Exterior of Wheeler Osgood Company's offices. Wheeler-Osgood was known as the world's largest manufacturer of doors and plywood at this time. The company started making doors in Tacoma in 1889 and plywood in 1910, only five years after the first fir plywood was manufactured at Portland, Oregon. N.O. Cruver served as president of the company at this time. He was president for 32 years.
Wheeler Osgood was a leader in the lumber industry, they manufactured doors and plywood panels. The company has been doing business in Tacoma for many years, they are one of the oldest businesses in Tacoma. In 1947 Wheeler Osgood was considering expanding their facilities, no changes had yet started, although the exterior of plant had been painted in October of 1947. Exterior view of Wheeler Osgood Company facilities.
Large piece of equipment, the "Challoner 790", for auction at Wheeler Osgood factory liquidation. The door manufacturer closed its doors in 1952 and liquidated all assets. Certain former employees of the plant announced that they intended to form a co-operative to acquire and operate the factory, after the new owners announced their intention to liquidate. This move was opposed by the Lumber and Sawmill Worker's union and never came to fruition. Other companies that looked at the plant included Boeing, who were looking for a warehouse for its Seattle factory. The building was finally scheduled for demolition when no sale went through and burned down during the process in July of 1959. (TNT 2-26-1952, pg. 1)
Large desk with 2 swivel chairs behind it, 4 other chairs and a sofa. Exposures of office furniture for auction at Wheeler Osgood factory liquidation. Once the world's largest manufacturer of doors, the factory went out of business in 1952 and was sold for liquidation for approximately $650,000. The company suffered from labor troubles, reorganization and finally a strike by the Lumber and Sawmill Workers' union. (TNT 2-26-1952, pg. 1)
ca. 1927. Wheeler Osgood plant, circa 1927. A general elevated view of the door plant, with its various smokestacks, on the Tacoma tideflats with the bay in the background. The Wheeler-Osgood plant was opened in 1889 by George R. Osgood, W.C. Wheeler and D.D. Clark as a millworking plant. By 1927, the 37 year old company was the largest door factory in the world. The plant covered 14 acres, from St. Paul Ave. to the City Waterway, and employed 1500 people. It sawed all its own lumber and had an aerial line connecting the factory with the sawmill at the head of the City Waterway. The plant closed in 1952. It was demolished in the late 50's and caught fire in the process, burning to the ground. (filed with Argentum) (TNT 3/9/1927, pg. 13)
Wheeler Osgood office interiors. This view shows the newly remodeled entrance to the company's office building. Panes of glass surround a wooden door with beautiful grain showing. Visitor chairs are against both walls and the company's logo is set into the linoleum floor.
Tour of Retail Lumbermen's Association Training Class, Wheeler-Osgood, Miss Lindgren. Several young men look on while a woman works with a machine to remove knots from the veneer covering a piece of plywood and replacing them with clear pieces of veneer.
Wheeler Osgood, different sides of buildings, Paul Smith. This view shows the exterior of the plant with lots of unused metal tubing and a funnel lying on the ground both inside and outside a fenced area. Four tall stacks reach upwards from the building and a water tower stands over the building. An automobile is parked in the foreground. At this time Wheeler Osgood is considering expanding by purchasing the outstanding capital stock of the Fir Manufacturing Company of Myrtle Creek, Oregon. (T.Times, 9/3/1947, p.2)
Wheeler, Osgood Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950; Smokestacks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Water towers--Tacoma--1940-1950;
On February 5, 1948, thirty-five students from a special merchandising course at the University of Washington received first-hand knowledge of plywood, door and millwork production at several Tacoma plants. At the Wheeler Osgood plant, 1216 Saint Paul Ave., students watched William Holecheck operate a machine which clamped together the various plywood and wood parts of a 3-panel door. They also visited Coast Sash and Door. Photograph ordered by Mr. McCallum. (T.Times, 2/6/1948, p.15 and TNT, 2/6/1948, p.17)
Wheeler Osgood Plywood plant, Mr. McCallum. The Wheeler Osgood Plywood Co. began in 1889 as door manufacturers. In 1910 they became one of the first plywood manufacturers in Tacoma. They are one of the largest douglas fir plywood producers in the Northwest. View of Mr. Winston H. McCallum, Douglas Fir Plywood Association at the Wheeler Osgood plywood plant in front of a large cut log.
