In March of 1949, 57 children from the morning and afternoon kindergarten classes of the Fern Hill school took a 40 mile roundtrip train ride from Tacoma's Union Station to Auburn. Ninety percent of the children had never been on a train before. After the ride, they were given a tour of the station by the stationmaster, and all 57 children climbed onto a giant scale in the baggage room. The entire group weighed 2,880 lbs. (T.N.T., 3/27/49, p. A-7). TPL-8804

Railroad stations--Tacoma; Children--Tacoma--1940-1950; Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Railroads--Tacoma; Railroad companies--Tacoma; Union Station (Tacoma); Railroad travel--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Western Boat Building Company has just completed and launched the "Mary E. Petrich", the largest tuna clipper ever built. The new vessel is 149-1/2 feet long, has a 34 foot beam, 1,600 horsepower submarine type diesel engine, and cost about $500,000 to build. The tuna clipper was named after Martin Petrich's late wife; view of the "Mary E. Petrich" being led out by tugboats, shortly after being christened (T. Times, 3/16/49, p. 1). TPL-8988

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corporation's officers were: Joseph M. Martinac, President, Joseph S. Martinac, Vice-President, Reuben C. Carlson, Secretary, and Fred C. Borovich, Treasurer. The company designs and builds fishing, commercial and pleasure vessels; their plant was located at 1501 Railroad Avenue. Progress photograph and interior view of J. M. Martinac ship building plant, ship builders are working on a boat. TPL-8987

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Boats--Tacoma; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

Coca-Cola Bottling Company moved into this building in 1948; the building had previously been used as supplemental housing for defense workers during World War II, as as the headquarters for the Work Projects Administration. The building was originally built in 1912 it was used as a City Detention Station and a City Contagious Hospital for women. Photo ordered by A. C. Horn Company, Incorporated; a business based out of San Francisco, California.

Bottling industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Beverage industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Building construction--Tacoma; Coca-Cola Bottling Co. (Tacoma)--Buildings; A.C. Horn Co., Inc. (San Francisco, Calif.);

St. Regis paper plant in Tacoma is the focal point of the company's expanding pulp, paper and multiwall bag operations in the West Coast. The paper mill was recently completed and is one of the largest and most modern plants in the United States. The new paper producing mill is now able to mass produce paper and offer their customers their quality product in higher volumes and lower prices. Workmen are using an "Ederer" crane to move an enormous roll of paper.

Paper--Tacoma; Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Laborers--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Ederer Engineering Co. (Seattle);

St. Regis consistently worked on intensive product development and sales promotion activities, not only to improve the penetration into existing markets, but to open up entirely new fields. Tacoma's St.Regis plant would have their own research laboratory within the industrial site. Interior view of plant, paper roll is being moved by a large "Ederer" crane.

Paper--Tacoma; Paper industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Laborers--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; St. Regis Paper Co. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Ederer Engineering Co. (Seattle);

Aerial view of Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company facilities in Portland, Oregon. President Fred C. Shanaman reported that with the addition of the new facilities for manufacture of chlorine, caustic soda and technical DDT, production at the Portland plant increased substantially in 1947; photo ordered by John Baker, Superintendent of Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company of Washington, Tacoma plant.

Chemical industry--Oregon--Portland; Chemicals; Industrial facilities--Oregon--Portland; Aerial photographs; Aerial views; Waterfronts; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. (Portland, Or.);

J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding, sea trials of the Mary S. The galley of the new tuna clipper, the Mary S. TPL-630

J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ship trials--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Galleys (Ship kitchens);

Tacoma was the nation's leader in the plywood industry. Douglas Fir Plywood Association and the Plywood Research Foundation were working on developing new and additional products that could be manufactured from parts of the tree not already being utilized. View of two unidentified DFPA representatives at the annual DFPA conference, being held at the Winthrop Hotel; conference welcome sign in background.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Signs (Notices); Plywood; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding, sea trials of the Mary S. Three men stand beside the new tuna clipper, the Mary S. TPL-629

J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ship trials--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The brand "Douglas Fir" plywood is known as the "wood of 1,000 uses." This plywood undergoes a series of laboratory and field tests. The Douglas Fir Plywood Association has helped establish and maintain Tacoma as the plywood center of the world, by setting up a industry maintained quality control laboratory here. View of U. S. Senator, Harry P. Cain (right) with a DFPA representative at the annual DFPA conference, being held at the Winthrop Hotel on May 13, 1949.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Plywood; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Legislators--Washington--1940-1950; Cain, Harry P., 1906-1979;

