Tacoma Boat continued to build and repair fishing boats for the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, UNRRA, program. These boats were then sent to war torn countries such as China and Yugoslavia to help them restructure their fishing industries. View of UNRRA boats, "Fiorello H. LaGuardia", "Connecticut" and "West Point". TPL-8917

Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Harbors--Tacoma; Piers & Wharves--Tacoma; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. continued to work on their UNRRA contract. New fishing boats were being built and they were reconditioning fathometers and Northern Dragger winches on other fishing boats. The UNRRA program was intended to help China re-establish their fishing industry. Interior view of plant, laborers can be seen working.

Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Laborers--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Launching at Puget Sound. The Martinolich Shipbuilding Corp. was operated by four brothers here in Tacoma up until July 1940, when two of the brothers relocated the plant to San Francisco, CA. Carl R. Martinolich was the Machinist Superintendent for the company. View of the C. R. Martinolich yacht with Martinolich family members on board.

Yachts--Tacoma; Ships--Tacoma; Martinolich, Carl R.--Family;

Tacoma Boat Facilities. A view of the exterior of Tacoma Boat Building Company situated along City Waterway. TPL-6646

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Waterfronts--Tacoma;

West Coast Grocery Company had just moved into their new headquarters in Tacoma. This building included, food storage warehouses, offices and subsidiary companies all on one site. The $400,000 building was 640 feet long, 240 feet wide and over 135,000 square feet of space, all on one floor. Aerial view of West Coast Grocery Company.

West Coast Grocery Co. (Tacoma); Aerial photographs; Progress photographs; Storehouses--Tacoma; Business enterprises--Tacoma--1940-1950;

View of sand blasting and re-painting of boat "Eileen", work is being done by Machinists Incorporated, a repair shop from Seattle, Washington, the job is being done at Tacoma Boat Building facilities. The workman is painting the side of the boat, he is using a paint sprayer and wearing a face mask. The boat is expected to be completed in a few days, photo ordered by Machinists Inc. TPL-8956

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boats & boating; Fishing boats--Tacoma; Maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Sand blast; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Machinists, Inc. (Seattle);

Interior view of shaft alley in the "Scarlet Queen" tuna clipper, this is a typical shaft alley produced by Tacoma Boatbuilding Company. The tuna clipper's shaft alley is the distribution center for bait water, brine circulation and refrigeration control. The electric cables, steering controls and propulsion shafting all passes through the shaft alley (Tacoma Boatbuilding Co., Inc. Catalog 1954). TPL-8963

Fishing boats--Tacoma; Control rooms--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Scarlet Queen built by Tacoma Boatbuilding Company was the largest tuna clipper built in the world, at least 25 feet larger than any other tuna clipper. The "Scarlet Queen" would be fishing for tuna in the Pacific Ocean, it had recently gone on its trial run in Tacoma's Commencement Bay. This vessel was owned by Arne Strom, co-owner of Tacoma Boatbuilding Company and Cecil Drake of San Diego, California (T. Times, 6/14/48, p. 1). TPL-8962

Fishing boats--Tacoma; Paintings; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Interior view of switchboard in the "Scarlet Queen" tuna clipper, the control and distribution panels are custom made to fit the needs of each individual ship. The switchboards are compact, the "Scarlet Queen" has multiple units including an A.C. unit. Tacoma Boat's electrical division works with their customers to provide the most efficient switchboards (Tacoma Boatbuilding Co., Inc. Catalog 1954). TPL-8964

Fishing boats--Tacoma; Switchboards--Tacoma; Control rooms--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Boat Facilities. Interior of Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. plant. Laborer working in plant. TPL-6653

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Boat Facilities. Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. boat interior. TPL-8863

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

This photograph is an overview of the ceremony on December 18, 1942 when the Tacoma Boat Building plant was presented with an "E Award" by the Army & Navy. The "E Award" was a production award, and the shipyard's was the first given for production of minesweepers. The award consisted of a "E" flag to fly over the plant and a pin for each employee. The company also took this opportunity to launch their newest minesweeper, the YMS 244.

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Tacoma's sixth major fire of 1951 occurred in the early morning hours of August 24th when Tacoma Boat Building Company at 2142 East D st. was nearly destroyed. The construction yard of five connecting buildings was engulfed in flames; only the outfitting dock was saved. Damages were estimated in the one million dollar range. The company's office building suffered minor damage and valuable company records were safe. Twelve land companies and the city fireboat fought the blaze throughout the night and smoke was still rising from the boatworks' ruins several hours later. Only one boat was lost in the fire; the partially completed hull of a tuna fishing boat can be seen in the center of the photograph. A General Motors truck is parked close to the blackened structures; perhaps it will be used to haul away some of the rubble. (TNT 8-24-51, p.1)

Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fires--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1950-1960;

This tuna fishing boat, being bult at the Tacoma Boat Building Company facility at 2142 East D St. was over 60% complete when a fire on August 24, 1951 reduced it to a charred hulk. Several hours after the massive one million dollar blaze, smoke still billows from the ruined boat. The company's boatworks area was completely demolished; this fishing boat, however, was the only vessel damaged. Photograph ordered by Board of Marine Underwriters of San Francisco. TPL-9053

Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fires--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fire fighting--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Before a crowd of about 200, Tacoma Boat Building launched the YMS 244 on December 18, 1942. Later in the day, the company was presented with an "E Award" flag for excellence in the wartime production of minesweepers. More than 4,000 "E Pennants" were present to plants during WWII. They were a visible recognition of the patriotism and devotion of the company and its employees. (T. Times 12/19/1942, pg. 1)

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

December 18, 1942 was a very special day for Tacoma Boat Building. The company launched its newest minesweeper YMS 244 and received an Army/Navy "E" award flag. The "E" award was given for excellence in war production. The famous flag with the big "E" emblazoned on it became a badge of patriotism in action. The award consisted of a flag to be flown over the plant and a lapel pin for every employee within the plant. During the ceremony, an unidentified military officer makes a speech before a crowd of around 200. Music for the ceremony was supplied by the Coast Artillery Band.

