Pennwalt plant. Located on 40 acres in the industrial Tacoma tideflats, the company was first known as the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington or Pennsalt. Pennwalt was an inorganic chemical manufacturer of chlorine gas, caustic soda, liquid chlorine and hydrogen gas. Doing business in Tacoma since 1929, its caustic soda and liquid chlorine were in demand by the Northwest's pulp and paper industry. Photograph ordered by Pennwalt Corp.

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Pennwalt Corp. (Tacoma);

Pennwalt plant. This is another view in early 1976 of the sprawling Pennwalt Corporation plant located in Tacoma's tideflats along the Hylebos Waterway. The company was formerly known as the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington or Pennsalt. It had been producing chemicals including caustic soda and liquid chlorine in Tacoma since 1929. Photograph ordered by Pennwalt Corporation.

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Pennsalt (Tacoma); Pennwalt Corp. (Tacoma);

Water view of Pennwalt Corp. shortly after Christmas, 1969. By 1969, Pennwalt (formerly known as Pennsalt or Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington) had been operating in Tacoma for 40 years. The company was located on 40-acres of land in Tacoma's Tideflats along the Hylebos Waterway. A leader in chemical production, it would merge with Wallace & Tiernan to form Pennwalt Corp. in 1969. More changes and mergers would occur and by 2004, the company would be known as Arkema, Inc. Photograph ordered by Pennwalt Corp.

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Pennwalt Corp. (Tacoma); Hylebos Waterway (Tacoma);

Exterior view of Pennwalt Corp. Formerly known as Pennsalt, the chemical producing company was located on 40 acres of land adjacent to the Hylebos Waterway. This view on December 26, 1969, shows one of the large piles of salt used by Pennwalt in daily operations. Doing business in Tacoma since 1929, Pennwalt had originally specialized in caustic soda and liquid chlorine for sale to the Pacific Northwest's pulp and paper industry before diversifying. Photograph ordered by Pennwalt Corp.

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Pennwalt Corp. (Tacoma);

ca. 1960. Aerial photograph of the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. in 1960 Richards Studio's stock footage. This Tacoma plant, opened in 1929, covered nearly 40 acres of tideflats on the Hylebos Waterway. A ship is docked ready to transport Pennsalt's chemical products. TPL-6578

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Aerial photographs;

ca. 1960. Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co.'s 40-acre plant faced the Hylebos Waterway and portions of undeveloped Northeast Tacoma, including an enormous gravel pit. Aerial photographs taken by the Richards Studio in 1960 show the large facility along with numerous storage tanks. A ship is docked ready to be loaded with the company's chemical products.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Aerial photographs;

Aerial photographs of the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington were taken on September 22, 1958. The Tacoma plant covered nearly 40 acres of land in the Tideflats near the Hylebos Waterway. It had easy access to motor and rail transportation as well as water routes. Despite its name, the firm did not manufacture table salt but was a thriving chemical concern, initially focusing on pulp and paper customers. TPL-6577

Aerial photographs; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Mayor John Anderson (left) assists Edwin L. Cliffe, superintendent of the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington, with a chemistry demonstration on April 3, 1957. Mr. Cliffe was explaining the benefits of the chemical industry to the mayor in preparation for National Chemical Progress Week April 8-12th. The Tacoma area, home to Hooker Electrochemical, Kaiser Aluminum, Pennsalt, Reichhold Chemicals, St. Regis Paper Co., and DuPont de Nemours of DuPont, was the hub in the Pacific Northwest for the production and sale of chemicals. Publicity for Pennsalt Chemical Company. (TNT 4-10-57, D-3 article) ALBUM 14

Mayors--Tacoma--1950-1960; Anderson, John H.; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Pennsalt (Tacoma); Cliffe, Edwin L.; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Aerial view of Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. Storage tanks dot the area around the plant and one of the Pennwalt barges can be seen being maneuvered to the dock by two tugs. The large corporation, now known as Pennwalt, had its beginnings in 1850 when five Philadelphia Quakers organized the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. and constructed a plant to produce lye and alkaline salts of soda from natural salt. Today Pennwalt, with its headquarters in Philadelphia, is a worldwide manufacturer of chemicals, health products and precision equipment. The chlorine produced by the company is used in paper and pulp manufacturing, but also in water purification, bleach and the manufacture of adhesives. Caustic soda is also used in pulp production. ("South on the Sound" by Murray Morgan)

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma);