J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding, sea trials of the Mary S. Three men stand beside the new tuna clipper, the Mary S. TPL-9007

J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ship trials--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Douglas Fir Plywood Association was hosting their 13th annual meeting in Tacoma's Winthrop Hotel in May of 1949. Tacoma continued to be the worldwide leader in plywood production. View of informational Douglas Fir Plywood charts, these indicate: "Effective Promotion + Aggressive Selling = Healthy Order Files;" chart on left side has information about the Douglas Fir Plywood industry today.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Conference rooms--Tacoma; Charts; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Signs (Notices); Plywood; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Douglas Fir Plywood was always being tested for durability and alternative uses. The research organization was supported by the plywood industries of Tacoma, this ensured Tacoma remaining at the top of plywood production. View of unidentified man applying Douglas Fir plywood panels in the interior of Riley and Catharine Denton's home, located at 1320 South Trafton Street. Riley Denton was the superintendent of Rainier Plywood Company. TPL-10297

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Plywood; Houses--Tacoma--1940-1950; Remodeling--Tacoma--1940-1950; Laborers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Denton, Riley W.--Homes & haunts;

J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding, sea trials of the Mary S. The new tuna clipper, the Mary S, was 109' x 25.5' x 12' and was powered by a Superior diesel main engine. (Pacific Fisherman Yearbook 1950, p. 85, p.244, and p.321.) TPL-628

J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ship trials--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Douglas Fir Plywood Association held their annual meeting to discuss the Douglas Fir plywood industry at the Winthrop Hotel. Douglas Fir plywood is the "Wood of 1000 Uses", used in houses, advertising, boats, and hundreds of other products. View of unidentified DFPA representative at the annual DFPA conference, which is being held at the Winthrop Hotel; DFPA plywood sign in foreground.

Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Signs (Notices); Plywood; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Engine round house at Northern Pacific Railway, Elwin Barker. The Northern Pacific Railroad was created by Congress on July 2, 1864. Actual construction got underway in 1870 near Carlton, Minnesota. The railroad closely followed the route of Lewis and Clark. Then, after 13 years, the last spike was driven at Gold Creek, Montana, on September 8, 1893. (Pacific Northwest Railroads of McGee and Nixon, Richard Green)

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad roundhouses--Tacoma;

Northern Pacific locomotive No. 1783 rested on the turntable at the Northern Pacific Railway round house at 2211 East D St. in May of 1949. The round house was built in the late 1890s to service Northern Pacific's fleet of steam locomotives. Over the years, as the railroad companies switched from steam to diesel-electric engines, work at the round house dropped off. In the early 1970s the round house was closed down, and eventually demolished. The Reliance Lumber Company at 323 Puyallup Avenue can be seen behind the railroad facilities.. (TNT 11/30/1971 p.1) TPL-4421, TPL-3728

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad roundhouses--Tacoma;

Tacoma Vocational School began on October 1, 1940 when a Public Works Administration grant of $40,000 was combined with a $175,000 worth of federally supplied tools and machinery. The school is expected to be a big success, with classrooms already filled with students and a waiting list of interested students for the next school year. View of two unidentified students working in the machine shop at Tacoma Vocational School (T.N.T., 5/1/49, p. 1, B-1). TPL-8333

Machine shops--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; Apprentices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Vocational education--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Vocational School (Tacoma);

Engine round house at Northern Pacific Railway, Elwin Barker. The North Coast Limited first went into service April 29, 1900. This passenger train was the pride of the Northwest Pacific. In the Pacific Northwest, the NP was the first railroad to offer sleeping and dining cars. As a passenger going from eastern Montana to western Washington, you would move across the flat lands of eastern Montana, across the Rocky Mountains, through valleys in Idaho and Washington, climb over the Cascade Mountains, and drop into the shipping port of Seattle. (Pacific Northwest Railroads of McGee and Nixon, Richard Green)

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad roundhouses--Tacoma;

Engine round house at Northern Pacific Railway, Elwin Barker. A side view of locomotive number 1783. In Washington state, the mainline crossed the Cascade Mountains at Stampede Pass, through Stampede Tunnel, 9,834 feet long built at an altitude of 2,852 feet. A switchback was originally used to cross the Pass until a tunnel was completed in May 1888. (Pacific Northwest Railroads of McGee and Nixon, Richard Green)

Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad roundhouses--Tacoma;

Crust breaking machine at Permanente, Bill Gorman. A specialized machine has been manufactured to perform the work that had previously been done manually. A crust would form at the openings to the reduction pots where alumina was melted into raw pig aluminum. The plant had two potlines containing 240 reduction pots producing 41 million pounds of alumium per year. (Permanente Metals Corp. 1947-1948 Annual Report)

Permanente Metals Corp. (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Machinery;

Northern Pacific started a gradual change from steam to diesel power in 1938, they had their first freight diesel electric locomotive in operation and on the road in 1944 and passenger diesels have been added since 1947. Throughout the years Northern Pacific has expanded in Tacoma and in the United States. View of water column at Northern Pacific Railway Company's yards, located at 2102-2324 East L Street in Tacoma's tideflats area.

