Launching of the AM 504 with Foss tugboat. The AM 504 was the second of three 171 ft. minesweepers to be launched by Tacoma Boat Building. The ship was expected to be ready for delivery to the Tacoma Naval Station for outfitting in November of 1955. Mrs. Charles S. Weeks, wife of the commander of the Tacoma Naval Station, would be sponsor and her seven year old daughter June would be the flower girl. Cmdr. L.L. MacKinley, the Navy's resident supervisor of shipbuilding, would be the guest speaker. (TNT 3/20/1955, pg. B-6) TPL-9246
Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);
The M.S.A. #491, a 171 foot minesweeper, was scheduled to be launched from the Bayview Shipyard, at the north end of East F St., on April 24, 1955 by the J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Co. It is the eighth of nine contracted 171 foot minesweepers to be launched. It will be named the U.S.S. Persistent. The keel was laid for the ship in June of 1954. (TNT 4/127/1955, pg. B-7)
Dorothy (Mrs. M. Stanley) Erdahl serves as sponsor for the launching of the U.S.S. Persistent (A.M. #491) minesweeper, constructed by the J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. M. Stanley Erdahl was the current Port Commissioner and an ex-Navy officer who took the first YMS type minesweeper out of the Martinac yard in WWII. She would be assisted at the launching of the 171 ft. minesweeper by Sharon McCoy, daughter of Ed McCoy- Sumner High School's Director of Athletics, who would serve as flower girl. (TNT 4/17/1955, pg. B-7)
James "Jim" Holroyd stands on the running board of an International Harvester truck owned by Holroyd Company, behind the door on the driver's side of the cab. The Holroyd Co. used durable International Harvester trucks to transport mixers, building materials, and concrete products. The trucks' large holding capacity would make delivery of ordered material economical and quick. Photograph ordered by International Harvester.
Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; International Harvester Co. (Tacoma); Holroyd Co. (Tacoma); Holroyd, James;
Seattle and Tacoma employees of Abar, Inc., form a long line in front of the store on Pacific Avenue on September 19, 1958. In addition, four delivery trucks stand ready to transport Abar products to their customers. Abar sold aluminum storm doors and windows and screens direct from the factory. Roy V. English was listed in the 1958 City Directory as president of the firm. Photograph ordered by Abar, Inc.
The parking lot at Owen Beach is filled with cars whose occupants are watching the water show provided by the Tacoma Fireboat. Among the vehicles appears to be the well-known Steve Gay '90s cable car. Small tugs circle the fireboat whose plumes of water arch over Commencement Bay. Water is blasted through mounted nozzles on the boat; the purpose would be to put out marine and waterfront fires. The display was part of the Kiwanis convention festivities held in August, 1958. Photograph ordered by Kiwanis International.
Boat launching. Posing with a beribboned spray of red roses is Anne (Mrs. John S.) McGowan, who was the sponsor of the new fishing boat, the "Anne M." The "Anne M" was launched on Saturday night, June 14, 1969, at the J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp.'s yard on the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway. The 165-foot tuna seiner was the sister ship of the "Conquest," delivered the previous year. The "Anne M" will fish on behalf of Bumble Bee Seafoods in the Astoria waters. She will be captained by Frank Souza of San Diego. Photograph ordered by J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (TNT 6-16-69, p. 29) TPL-9403
Post-launching. The "Mary Antoinette" was successfully launched at 4:45 p.m. on October 11, 1969. A small tug is shown guiding the fishing boat in the waters of the City (now Thea Foss) Waterway with the Washington Building with Bank of California large neon sign and Puget Sound National Bank's spire as background. The "Mary Antoinette" was built by J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding for owner and captain John Zolezzi, Jr. of San Diego. Photograph ordered by J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding. (TNT 10-12-69, A-12) TPL-9448
Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tugboats--Tacoma--1960-1970; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Washington Building (Tacoma); Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma);
Pre-launching. The family of Capt. John Zolezzi, Jr., owner and skipper of the "Mary Antoinette" happily posed for a group portrait standing before the new tuna seiner on October 11, 1969. Mrs. Zolezzi, holding the traditional spray of red roses, was the ship's sponsor. The Zolezzis hailed from the San Diego area. The "Mary Antoinette" was built by local firm J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding. Photograph ordered by the J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. TPL-9449
Sea trials. The "Cape San Vincent" successfully completed sea trials in mid-June of 1969. The 165-foot tuna seiner had been launched from the J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding yard nearly three months previously on March 20th. Owned by Edward Gann of Southern California, she would be used to fish in the San Pedro area. Photograph ordered by J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. TPL-9400
Waves smash against the bow of the tuna seiner, "Cape San Vincent," as sea trials were conducted on June 12, 1969. Launched by the J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. on March 20th, she would soon be turned over to her owner, Edward Gann of California. The 165-foot vessel would be used to fish in the San Pedro waters. Photograph ordered by J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. TPL-9401
