Progress photograph of Hull #3 at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. The vessel was launched near the end of November of 1940 as the Cape Cleare. It was part of the shipyard's first contract for five 415 foot cargo ships. TPL-1852

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Progress photograph of Hull #3 at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. The shipyard was commissioned to build a total of five merchant ships. Two, the Cape Flattery and Cape Alava, had already been launched. TPL-1854

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Boiler at Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing plant.

Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Boilers;

Cape Flattery and Cape Alava, vessels 1 & 2 to be built at the new Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co., pictured docked next to each other. The cargo motorships were the first two of the "C-1" type to be launched. Hull #3 would be launched in late November. The ships were 413 feet long, 5,000 gross tons and carried two 4,000 horsepower diesel engines, enabling them to reach a sea speed of 14 1/2 knots. The ship yard was the recent recipient of a number of vessel contracts and now employed 1200 men on two shifts.

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Launch of Seattle Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. Hull #3, the Cape Cleare. The launch was held November 29, 1940 and was not open to the public. The Cape Cleare was the 3rd of a quintet of 415 foot merchant motorships contracted by the U.S. Maritime Commission. All five would be identical cargo vessels with room for eight passengers plus a crew of 40, built at a cost of $2, 125,00 each. The ultra modern vessels were welded steel throughout. The keel for third vessel was laid August 7th and it was scheduled for completion late in February. The Cape Cleare was named after a prominent headland in Alaska. Mrs. William E. Boeing was the sponsor. TPL-1851 (T. Times 11/12/1940, pg. 1)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Large crane at the Seattle Tacoma shipyards. Their first launch, Cape Flattery, is in the background. The shipyard started in business with an order for five identical 415 foot cargo ships from the U.S. Maritime Commission. They would see their business quickly increase as America geared up for war. The company had one plant in Tacoma and one in Seattle.

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On Monday, December 2, 1940 at 7:11a.m., the Columbia Powder Co., located at Frederickson 10 miles southeast of Tacoma, was rocked by a devastating explosion as 2,000 pounds of dynamite ignited. The explosion killed four workers and reduced the two story frame mixing shed of the plant to splinters. The blast was felt for 30 miles. Luckily more workers were not on site at the time of the explosion; a crew of 65 men was due to report to work at 8 a.m. The plant was new, having been built 6 years prior, and barricades built within the plant as safety measures prevented the plant from being completely leveled. It would be after the New Year before the plant could resume operations as the mixing plant provided the raw materials for the other plant processes. Colombia was one of four powder plants in the state. (T. Times 12/2/1940, pg. 1)

Industrial facilities--Frederickson; Nitrates; Chemical industry--Frederickson; Explosions--Frederickson; Disasters--Frederickson; Columbia Powder Co. (Frederickson);

Workers stand outside the gates of the Columbia Powder Co. in Frederickson rather than reporting to work on the morning of December 2, 1940. Much of the plant had been leveled when, at 7:11a.m., 2,000 pounds of dynamite exploded in the mixing shed of the plant. Four plant employees were killed, but the time of the explosion prevented a greater loss of life. A crew of 65 was due to report to work at 8 a.m. Plant employees would be out of work until the beginning of the year as the mixing plant furnished the raw materials needed for the other plant processes. (T. Times 12/2/1940, pg. 1)

Industrial facilities--Frederickson; Nitrates; Chemical industry--Frederickson; Explosions--Frederickson; Disasters--Frederickson; Columbia Powder Co. (Frederickson);

ca. 1940. Pennsylvania Salt Mfg. Co. Gauges for Boiler No.2. The large chemical producing company was located in the Tideflats, along the Hylebos Waterway.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Gauges; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co.; the first and third launches of the company are docked in the photograph. Cape Alava is in the foreground and Cape Cleare in the rear. The shipyard opened in 1939 at the site of the old Todd Shipyards, just in time to receive several lucrative wartime contracts. Todd Shipyards, of which the Seattle-Tacoma yard is a subsidiary, would soon be the biggest maritime company in the nation. STSC had over $200,000,000 in orders in January of 1941 and was planning the construction of four new yards.

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1940. Columbia Breweries, the manufacturers of Alt Heidelberg and Columbia Ale. Columbia was established in 1900 and had a 41 year record of nonstop continuous brewing. This elevated view shows the plant's facade, automobiles along the street and a delivery truck is backed up to door. A hill and residential buildings are seen in the background. (Argentum)

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

ca. 1940. Columbia Breweries, the manufacturers of Alt Heidelberg and Columbia Ale were getting ready to go through a massive expansion and modernization of their brewing facilities and offices. Columbia was established in 1900 and had a 41 year record of nonstop continuous brewing. During the dry period they produced "Columbia Brew", a near beer. This elevated view shows the plant's facade, automobiles along the street and a delivery truck is backed up to door. A hill and residential buildings are seen in the background. (WSHS)

Brewing industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1940-1950;

ca. 1940. Side view of freighter Cape Flattery, second vessel launched by the Sea-Tac Shipyard, at anchor. (Argentum)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1940. Bow view of freighter "Cape Flattery", second vessel launched by the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation. The Cape Flattery served as a troopship beginning in 1943. The vessel was scrapped in 1971. (Argentum)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1940. Pennsylvania Salt Mfg. Co. boiler at chemical plant located in industrial Tideflats. This photograph was taken circa 1940.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Boilers; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Atlas Foundry. Interior. Pouring of metal.