Railroad tracks--Tacoma; Penstocks--Tacoma; Hydraulic facilities--Tacoma; Water pumps--Tacoma; Water use--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroads--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad companies--Tacoma; Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma);

Crust breaking machine at Permanente, Bill Gorman. Workmen are using a new machine to break the crust that developed on the molten aluminum in the reduction pots at the Permanente aluminum plant. This had been a manual process before development of the specialized machine.

Permanente Metals Corp. (Tacoma)--Employees; Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Laborers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Machinery;

Peterson Boat. The newly completed Mermaid is on her sea trials in May of 1949. She is a 107-foot tuna clipper built for Captain Frank Correia and Associates of San Diego with 600 hp Superior diesel, two 150 hp, 75kw Superior Diesel auxiliaries, Baker refrigeration, designed by Wilvers & DeFever. (Pacific Fisherman Yearbook 1950, p.66; Pacific Fisherman July 1950, p.7; TNT, 5/25/1949, p.6) TPL-9005

Peterson Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ship trials--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Peterson Boat. The newly completed Mermaid is on her sea trials. A 107 foot tuna clipper built for Captain Frank Correia and Associates of San Diego, 600 hp Superior diesel, two 150 hp, 75kw Superior Diesel auxiliaries, Baker refrigertion, designed by Wilvers & DeFever. (Pacific Fisherman Yearbook 1950, p.66; Pacific Fisherman July 1950, p.7) TPL-9006

Peterson Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ship trials--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Great Northern Railway Company operated passenger trains and freight car shipping services from Tacoma. The company had freight yards, railroad repair stations and passenger ticket terminals. The train car repairs and shipping were handled at the yards located at 2021-23 East D Street, with a freight office at 401 East 21st Street; the passenger station was located at 116 South 9th Street. View of Great Northern railroad freight car number 43959 at the Great Northern freight house. TPL-10458

Railroads--Tacoma; Railroad companies--Tacoma; Railroad tracks--Tacoma; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma; Great Northern Railway Co. (Tacoma);

Milwaukee Road engine E-3 left Tacoma in early June, 1949 for Chicago to take part in a Railroad Fair that was scheduled to begin on June 25. The mammoth engine, known as "the world's mightiest electric locomotive" was stationed in Tacoma and pulled passenger trains through Seattle and over the Cascades. She was 67 feet in length, weighed 521,200 pounds and had 24 drive wheels. In the 1920's the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad pioneered the modern application of clean, quiet, electricity to power heavy trains. In 1949 and the 1950's the company purchased new electric locomotives. For electrification, the Milwaukee originally intended to generate their own power, but the railroad decided to purchase commercial alternating current and convert it on their own property to direct current. (TNT, 6/2/1949, p.6; Pacific Northwest Railroads of McGee and Nixon, Richard Green) TPL-9426

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1940-1950;

New engine on "83", Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railway. The Milwaukee electrics were a legend, a very unique experience, and in the opinion of many people, the best locomotives the Milwaukee Road ever owned. The longest electrification district was 440 miles from Harlowton, Montana, to Avery, Idaho. The shorter section was 207 miles in Washington State across the Saddle and Cascade Mountains from Othello to Tacoma. The electric locomotives replaced steam in the 1920's and then were replaced by diesel powered engines in the 1940's and 1950's. (Pacific Northwest Railroads of McGee and Nixon, Richard Green) TPL-3730

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad companies--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad locomotives--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad tracks--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Student Prince Plaque, Columbia Breweries, Inc., Mr. Marshall Reconosciuto. This image was seen throughout the Pacific Northwest advertising, "Heidelberg, the beer". Alt Heidelberg advertising was awarded honorable mention in national competitions. Columbia Breweries brewed Alt Heidelberg and Columbia Ale at this time. (TNT, 4/22/1941; 5/10/1949, p.29)

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