Boat launching. The 160-foot all-aluminum ferry, the "Avalon," was successfully launched on October 25, 1969, by Martinolich Shipbuilding from their plant on the Port Industrial Waterway. The sleek vessel had a 27-foot beam and tipped the scale at 182 tons displacement. Four marine gas turbines powered the twin variable-pitch propellors. The "Avalon" was built for Holiday Services for use in shuttling passengers to Santa Catalina, about 26 miles from Los Angeles. She could carry up to 500 passengers with speeds of 25-28 knots. Built for more than $2,000,000, the "Avalon" would be delivered to the San Pedro area about two weeks after its launch date. Mrs. Robert Sprague, wife of one of the ship's owners, had christened the vessel with the traditional bottle of champagne. Photograph ordered by Martinolich Shipbuilding Corp. (TNT 10-12-69, D-12; TNT 10-27-69, p. 6) tnt (A)-052A
Boat launching. The YFB-87 is pictured on December 18, 1969, as she slid down the ways at Western Boat Building's new plant at 1720 Marine View Dr. on the Hylebos Waterway. The 165-foot double-ended car and passenger ferry was built for the Navy and would be towed to Hawaii in May of 1970. She was patterned after the Hiyu which now traveled between Point Defiance and Vashon Island. Photograph ordered by Western Boat Building Co.
Launchings--Tacoma--1960-1970; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Ferries; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);
Case earthmover. Parked outside Puyallup Tractors, 514 River Road, is a Case earthmover, sans driver. Other Case machinery are visible behind the chain link fence. Photograph ordered by the law firm of Reed, McClure, Moceri, Seattle.
Delivery. Carl Albertson (at left) and Dick Fenger are apparently exchanging paperwork regarding the delivery of Washington Iron Works' heavy duty equipment by Widing Transportation Co. in mid-November, 1969. Widing Transportation arranged for heavy hauling through several West Coast states and up to British Columbia by St. Johns Motor Express, a division of the company. Mr. Albertson was one of the top two drivers for Widing at the time. Mr. Fenger was the head of its heavy haul division. The large piece of equipment shown above has been identified by a reader as a portion of a "spar pole" used to pull logs up the hill to a landing where they would be loaded onto a logging truck. Seattle's Washington Iron Works specialized in manufacturing equipment for the logging industry. Photograph ordered by Widing Transportation Co., Portland. (Identification and information provided by a reader)
An unidentified man is partially obscured by the blast of steam as he is cleaning the exterior of the Widing Transportation truck to ready it for repairs on November 1, 1969. The truck was parked at a terminal in the 24000 block of Pacific Hwy. S., in the Midway area. The building shown above was called the "wash rack" which was used to clean and purify the tanks inside. Widing Transporattion, a long distance hauler, operated from British Columbia, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Washington and California. Photograph ordered by Widing Transportation Co., Portland. (Information provided by a reader)
An interested crowd gathers at the Kent Auto Marshaling complex on August 17, 1970, to see the Vert-A-Pak bulk compact carrier in action. It appears to be a unique way to transport new automobiles. Present in the group is C.E. Crippen, president of the Milwaukee Road, whose organization developed the automobile unloading center. The new vehicle boxcars system is limited at the moment to compact cars only, due to size requirements. The system was devised in joint planning by the Milwaukee Road and General Motors. Color photograph ordered by the Milwaukee Road. (TNT 8-23-70, A-19)
Oceangoing tugs " Seneca" and "Sioux" were christened at Martinac Shipbuilding facilities on June 13, 1970. View of the "Seneca" in foreground with glimpse of the "Sioux" at left. Both tugs will be based in Seattle but will be utilized in hauling barges to Prudhoe Bay in Alaska. The "Seneca" is already sea-worthy but the "Sioux" still needs outfitting. Photograph ordered by Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (TNT 6-14-70, A-4)
Christening of tugboats. Mrs. Edith R. Bullock carries the traditional spray of red roses and a decorated bottle of champagne as she and other principal parties await the christening of the tugboat "Seneca" on June 13, 1970. Another tug, the "Sioux," would also be christened at Martinac Shipbuilding facilities the same day. Both oceangoing vessels were apparently based in Seattle but would haul barges to Alaska's Prudhoe Bay. Standing next to and behind the flowers of the sponsor, Mrs. Bullock, is J.S. Martinac of the shipbuilding firm. Other dignitaries are not identified. Photograph ordered by J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (TNT 6-14-70, A-4 article)
John F. Kennedy. The 165-foot tuna seiner, "John F. Kennedy," was photographed on March 3, 1970, probably as she was undergoing sea trials in Puget Sound. The ship, built by Martinac Shipbuilding, had been launched on December 20, 1969. Upon completion of sea trials, she would be delivered to Star-Kis Foods on Terminal Island, California. Photograph ordered by Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. TPL-9455
Ship trials. The tugboat "Sioux" chugs powerfully through the waves as she undergoes sea trials on June 29, 1970. Launched at Martinac Shipbuilding on June 13th along with sister tug, "Seneca," she would be used to haul barges to the oil fields of Alaska's Prudhoe Bay. Photograph ordered by J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp.
