ca. 1933. Griffin Fuel Company. Ed Griffin, left, and unidentified man, possibly brother Fredric, holding piece of paper. The two are standing in front of door of Griffin Fuel office, 1910 Commerce with Griffin logo on glass panel door. (WSHS)

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Griffin, Edwin L., 1908-1955; Business people--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1935. Griffin Fuel Company. Two men loading wood onto truck in wood storage yard. In the background, Griffin's stock of over 7,000 cords of wood can be seen. The company was celebrating its 46th year in business and the gradual recovery from the Depression. The company began business in 1889 as a horse drawn moving company for any kind of commodities. By 1904, Griffin Fuel had moved to this location and focused in on the fuel business. In 1935, they delivered and sold fuel in the forms of oil, coal, wood and sawdust. (T. Times 12/10/1935, pg. 5)

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fuel--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fuel trade--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fuelwood;

ca. 1935. Trucks parked in front of Griffin Fuel Company, 1910 Commerce St. Snoqualmie Falls Power Company Transfer House, 250 So. 19th St., in background right. (filed with Argentum)

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Fuel--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fuel trade--Tacoma--1930-1940; Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Snoqualmie Falls Power Co. Transfer House (Tacoma);

ca. 1935. Griffin Fuel Company. Man above cab with tool loading Griffin Fuel Company truck inside shed. It appears that the man is loading the truck with sawdust, one of the forms of fuel offered by the 46 year old company.

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fuel--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fuel trade--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1935. Griffin Fuel Company. Man pulling lever on coal chute to release coal into truck. These are automatic gravity bunkers filled with coal. The company was begun by Fred L. Griffin Sr. in 1889 as a horse drawn delivery company. It was called Griffin Transfer in the early days. By 1904, they moved to Commerce Street and concentrate solely on fuel deliveries. (T. Times 12/10/1935, pg. 5)

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fuel--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fuel trade--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1935. Griffin Fuel Company. Three men loading oil into tank trucks. Railroad tank cars in background behind covered fuel transfer structure. Griffin was celebrating its 46th year anniversary. They had laid in the largest fuel order in Tacoma history for area residents to purchase this winter.

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fuel--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fuel trade--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fuel tanks; Railroad cars--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1935. Griffin Fuel Company, founded in 1889. Two men beside truck in driveway. Snoqualmie Falls Power Company Transfer House, 250 So. 19th St., in background. Griffin Fuel was celebrating its 46th anniversary.

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Fuel--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fuel trade--Tacoma--1930-1940; Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Snoqualmie Falls Power Co. Transfer House (Tacoma);

ca. 1937. Griffin Fuel Company truck and driver in front of loading chute of coal bunkers. These are automatic gravity bunkers filled with coal. (filed with Argentum)

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fuel--Tacoma--1930-1940; Fuel trade--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1940. Griffin Fuel Company, coal bins with sign "McKay Stoker Coal." Loading bays and trucks, employees in group out front. Griffin Fuel had been in business for over 50 years at the time of this circa 1940 photograph.

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Fuel trade--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Post War Celebration at Griffin Fuel Company. A large group of the employees at the company. Some of the drivers sit on top of their trucks.

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma)--Employees; Griffin, Edwin L., 1908-1955;

Post War Celebration at Griffin Fuel Company. Ed Griffin, president and manager of the company, third from the left, with his brother, Fredric P., on the right. The man at the far left is acting-Mayor Val Fawcett.

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Griffin, Edwin L., 1908-1955; Griffin, Frederic P.; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Post War Celebration at Griffin Fuel Company. A large group of men associated with the company stand outside by the delivery trucks. Post-war plans for the company were announced with an emphasis on expansion. Ed Griffin, president and manager of the company, is standing in the middle of the back row, without a hat, in a light suit. Note the cobble-stone street. The Snoqualmie Falls Power Co. Transfer House, 250 So. 19th St., can be seen in the background right.

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Griffin, Edwin L., 1908-1955; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Snoqualmie Falls Power Co. Transfer House (Tacoma);

Post War Celebration at Griffin Fuel Company. Ed Griffin, president and manager of the company, congratulates Ruth Ziemer on her 14 years with the company. Ruth Ziemer started with Griffin Fuel in 1932 and was secretary-treasurer and general manager of the company. T.A. Stevenson, Russell Barrow, president of the Chamber of Commerce, and Fredric Griffin look on.

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Griffin, Edwin L., 1908-1955; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ziemer, Ruth; Stevenson, T.A.; Barrow, Russell; Griffin, Frederic P.;

Employees and friends of the Griffin Fuel Co., 1910 Commerce St., gathered outside the business on September 1, 1945, to celebrate the end of World War II. Griffin Fuel was a longtime Tacoma institution as it was founded in 1889 as the Griffin Transfer Co. Ed Griffin, manager and president of the firm, is shown in the foreground gesturing; his brother Fred (with bold print tie) is standing next to acting Tacoma mayor, Val Fawcett. The City Powerhouse is in the background. Photograph donated by Mrs. John Flynn.