This aerial view of Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company shows their building complex, 2901 Taylor Way, as it appeared in July 1956. Storage tanks dot the area around the plant and one of the Pennwalt barges can be seen being maneuvered to the dock by two tugs. In 1928, the eastern firm was invited to build a caustic soda and liquid chlorine plant on 14 acres of filled ground adjacent to the Hylebos Waterway. The plant opened the following year as Tacoma ElectroChemical Company. As the parent firm diversified the plants' chemical production, it became known as Pennsalt, and then Pennwalt. Pennwalt Corp. was taken over by Elf-Atochem in 1990. ("South on the Sound" by Murray Morgan)

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma);

Aerial view of Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. Storage tanks dot the area around the plant and one of the Pennwalt barges can be seen being maneuvered to the dock by two tugs. The large corporation, now known as Pennwalt, had its beginnings in 1850 when five Philadelphia Quakers organized the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. and constructed a plant to produce lye and alkaline salts of soda from natural salt. Today Pennwalt, with its headquarters in Philadelphia, is a worldwide manufacturer of chemicals, health products and precision equipment. The chlorine produced by the company is used in paper and pulp manufacturing, but also in water purification, bleach and the manufacture of adhesives. Caustic soda is also used in pulp production. ("South on the Sound" by Murray Morgan)

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma);

This aerial view of Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company shows their building complex, 2901 Taylor Way, as it appeared in July 1956. Storage tanks dot the area around the plant and one of the Pennwalt barges can be seen being maneuvered to the dock by two tugs. In 1928, the eastern firm was invited to build a caustic soda and liquid chlorine plant on 14 acres of filled ground adjacent to the Hylebos Waterway. The plant opened the following year as Tacoma ElectroChemical Company. As the parent firm diversified the plants' chemical production, it became known as Pennsalt, and then Pennwalt. Pennwalt Corp. was taken over by Elf-Atochem in 1990. ("South on the Sound" by Murray Morgan)

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma);

Damage to a lye tank at Pennsalt. Hoisting equipment is being used to remove the damaged tank from its perch on June 5, 1956. Photograph ordered by the Whiting Corp.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Factories--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hoisting machinery;

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington; yard employees' Christmas party. The lone female at this gathering laughs out loud while the man behind her seems to be offering to help her with her soup. The Pennsalt plant manufactured chemicals used in industrial processing, sanitation and also insect irradication. The company later changed its name to Penwalt.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma)--Employees; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Factories--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington: yard employees' Christmas party. Employees chat over bowls of soup, paper cups of coffee and long loaves of French bread. The Pennsalt plant manufactured caustic chemicals used in paper, pulp and plywood manufacturing. It was one of the largest plants in the Tacoma Tideflats industrial area.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma)--Employees; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Factories--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington; yard employees' Christmas party. Pennsalt president and general manager Fred C. Shanaman, in center, enjoys a bowl of soup with employees. Pennsalt, at 40 acres on the Hylebos Waterway, was one of the largest plants in the Tideflats industrial area. Materials were brought into the plant by ship and rail. The company was also the major user of Tacoma power & water.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma)--Employees; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Factories--Tacoma--1950-1960; Shanaman, Frederick Charles, 1901-1982;

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington: yard employees' Christmas party. Employees sit at long tables arranged between what appear to be containers of the company's chemicals. Employees eat a holiday meal of soup, bread and coffee poured from a large urn into paper cups.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma)--Employees; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Factories--Tacoma--1950-1960;

E.L. Cliffe (L), plant superintendent, and Col. Edward Schmitt, commanding officer of the Army Personnel Center, Ft. Lewis, met with Pennsalt employee William Otto at the company's facilities on November 10, 1954. Col. Schmitt toured the plant in preview of industry tours for military personnel on Armed Forces Appreciation Day, November 30th. Mr. Otto shows the two men the machinery used in making corrosion-resistant molds used in the manufacture of chlorine and caustic by Pennsalt. Other companies, including Puget Sound Plywood, Brown & Haley, Heidelberg Breweries and Hooker Electrochemical, would also be offering tours for the military on Armed Forces Appreciation Day. (TNT 11-21-54, B-11)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Machinery; Cliffe, E.L.; Schmitt, Edward; Otto, William;

An aerial photograph of the sprawling Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington was taken in October, 1954. The Tacoma plant, whose parent company was founded over one hundred years ago in Natrona, Pennsylvania, has been at its 40 acre Tideflats location on the Hylebos waterway since 1929. Throughout the years, it has undergone rapid expansion of its facilities and also its product lines. Despite its name, it has no connection with the manufacture of table salt. Photograph ordered by Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington.