Wheeler Osgood Plywood plant, Mr. McCallum. In 1939 Wheeler Osgood celebrated their 50th anniversary by sending the 27th millionth door they built as part of the Washington State exhibit at the New York World's Fair. View of laborers at the Wheeler Oswood plywood plant. Photo ordered by Mr. Winston H. McCallum of the Douglas Fir Plywood Association.
Interior, machine at plant, Wheeler Osgood, Miss Lindgren. An interior view of the plant that was known as the world's largest manufacturer of wooden doors. Stacks and stacks of finished doors are seen throughout this part of the plant.
Wheeler Osgood office interiors. A view of the entrance to the Wheeler Osgood Company from the exterior. The newly remodeled entrance is recessed from the front of the building and has recessed lighting and windows. There are two steps up to the concrete entrance. Wheeler-Osgood was established in 1889 by William C. Wheeler, George R. Osgood and D.D. Clarke. William C. Wheeler had leased property from the St. Paul and Tacoma Lumber Company. At first they made only red cedar doors, which were sold locally. (TNT, 7/20/1953)
Wheeler Osgood office interiors. Mr. Paul M. Smith was Secretary of the company at this time. This view shows the hallway leading from Mr. Smith's office with linoleum tile on the floor. Windows from the other offices into the hallway are made of light-diffusing glass. Paneling on the walls and the door are made of highly grained wood.
Several views of Wheeler-Osgood Buildings, Wheeler-Osgood, spec. An evening view of the exterior of the Wheeler-Osgood office building with the Tacoma skyline in the distance. An automobile stands across the street under a large tree and several more automobiles are parked beside the building.
Log dump at Wheeler-Osgood Company. The log dump at the Wheeler-Osgood Sash & Door Company on East D Street measured 150 feet by 150 feet. Company buildings are located around the opposite side of the logs with a planked walkway in foreground. Wheeler-Osgood was a door and plywood manufacturer located on the tideflats at 1216 Saint Paul Ave. next to St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. and Wilkeson Fuel Co. It was established in 1889 and closed its doors in 1952. It was destroyed by fire during demolition in 1959. Photograph ordered by Charlie Rembert, 3410 S. Washington Street. TPL-5732
Wheeler Osgood office interiors. Mr. Robert H. O'Neil was the assistant secretary at Wheeler Osgood at this time. The office walls are covered with plywood paneling and a highly-grained wooden door is open to the hallway. A file cabinet sits against the wall.
Wheeler Osgood office interiors. A view of a smaller office at the plant's offices. The walls are covered with highly grained plywood paneling and the door is also. The desk is covered with a bloter and has a phone on the corner. One side chair sits against the wall and the floor is covered with linoleum.
Wheeler Osgood office interiors. A view of one of the offices at Wheeler Osgood with a large desk, two large windows with draperies and venetian blinds. There are guest chairs around the room and a shadow of a round table shows against the carpeting. The walls are covered in wood paneling. Florescent light fixtures are set at an angle to the corners of the room.
Exterior view of Wheeler Osgood plant, on spec.Some of Wheeler Osgood's "multiplicity of smokestacks" are shown here along with their water tower. The company started in Tacoma in 1889 and was a mainstay on the Tacoma tideflats. They became the world's largest producer of wooden doors.
Wheeler, Osgood Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950; Smokestacks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Water towers--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Visitors going through plant, Wheeler-Osgood, Miss Lingren. Puran Sawhney and his family, from New Delhi, India, were in Tacoma for two days. They were touring the United States and Mr. Sawhney wanted to learn about American industry. He is standing (second from right) with three men from Wheeler-Osgood by the railroad tracks that serve the door manufacturing facility. Stacks of lumber on wheels are lined up beside them.
Wheeler, Osgood Co. (Tacoma); Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Guests--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sawhney, Puran; East Indians; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad tracks--Tacoma;
