In March of 1952 an unidentified man was photographed tearing off an entry blank for the $20,000 "Room-for-Improvement" contest sponsored by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association. Contestants could win up to $4,000 by filling out an official entry form. Each contestant had to explain what remodeling project he wanted to complete and why plywood would be the best material to use. To win, the entry had to include both a written description of the project and before and after draws. The highest prize of $3,000, with a possible bonus of $1,000, was for the best plan to "Add-a-Room." Every contestant received an official entry form and a folder of home improvement ideas - all using plywood.

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Contests--Tacoma;

ca. 1920. Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, Engine #10252. Copy of Asahel Curtis print #51601 requested by the Washington State Historical Society on April 1, 1977. The electric powered train may have been departing/arriving at the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Tacoma location. The Washington State Historical Society has 60,000 Curtis images in its collection.

Railroad locomotives; Railroads; Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Co.;

ca. 1920. Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad, Engine #10253. This is an Asahel Curtis print, #46216, which was requested copied by the Washington State Historical Society on April 1, 1977. Three men are standing next to the electric powered engine, spaced far apart, with the man in the foreground seemingly prepared to give the "go ahead" signal. Photographer Curtis documented industry in Washington State as well as historic events and geographic features. He was based in Seattle and worked there until his death in 1941. 60,000 of his images are held in trust by the Washington State Historical Society. (www.wshs.org/wshm/online-exhibits/curtis/exhibitb.htm)

Railroad locomotives; Railroad cars; Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Co.; Railroads;

ca. 1971. Boat under construction at Tacoma Boatbuilding in January of 1971. This view is of the exposed hull.

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Boats--Tacoma;

Ship under construction at Tacoma Boatbuilding in late summer of 1968. Tacoma Boatbuilding had suffered a devastating fire on August 17, 1968, with more than $2,000,000 in damages. Two Navy gunboats and the primary ship assembly plant were destroyed in the three-alarm fire. The company vowed to rebound from the loss and work did continue on undamaged vessels by the end of August. (TNT 8-17-68, p. 1, TNT 8-18-68, p. 1) TPL-9132

Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Wharf scene on Commencement Bay, terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad, Tacoma, Washington Territory. Photograph was taken circa 1885. Masted ships are docked waiting to unload/load cargo.

View looking south of the Northern Pacific Railroad track along Commencement Bay, Tacoma, Washington Territory, circa 1885. Sidewheeler steamship North Pacific at dock. The Northern Pacific wharf lay below today's Stadium Way and would serve, according to historian Murray Morgan, as a "third world between Old Tacoma and New Tacoma." (Morgan: South on the Sound, p. 48-49) KING-001, TPL-018.

This is the American Smelting & Refining Company smokestack in Ruston as pictured in September of 1935. At 571 feet, the ASARCO smokestack dominated the skyline near Point Defiance from its elevated position above the waterfront. At the time of its construction in 1917, it was the tallest smokestack in the world. It lost nine feet in height after repairs in 1937. The smelter stack was demolished on January 17, 1993.

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Smelters--Tacoma--1930-1940; Copper industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Smokestacks--Tacoma;

ASARCO smelter (American Smelting & Refining Co.). A large crane mounted on tracks is unloading ore from the Norwegian motorship Bronnoy. The ship carried a $600,000 cargo of gold ore from Russian mines in the Urals. The mechanical crane could carry 5 tons on each dip into the ship's hold. The Bronnoy's 8,997 ton shipment will be refined at the rate of 900 tons a day. (T. Times 9/13/1935, pg. 3 & 1/19/1935, pg. 1)

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Tacoma); Smelters--Tacoma--1930-1940; Copper industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Industrial facilities--Tacoma;

Back of Photo:
"St. Regis - Western Star Paper Machine
Clipping taped to back: "READ ALL ABOUT IT--Seven St. Regis Paper Co. officials, her for this morning's official dedication of the company's $30,000,000 expansion of its Tacoma kraft pulp and paper mill, look over a special 18-page section of The News Tribune, marking the event. Seated, left to right, are Phillip B. Duffy, vice president, the corrugated container division; Reginald L. Vayo, vice president, kraft division sales; and Kenneth D. Lozier, vice president, of advertising and sales promotion, all of New York. Standing are George J. Kneeland, New York, assistant vice president; Russell R. Major, Tacoma, assistant comptroller; John A. McDermott, Jacksonville, Fla., vice president, pulp and paper manufacturing; and Dr. William R. Haselton, general manager of the Tacoma plant."

Back of Photo:
"BIZ 10/2/87 Gillie
"Suzanne C. Dicks, wife of U.S. congressman Norm Dicks, reacts after letting fly the bottle of champagne to christen the MV Sea-Land Tacoma this morning. The ceremony for the containership took place at the Sea-Land terminal in the Port of Tacoma. Mrs. Dicks is the sponsor of the vessel. Staff Photo by Joe Giron"

Tony Ricono posing with various food service products.

Person pointing at an electrical box with various gauges at the West Tacoma Newsprint Co. in Steilacoom, WA.

Fischer & Porter Co. West Tacoma Newsprint Co. in Steilacoom, WA. Man taking notes on a clipboard reading various circular gauges attached to large machines.

Fischer & Porter Co. West Tacoma Newsprint Co. in Steilacoom, WA.

Silo and metal scaffolding at the Riegel Carolina Paper & Pulp Mill with a small brick shed and mounds of organic material in the distance.

Man in a red baseball cap engaging with machinery at the Riegel Carolina Paper & Pulp Mill.

Industrial piping at the Riegel Carolina Paper & Pulp Mill.

Large pipe and smokestack at the Riegel Carolina Paper & Pulp Mill.

Large container for Hooker Chemicals with slightly pronounced lettering.

Riegel Carolina Paper & Pulp Mill looking out on the docks on a ship named Mogul with a striped and lettered G figure.

Riegel Carolina Paper & Pulp Mill looking out on the docks on a ship named Mogul with a striped and lettered G figure.

Exterior shot of the Douglas Fir Plywood Association Circus. A banner outside displays the words "Plywood Jubilee" and "Free Show." Flood lighting can be seen at the top and bottom of the structure.

Exterior shot of the Douglas Fir Plywood Association Circus. Two children play on a plywood tiger and giraffe on the gravel.

Exterior shot of the Douglas Fir Plywood Association Circus. A banner outside displays the words "Plywood Jubilee" and "Free Show." A mural along the from of the structure depicts a magician turning a tree into plywood.

Display kiosk at the Doug Fir Plywood Association Circus with 233 small wooden disks labeled with ways the company creates sales. Black and white photographs of the plywood making process are visible in the background.

Display of faux television sets displaying advertising cells at the Douglas Fir Plywood Association Circus.

A miniature model of a plywood making work room on display at the Douglas Fir Plywood Association Circus. Dolls are exhibited processing the lumber into plywood.

Laborer interacting with machinery at the Fischer & Porter Co. West Tacoma Newsprint Co. in Steilacoom, WA.

Laborers at the U.S. Plywood Co. in Seattle.