Aerial photographs; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hylebos Waterway (Tacoma);

Pennsalt; 8 people at a desk. The man in the lab coat holds a glass bottle with a grainy substance inside.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma)--Employees; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Factories--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Pennsalt; Plant & employees for magazine. This appears, from the large number of adding machines, to be the accounting department. Construction of the Pennsylvania Salt plant began in 1928; production of chemicals began in 1929. The 40 acre Tacoma plant was the western headquarters for the Philadelphia, Pa., parent company. Raw materials were brought to the plant by ship and rail. Pennsalt was the major consumer of city water and power.

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma)--Employees;

Pennsalt; Plant & employees for magazine. President and general manager Fred C. Shanaman sits at the desk. Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co., with 40 acres on the Hylebos Waterway, was one of the larger plants in the Tideflats industrial section of Tacoma. It was the Western headquarters for its parent company, the world's largest chemical manufacturing firm. The company had other branches at Portland and Bryan, Texas. Together, the three branches produced an estimated 6 million dollars worth of products annually. The main products were sodium arsenate, hydrogen & sodium hypochlorite, chlorine salt, caustic soda and DDT. These products were used in pulp, paper, plywood and soap manufacturing and in sanitation.

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma)--Employees; Shanaman, Frederick Charles, 1901-1982;

Pennsalt; Plant & employees for magazine. As the western headquarters for Pennsylvania Salt, the Tacoma plant also employed a large office staff. This group may have been attached to the sales department. The chemicals produced at Pennsalt were sold mainly to pulp, paper, plywood and soap manufacturers.

Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma)--Employees;

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. Family Day; employees' picnic and open house. Photograph labelled, left to right, Sgt. Bob Marshall, Mr. Fred Shanaman & Ed Sorger. Sgt. Marshall was the head of the Tacoma Police Department's Safety Division, Fred Shanaman was president and general manager of the company and Ed Sorger was Washington State's Safety Supervisor. The trio stand in front of a display case containing a trophy, certificates and memorabilia of the company's safety record. In 1950 & 52, Pennsalt won the National Safety Council's Award of Merit for no "lost time accidents" and the Pennsalt national award for best yearly safety record. Pennsalt opened on the Tideflats in June of 1929. The 40 acre plant manufactured industrial chemicals. (TNT 9/6/1953, pg. A-12)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma)--Employees; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Factories--Tacoma--1950-1960; Marshall, Bob; Sorger, Ed; Shanaman, Frederick Charles, 1901-1982;

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. Family Day; employees' picnic and open house. An unidentified group of employees stands in front of a display case set up for the open house. Wives, husbands and children of employees were invited on this day to tour the plant. A brief program was devoted to safety measures practiced at the plant. Lunch for 300 employees and their visitors was followed by a tour of the plant. The manufacturing facility opened on the Tideflats in June of 1929 as Tacoma Electro-Chemical Co. Despite its deceptive name, Pennsalt manufactured industrial chemicals, some of which were used in the manufacture of pulp and paper. (TNT 9/6/1953, pg. A-12)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma)--Employees; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Factories--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington had its headquarters in Tacoma. Despite its name, Pennsalt did not produce table salt but instead was a basic manufacturer of chemicals from salt. It, along with Hooker Electrochemical, supplied caustic soda and chlorine to the Pacific Northwest's pulp and paper industry. View of some of the machinery used by Pennsalt in their Tideflats plant; these are believed to be rotary converters used to convert AC power to direct current. Photograph ordered by Edwin Cliffe, supt. of Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington. (Additional information provided by a reader)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Machinery;

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington had long been established in Tacoma; it was to celebrate its 25th anniversary locally in 1954. It started with a 40 acre tract of land on the Hylebos Waterway and has steadily expanded, adding new buildings and machinery, to fill the needs of the pulp and paper industry. View of machinery in Pennsalt plant; this may be a large burner. Photograph ordered by Edwin Cliffe.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Machinery;

A view of the exterior of Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company's facilities showing the proximity of the railroad spur to one of the buildings. A stack is seen over the building. Pennsalt's expansion program begun in 1951 was to include four structures, the largest of which was to be an 80 x 120-foot section of the primary production room. (TNT, 7/29/1951)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad tank cars--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad sidings--Tacoma;

Tall tanks are shown in the interior of the Tacoma Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company. Penn Salt began a $172,000 plant expansion program in 1951 where the biggest investment was in new equipment in the plant's chlorine and caustic soda departments. Some building modification was also included. Ordered by Penn Salt for their annual report. (TNT, 3/30/1951)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Transport tanks are shown loaded on railroad cars at the Tacoma Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company's spur. President Fred C. Shanaman announced in April 1951 that the capacity of the Tacoma plant for production of chlorine and caustic soda was being increased 30 percent. (TNT, 4/26/1951)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad tank cars--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad sidings--Tacoma;