A Veneer Chip Transport Kenworth truck and trailer, indicating capacity weight of under 36,000, is parked outside the St. Regis plant on Portland Avenue on April 11, 1960. The photograph would be used for advertising. Photograph ordered by Kenworth Motor Truck Co., Seattle.
Trucks--Tacoma--1960-1970; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1960-1970;
Champagne explodes as Mrs. William M. Allen, wife of the Boeing president, formally christens the hydrofoil PCH-1, High Point, on August 17, 1962, at Martinac Shipbuilding. Naval dignitaries look on while a small girl holds Mrs. Allen's bouquet of roses. The High Point was the first wave of Boeing hydrofoils. It was a 110-foot submarine chaser that used four propellers. Foils would create lift raising the hull of the aluminum structure out of the water. (www.boeing.com/history, TNT 7-31-62, A-1)
An International Harvester truck loaded with logs leaves White River logging operations in July, 1962. It is pictured descending the unpaved road, raising clouds of dust. The truck was owned by Dougherty & Zion, logging and general contractors. Photograph ordered by U.P. International.
A fleet of six new International Harvester trucks on display at Dougherty & Zion, logging and general contractors, 3410 Lincoln Avenue, on July 28, 1962. Extra wheels are loaded on top along with the hitch. These International Harvester units were to be used for hauling massive logs from various logging operations. See D135351-3 for photograph of truck in use. Photograph ordered by International Harvester Co.
Trucks--Tacoma--1960-1970; International Harvester Co. (Tacoma);
Two men stroll toward a parked Ford truck with two Fairliner cruisers on board. The Dudley Co., Auburn, Washington, truck appears ready to leave the Fairliner plant in late April, 1963. It cautions motorists that it is bearing a wide load. Fairliner was a division of Western Boat Building Co. Its pleasure boats were especially adaptable to this area's choppy waters. Fairliner, as the advertising signs noted, also was expanding into the home and commercial buildings market with the use of pre-engineered products. Photograph ordered by Novaco Co.
Boats--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1960-1970; Signs (Notices); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);
Overhead view of deck arrangement on the PGM 61. The patrol boat, built by J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp., was undergoing trials on April 1, 1963. The "PGM" designation stood for Motor Gunboat. During WWII, PGMs were designed to operate with PT boats but were found to be more effective working with mine sweepers in blowing up mines cut loose by the sweepers.
Broadside view of PGM 61 at full speed during trials on April 1, 1963. The patrol boat was built by the J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. for the Navy. Later it would be transferred to South Vietnam as the Nam Du.
Fords and Oldsmobiles line the streets of Glenwood Acres as people flock to the ribbon cutting ceremonies of the "Blue Flame" home. Other houses were in the process of being built and prospective homeowners could easily walk over and inspect them. Glenwood Acres was a planned housing development in Lakewood. Developers left many trees in the various lots to preserve the rustic atmosphere. The planned community also featured the use of natural gas, not oil or electricity, to heat the homes. Photograph ordered by Stromberg Construction.
Ford automobile; Oldsmobile automobile; Houses--Lakewood--1950-1960; Housing developments--Lakewood--1950-1960;
