Aerial view of Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company. The Tacoma plant covers nearly 40 acres of tideflats on the Hylebos waterway. This location was chosen in 1929 because of favorable electric power rates, availability and quality of water, access to water, rail and motor transportation and its central location for its principal customers, the pulp and paper mills. The name of the corporation was changed to Pennwalt Corp. prior to the merger of Pennsalt and Wallace & Tierman, Inc. (TNT, 11/29/1968)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Hylebos Waterway (Tacoma); Waterfronts--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company. An exterior view showing a cooling system at the rear of the building. Refer to D28,041-2 for a more detailed view of the cooling system.

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

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company of Washington celebrated its parent firm's 100th anniversary. Photographs and products are displayed for guests to view during the open house held in the Tacoma plant. (TNT 8-6-50, A-9) TPL-6575

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

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company of Washington celebrated its parent firm's 100th anniversary. Information about the company's processes was presented on large display boards. (TNT 8-6-50, A-9) TPL-6576

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

Little girls, dressed in their finery, stroll into the Pennsalt open house on August 8, 1950. They are accompanied by Marie Wood, in black, who is the wife of chief Pennsalt chemist, Davis M. Wood. The Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company of Washington is helping to celebrate its parent company's 100th anniversary.

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

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company of Washington held an open house on August 8, 1950, to help celebrate Pennsalt, its parent firm's, 100th anniversary. Visitors could walk through the 40 acre plant and view displays of Pennsalt's history and product development. This photograph shows notebooks indicating new products developed through Pennsalt's research and development laboratories which include complex fluorides and sulfur hexafluorides. Despite its name, Pennsalt does not manufacture common salt; it produces a multitude of chemical products from raw salt.

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

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;

Example of General American Evaporators in place at Pennsylvania Salt. Ordered by General American Transport Corp., NY, NY, Harold Jacoby. Capacity of the Tacoma plant for production of chlorine and caustic soda was being increased 30%. Pennsalt had been granted a federal certificate of necessity for $445,450. As of March 1951, power hearings brought out the fact that chlorine and caustic sodas were ranked among the top poriority defense items, being used in aircraft manufacture and at the Hanford A-bomb plant, as well as suppllying local chemical plants and domestic needs. (TNT, 3/30/1951; 4/26/1951)

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

The display of seven canisters of Flake Caustic Soda produced by the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company was taken on August 27, 1951. Flake Caustic Soda apparently was sold in several different size metal cans; only the smallest can has a handle for easy carrying. Caustic soda, also known as sodium hydroxide, is a white brittle solid used especially in making soap, oils, rayon and paper. It can also be in liquid or flake format, as in this particular display.

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

Workers at the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington's Taylor Way plant appear to be positioning barrels to be filled with Pennsalt chemical products in a photograph taken on October 10, 1951. Rollers are set in the floor to then move the filled barrels to the next point in the assembly line. Enormous pipes seem to hang from the ceiling; large scales can be spotted behind the barrels.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Pennsalt (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1950-1960; Barrels--Tacoma; Pipes; Scales;

Interior exposure of Pennsylvania Salt plant. Two employees of the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company of Washington appear to be preparing to fill the large tanker car full of liquid chlorine in a photograph taken in October, 1951. Pennsylvania Salt (Pennsalt) was one of Tacoma's largest chemical plants, beginning operations on the Tideflats in the late 1920's. Major products were caustic soda and chlorine; in liquid form, chlorine was especially valued as sterilizing agents for water purification and sewage treatment. TPL-10066

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

Pennsylvania Salt, 2901 Taylor Way. Industrial sections of the City of Tacoma. Industries on the Tacoma Tideflats including an overhead pipe line and electric rail lines. This site is believed to be part of the Penn Salt plant as viewed in July of 1938.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Boiler at Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing plant.

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

Close up of chlorine tank cars for Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company. Two men working on top of rail car, one is inside porthole. Photograph taken on July 2, 1940.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad tank cars--Tacoma;

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;

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);

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;

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);

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);

Close-up of chlorine tank cars for Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company. Three men on top of tank car adjusting equipment overhead in this photograph dated July 2, 1940.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad tank cars--Tacoma;

Man on platform of Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company chlorine tank car in this photograph dated July of 1940. Hylebos Waterway in background.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad tank cars--Tacoma; Hylebos Waterway (Tacoma);

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;

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company.A view of a large piece of machinery at the Penn Salt plant. The name "General Electric Company" is molded into the housing on the base of the machine. It is large enough to have a portion of the machine below floor level.

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

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company. The exterior of one of the buildings at the plant. A flag pole stands in front of the building. The $2 million Tacoma plant covered about 40 acres of tideflats on Hylebos waterway. Their products included chlorine and caustic soda (used in pulp, paper, plywood and soap manufacture as well as for sanitation purposes), chemical manufacturing, metallurgical and other processes and herbicides.

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

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;

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;

The exterior of one of the many buildings at Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company's Tacoma plant

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

Two men are seen working on the railroad tank cars at the Tacoma Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company's spur. It was reported at the company's annual shareholders' meeting in April 1951 that Pennsalt of Washington was expanding its production of DDT at Portland by about 70 per cent. (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;