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Griffin, Edwin L., 1908-1955; Griffin, Frederic P.; Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Acting Tacoma Mayor Val Fawcett in conversation at the Post War Celebration held at Griffin Fuel Co., 1910 Commerce St., on September 1, 1945. Standing with Mayor Fawcett are an unidentified woman and the Griffin brothers, Ed and Fred. Ed Griffin was manager and president of Griffin Fuel. His brother Fred would serve with similar title at the Seattle Griffin Fuel Co. Photograph donated by Mrs. John Flynn.

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Fawcett, Clarence Valdo, 1900-1965; Mayors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Griffin, Edwin L., 1908-1955; Griffin, Frederic P.;

Post War Celebration at Griffin Fuel Company. This view shows the delivery trucks and staff from slightly above. People are gathering in small groups and returning to their work locations. The company's storage areas for fuel are shown behind the fencing.

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Griffin, Edwin L., 1908-1955;

Griffin Fuel Co. president Ed Griffin joins his large contingent of employees and friends at a Post War celebration on September 1, 1945. Several men are also perched on top of delivery trucks. Since the end of the war also meant that there might be volatile changes to fuel supply, the company promised to have sufficient oil to their customers for next winter. Griffin Fuel sold stove, diesel and fuel oils and had been part of the Tacoma business scene since 1889. Photograph donated by Mrs. John Flynn.

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Griffin, Edwin L., 1908-1955; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Post War Celebration at Griffin Fuel Company. Fifty delivery trucks for the company are lined up outside the company. They carried fuel oils, coal, sawdust, coke and blacksmith coal, petroleum briquets, prest-to-logs, and charcoal briquets. Ed Griffin was adamant that no truck be left standing outside overnight and a fully staffed repair shop and garages were provided. (T.Times, 9/8/1945, p.4)

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Griffin, Edwin L., 1908-1955; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Post War Celebration at Griffin Fuel Company. Two motor cycle policemen have stopped to look at one of Ed Griffin's antique cars. One of the police motorcycles stands next to the car with its top down. The steering wheel of the car is on the left side. Ed Griffin is president and manager of Griffin Fuel Company.

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Motorcycles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Traffic police--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Two unidentified employees of the Griffin Fuel Company, 1910 Commerce Street, were photographed in September of 1945 with three of Ed Griffin's antique cars. A member of the Horseless Carriage Club, Ed Griffin, the president and manager of the company, had been collecting rare and unusual cars for a number of years. At that time the Griffin Fuel Co. had already been in business for over 55 years. Ed Griffin died in March of 1955 at the age of 46. TPL-9958

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Post War Celebration at Griffin Fuel Company. A large group of men associated with the company. Ed Griffin, president and manager of Griffin Fuel Company, is the ninth from the left, standing, shaking hands with another man.

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Griffin, Edwin L., 1908-1955; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Post War Celebration at Griffin Fuel Company. L-R, Dan O'Leary, Fredric Griffin, Ed Griffin, Ernest Columbus, Adolph Traverjo, George Maurer and Graham Steel stand outside the Tacoma company. Fred Griffin, Ed's brother, became president and manager of the Seattle Griffin Fuel Company, and the gentlemen here are with the Seattle company with the exception of Ed Griffin and Graham Steel. Mr. Steel is with the Seattle Chamber of Commerce.

Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Griffin, Edwin L., 1908-1955; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; O'Leary, Dan; Griffin, Frederic P.; Columbus, Ernest; Traverjo, Adolph; Maurer, George; Steel, Graham;

Olga Maijala (later Massie), a Griffin Fuel Company office worker, is busy filing customer account information into a new lockable file cabinet in December of 1948. The cabinet was purchased from the local distributer of cabinets and safes manufactured by Diebold, Incorporated. In the pre-computer, pre-"paperless" age roll-top cabinets like this were used to keep accounts in order and under lock and key. Besides the main lock on the rolling top, each separate drawer had its own lock. Griffin Fuel was a major local fuel delivery company in business since 1889. Photo ordered by Diebold, Inc. (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Fuel supply; Fuel--Tacoma; Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Safes; Locks (Hardware); Office equipment & supplies; Office furniture; Office workers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fuel trade--Tacoma; Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Diebold, Inc. (Tacoma); Maijala, Olga;

Griffin Fuel Company delivered coal, oil, wood and charcoal to the Western Washington area. Ed Griffin was the President and General Manager of the tacoma office. Ed attended Stadium High School, the University of Washington and the Harvard School of Business. Interior view of Griffin Fuel Company, an unidentified office worker is working on customer accounts; photo ordered by Diebold Inc., locked file cabinets and safes dealers.

Fuel supply; Fuel--Tacoma; Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Locks (Hardware); Safes; Office equipment & supplies; Office furniture; Office workers--Tacoma; Fuel trade--Tacoma; Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Diebold, Inc. (Tacoma);

Griffin Fuel Company was started at the turn of the 20th century by Fred Griffin, his son Edwin Griffin was now running the Tacoma office. The company was a leader in the fuel delivery industry in Tacoma and Seattle. Interior view of Griffin Fuel Company, new filing cabinet is opened and files are pulled out; new filing cabinet would ensure account security. Photo ordered by Diebold Inc., locked file cabinets and safe dealers.

Fuel supply; Fuel--Tacoma; Offices--Tacoma--1940-1950; Safes; Locks (Hardware); Office equipment & supplies; Office furniture; Fuel trade--Tacoma; Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Diebold, Inc. (Tacoma);