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Following the launching of the YMS 244 on December 18, 1942, Capt. A. C. Thomas presented "E" pins to the employees of Tacoma Boat Building. The pins were in recognition of their excellence in the production of mine sweepers. Various foreman from the Company's yard posed with Captain Thomas for this photograph. Pictured are, back row left to right, Lawrence Teasley, Clarence Hopkins, Bill Kvam, Clarence White, George Rau, John Kvamme and Walter Oliver. Front row, John Flintoff, F.L. Criswell, Capt. Thomas and Hugh McCreadie. (T. Times 12/23/1942, pg. 16)

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

December 18, 1942 was a Red Letter Day for Tacoma Boatbuilding. The company, owned by Arne Strom and Haldor Dahl, received an "E" Award flag and launched a minesweeper, the YMS 244. The "E" Award was from the Army & Navy for excellence in the wartime production of mine sweepers. The shipyard was located at 2142 E. "D." Arne Strom was able to be present but Mr. Dahl was at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester , Minn. and was unable to get there on time for the ceremony. (T. Times 12/19/1942, pg. 1)

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. was busy building fishing boats for their UNRRA contract and also building pleasure boats for private owners. They were about to launch a fishing boat for Yugoslavia. View of Caterpillar 360 horse power diesel engine, used in the purse seiner, "F. D. Roosevelt". TPL-8905

Boat engines; Engine rooms--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. was working on a contract to build and repair fishing boats for China under the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration program. The boats are intended to rehabilitate China's fishing industry. Tacoma Boat's production line methods are helping get the boats ready for launching at a rapid pace. View of "Bertha J", a fishing boat. TPL-8324

Fishing boats--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

This aerial view of the "head of the bay" (the south end of the Foss Waterway) shows the Tacoma Boat Building Company and the Reliance Lumber company (to the right) as they appeared in March of 1947. The Northern Pacific Railroad roundhouse can be seen at 2211 East D Street, just above Tacoma Boat. Tacoma Boat were the exclusive designers and manufacturers of "Northern Dragger" winches, "North" purse seine winches, "Northern" anchor winches and "Northern" purse seine and dandelion blocks. They built wood and steel trollers, purse seiners and tuna clippers. (T. Times, 2/26/47, p. 9-B).

Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Northern Pacific Railway Co. (Tacoma); Railroad roundhouses--Tacoma; Aerial photographs;

Tacoma Boat Facilities. Interior of Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. plant. Elaborate machiery was used for boatbuilding. TPL-6651

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Boat Facilities. Meeting the Army and Navy compliance for the wood and diesel type ships is an important part of the building process for Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. TPL-8862

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Boat Building. At the time of this July 27, 1946 photograph, Tacoma Boat Building was nearing completion of "West Point," their first all-steel tuna clipper. She was launched August 17, 1946, and christened by Christine Jangaard. The vessel is 112 feet by 26 1/2 feet, powered by a 675 hp Cooper-Bessemer engine. TPL-8906

Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Waterfronts--Tacoma--1940-1950; Piers & wharves--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Taken for Tacoma Boat Building Company. This shot shows the waterfront adjacent to the Tacoma Boat Building facility. Debris is caught in the water and it looks cloudy. At this time Tacoma Boat is working on a contract for the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration for nine 85 foot combination purse seiner drag boats, five steel and four wood. (T.Times, 8/21/1946, p.5) TPL-6534

Waterfronts--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Taken for Tacoma Boat Building Company. A view of the water and waterfront adjacent to the Tacoma Boat Building Company along City Waterway. Some plant material or other substance is floating on the water. TPL-6535

Waterfronts--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Launching at Puget Sound. Rear view of the C. R. Martinolich yacht, belonging to Carl R. Martinolich, the company's Machinist Superintendent. The Martinolich Shipbuilding Corp. relocated their shipbuilding plant to San Francisco, California in July 1940.

Yachts--Tacoma; Ships--Tacoma;

Launching at Puget Sound. The Martinolich Shipbuilding Corp. was operated by four brothers here in Tacoma up until July 1940, when two of the brothers relocated the plant to San Francisco, CA. Carl R. Martinolich was the Machinist Superintendent for the company. View of Carl's yacht, prior to launching.

Yachts--Tacoma; Ships--Tacoma;

Tacoma Boat Facilities. Tacoma Boat Building Company is working on its 18th minesweeper for the government. They are one of two shipyards in Tacoma to be honored with the Army-Navy "E" pennant. Interior view of workshop showing laborers at work. TPL-6647

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma;