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;
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;
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;
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;
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;
Smokestack, storage tanks at Hooker Chemical Co., Tacoma, on September 10, 1951. Part of series taken that date concerning Hooker Chemical and conveyor link belt system.
Hooker Electrochemical Co. (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Smokestacks--Tacoma; Storage tanks--Tacoma;
A man believed to be Arthur E. Gruhl, technician at the Fir Door Institute, tests a full sized door at the Plywood Research Foundation laboratory in September, 1951. Douglas Fir plywood was constantly being tested for durability and to maintain high standards of quality production. The Douglas Fir Plywood Association, based in Tacoma, set up the Plywood Research Foundation as an industry maintained quality control laboratory.
Plywood Research Foundation (Tacoma); Plywood; Doors & doorways--Tacoma; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Laboratories--Tacoma--1950-1960; Product inspection--Tacoma; Testing--Tacoma--1950-1960;
A technician examines plywood that has undergone shear testing at the Plywood Research Center. Although nailed down, several segments of plywood have been ripped away from the wall in this September, 1951, photograph. The research laboratory submits plywood to tests of durability and quality assurance in order that the finished product meet their high standards.
Plywood Research Center (Tacoma); Plywood; Product inspection--Tacoma; Testing--Tacoma--1950-1960; Laboratories--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Two employees of Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel's Seattle plant are shown at work on September 26, 1951. One man grips a piece of steel with his gloved hand while the other worker seems to be in the process of riveting. According to the 1951 Seattle City Directory, Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel had several facilities in the Seattle area including a Rolling Mill and office at 4001 28th Ave. S.W., a Bolt and Nut dept. at 3800 Iowa Ave., a Tank Farm at 3301 26th Ave. S.W., and a Mill Depot at 3845 26th Ave S.W. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (San Francisco).
Sparks fly as an employee of Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel apparently is drilling a piece of steel in September, 1951. He is wearing safety goggles, a cap to protect his hair, and protective coverings over his shoes. Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation had several facilities in Seattle, including a prefabrication plant, rolling mill, a mill depot, and bolt and nut department. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp. (San Francisco).
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.
Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel had several facilities in the Seattle area in the 1950's. Two workers coordinate their movements as they work in unison in the prefabrication plant in September, 1951. They appear to be working with a pulley. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp., San Francisco office.
Chemist lab at Columbia Breweries. Two employees of Columbia Breweries shown at work in the chemist's laboratory in an October, 1951, photograph. According to a large ad placed in the News Tribune on November 13th, the four staff chemists carefully monitored every step in the brewing process from the selection of choice ingredients to the total sterilization of final kegs. All brews were scientifically checked and technically controlled in the company's modern and well-equipped laboratory. Columbia Breweries were well known for their production of Columbia Ale and Heidelberg beer. (TNT, 11-13-51, p. 11)
Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Chemistry--Tacoma; Laboratories--Tacoma--1950-1960;
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;
Columbia Breweries began operation in Tacoma in 1900. By 1951 Alt Heidelberg beer and Columbia Ale, produced by Columbia Breweries, were being sold in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Northern California and were two of the fastest selling brews on the market. Chief Chemist Edward Ehmke, head of the breweries technical staff, helped maintain quality as the company expanded production to meet increased demand. By 1954 they were producing 750,000 barrels of beer a year. The Columbia plant was sold to Carling Brewing Co. in 1959. It closed in 1979. (TNT, 1/8/1952, p.B-4)
Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Chemistry--Tacoma; Scientists--Tacoma; Laboratories--Tacoma; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Ehmke, Edward; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--People;
In 1948 Columbia Breweries appointed four new officers and announced that they would be going through an extensive expansion program. The expansion project will include a 20,000 square feet two story building which will house a new bottle shop, and a can beer line. View of man working with metal tank attached to numerous controls, perhaps the control board or fermenting tank area of the plant.
Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Laborers--Tacoma; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (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;
Columbia Brewery building. View of buildings taken from railroad tracks as pictured in November of 1951. Gas Works tank on right, Columbia Brewery on left, St. Joseph's Hospital on hill in distance.
Columbia Breweries (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Columbia Brewery building. View of brewery over industrial complex and telephone poles. Automobiles parked on railroad service tracks. Photograph taken in November of 1951.
Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Logs are being transformed into railroad ties for exporting in November, 1951. Men shown are feeding logs into a circular saw at a timbered site. The finished product, railroad ties, are shown stacked nearby. Photograph ordered by Export Pacific, Tacoma.
Plywood display at Lakewood Country Store. Man examining "Handy Panels of Douglas Fir Plywood." Cans of paint, ladder in background. This photograph is nearly identical to D62562, image 5.
Plywood; Lakewood Country Store (Lakewood); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);
Logging mill at Summit. Men working on-site with portable log sawing machinery. Cut logs and lumber, automobiles and truck in background. For Export Pacific, taken on November 23, 1951.
Mill at Summit. Truck loaded with milled lumber parked in cut-out area of logging site. Automobiles and pick-up truck in forested background. Part of a series of daily lumber operations taken on November 23, 1951 for Export Pacific.
Mill at Summit. Part of a series taken on November 23, 1951 of lumber operations with portable log sawing machinery, lumber and logs on wooded site. For Export Pacific.
Mill at Summit. Two men working with portable log sawing machinery on wooded site. Pile of sawdust in foreground. For Export Pacific. Photograph taken on November 23, 1951.