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma);

Atlas Foundry, interior. Pouring of metal is pictured on February 12, 1941.

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); Foundries--Tacoma--1940-1950; Founding--Tacoma;

A smudge faced worker takes a lunch break during his shift at the Atlas Foundry. His lunch box and thermos are opened as he eats right beside the machine that he works on. During World War II, Tacoma's defense workers worked long hours and in shifts that ran around the clock. (T.Times 8/27/1941, pg. 23)

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--War work--Tacoma ;

Pouring of metal at the Atlas Foundry. Men with cigarettes clamped in their teeth work the machinery that pours molten metal into a container. With America's entry into World War II just around the corner, production in metal would have been stepped up.

Atlas Foundry & Machine Co. (Tacoma);

On February 17,1941, a log from a great fir tree has been delivered to St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. where it has been loaded on the carriage in the mill. The slab cut has been taken off and the saw is going into the log for the second cut. (T. Times 2/26/1941, pg. 13)

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Logs; Saws;

St. Paul and Tacoma Lumber Company. A large log has been loaded on the saw carriage. (T. Times 2/26/1941, pg. 13)

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Logs; Saws;

St. Paul and Tacoma Lumber Company. Men work logs in sawmill. (T. Times)

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. (Tacoma); Logs; Saws;

Progress photograph at the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. Five women pose in front of the vessel Cape Alava. Cape Alava was the first launch of the company. Names written on the back of the photo include Ella Wise, Lois Bergery, and Delphine Stewart. The vessel had recently completed the first tests of her 4,000 horsepower diesel engines while docked at the STSB's fitting out wharf. She will soon make a trip to Seattle for drydocking and final adjustments. Her six hour sea trials are estimated to take place mid March. The ship is scheduled to take over the mail line for the Northwest Orient Route.

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Top officers of the Cape Alava and Cape Flattery. Hard hatted workers at the Seattle Tacoma shipyards leave the dock where finish work continues on the Cape Alava and Cape Flattery. The two merchant ships were the first two commissioned with the shipyard. (T. Times)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On April 17, 1941, the 205th Coast Artillery anti-aircraft unit participated in "war games" at the industrial waterfront of Tacoma. The unit was defending the industrial lands, particularly the shipyards, from attack by airplane. Here, soldiers set up a large anti-aircraft cannon in a grove of trees located across the highway from Rayonier, Inc. (T. Times 4/18/1941, pg. 1)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); 205th Coast Artillery (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Military training;

On April 17, 1941, the 205th Coast Artillery (anti-aircraft) unit conducted a trial run on defending Tacoma's industrial plants and shipyards from attack by airplane. One of the major problems was how to camouflage the over 200 trucks used to transport the men and equipment. Here boards are being used to disguise two of the trucks. (T. Times 4/18/1941, pg.1)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); 205th Coast Artillery (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Military training;

On April 17, 1941, the 205th Coast Artillery anti-aircraft unit conducted defense practice at the Tacoma industrial waterfront. A large anti-aircraft cannon is set up among the trees across the highway from Rayonier Inc. The unit's goal was to protect industries, especially the shipyards, from attack by plane. (T. Times 4/18/1941, pg.1)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); 205th Coast Artillery (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Military training;

On April 17, 1941, the 205th Coast Artillery anti-aircraft unit conducted a defense practice at the Sea-Tac shipyards. Pictured is a camouflaged communications post. The 205th Coast Artillery was stationed at Fort Lewis. It was non divisional, attached directly to the IX Corps of the Fourth Army. The Seattle-Tacoma shipyards were considered a vulnerable target in case of attack and therefore were chosen as the site of a mock raid. The 205th strung itself on the tideflats and the surrounding hillsides, defending the shipyard and other industries from air raids by the planes of the 116th. (T. Times 4/16/1941, pg. 1)

Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); 205th Coast Artillery (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Military training;

Laying of destroyer keel for "Hull #3," to be built at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation (Sea-Tac), Seattle facility. Large group of men doff their hats while in front of steel keel piece on crane.

Boat & ship industry--Seattle; World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Seattle;

Laying of destroyer keel for "Hull #3," to be built at Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) Shipbuilding Corporation, Seattle facility. Large group of workers photographed on May 1, 1941.

Boat & ship industry--Seattle; World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Seattle;