1951; Marine Digest, 12/22/1951) TPL-9055

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

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;

Tacoma's sixth major fire of 1951 occurred in the early morning hours of August 24th when Tacoma Boat Building Company at 2142 East D st. was nearly destroyed. The construction yard of five connecting buildings was engulfed in flames; only the outfitting dock was saved. Damages were estimated in the one million dollar range. The company's office building suffered minor damage and valuable company records were safe. Twelve land companies and the city fireboat fought the blaze throughout the night and smoke was still rising from the boatworks' ruins several hours later. Only one boat was lost in the fire; the partially completed hull of a tuna fishing boat can be seen in the center of the photograph. A General Motors truck is parked close to the blackened structures; perhaps it will be used to haul away some of the rubble. (TNT 8-24-51, p.1)

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

This tuna fishing boat, being bult at the Tacoma Boat Building Company facility at 2142 East D St. was over 60% complete when a fire on August 24, 1951 reduced it to a charred hulk. Several hours after the massive one million dollar blaze, smoke still billows from the ruined boat. The company's boatworks area was completely demolished; this fishing boat, however, was the only vessel damaged. Photograph ordered by Board of Marine Underwriters of San Francisco. TPL-9053

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

View of damaged machinery at Tacoma Boat Building's massive fire of August 24, 1951. The entire construction yard consisting of five connected buildings was leveled in the multi-alarm fire which occurred in the early morning hours of August 24th. Damages were estimated at one million dollars, part of which is probably covered by insurance. Photograph commissioned by the Board of Marine Underwriters of San Francisco. (TNT 8-24-51, p. 1)

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

Smoke rises from the blackened ruins of the Tacoma Boat Building Company's boatworks area on August 24, 1951. It was the city's sixth major fire of the year. Damages were estimated at one million dollars by Fire Chief Charles Eisenbacher. All five connecting buildings in the construction yard were consumed by flames. Twelve land companies and the city fireboat helped to finally extinguish the fire. Photograph commissioned by Board of Marine Underwriters of San Francisco. (TNT 8-24-51, p. 1) TPL-9120;

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

Men survey the massive fire damage to the Tacoma Boat Building Company's boatworks on August 24, 1951. Twelve land companies and the city's fireboat were called to battle the extensive blaze; however, due to the large amounts of dry materials present, the firemen were unable to save the construction yard of five connecting buildings. Damages were estimated by Fire Chief Charles Eisenbacher at approximately one million dollars. It was Tacoma's sixth major fire of 1951. Owners Haldor Dahl and Arne Strom shortly after announced plans for a new plant on Sitcum Waterway to replace the City Waterway installation; the main building would be 244 feet by 300 feet plus an additional large machine shop and spacious office building. (TNT 8-24-51, p. 1, TNT 10-7-51, B-2) TPL-9119

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

Welch board was being used in construction of a tuna clipper at Western Boat. This view shows the crew's quarters with four sets of bunk beds. In June 1951 Western Boat was building a 98-foot tuna clipper to replace the partially-completed clipper lost in the 1950 fire at the City waterway yard. Launching of the clipper was scheduled for late July. The yard was also building 16- and 18-foot tuna tenders and was bidding on military tugs and other craft. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association, Jack Leik. (TNT, 6/24/1951) TPL-9051

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Plywood; Crew quarters; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Welch board was being used in construction of a tuna clipper at Western Boat. Two men are completing the plywood covering over the upper deck of the fishing vessel. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association, Jack Leik. TPL-9052

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Plywood; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The captain's quarters in a newly completed ship by J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. The Martinac yard had been busy during May 1951: the Royal Pacific, a 118-foot tuna clipper was launched May 5, was expected to make her trial run the first week of June; a 123-foot clipper for Lu Brito, already started, was expected to be completed in December; and at the Kazulin-Cole yard on Hylebos waterway, under lease by Martinac, a 118-foot sister ship to the Royal Pacific and Mona Lisa was expected to be launched June 15. Immediately following that launching Martinac would begin construction of another 118-foot sister vessel to the first three. (TNT, 6/3/1951, p.D-12) TPL-9043

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