A Consolidated truck, loaded with "fertilizer," is parked outside the old Sperry Mill on Bayside Drive in mid-February, 1969. The Sperry plant was owned by General Mills. Its flour mill had closed in July of 1965. Photograph ordered by Export Pacific, Inc.

General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1960-1970;

School children scramble aboard the "Nalley Town Express" on March 9, 1967, to attend the dedication and ribbon cutting of the new Nalley Tour Auditorium. Nalley's started their regularly scheduled plant tours that day and the first tour group was a class of 16 girls from Annie Wright Seminary. Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30-3 p.m. were set aside at the plant for group tours. Photograph ordered by Nalley's. (TNT 3-12-67, A-23)

Nalley's, Inc. (Tacoma); Dedications--Tacoma--1960-1970; School children--Tacoma--1960-1970; Buses--Tacoma--1960-1970;

The Board of Directors of General Mills honored Tacoma with a visit on April 22, 1957. After a board meeting, attendees were given a tour of the local plant. Plant officials answered questions from the board as they surveyed machinery used to package the flour. John W. Geddis, Sperry Mill plant superintendent, (left foreground) escorted a board member around the mill. Harry Bullis, General Mills Chairman of the Board, spoke at the meeting; he is believed to be the man to the furtherest left in the background. Tacoma's Sperry Flour Mill had a capacity of 8400 hundredweight of flour daily. The mill employed 250 local residents. Photograph ordered by General Mills, Inc. (TNT 4-22-57, p. 20)

General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma); Flour & meal industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Geddis, John W.;

Exterior of supermarket. It appears that the Food King supermarket was the latest occupant at (then) 1202 South "K" Street in 1957. It had previously been the site of the West End Hotel & Saloon, K St. Public Market, and Hogan's. Built by contractor Claude Purvis, it was designed by architect Lyle Swedberg. Taken on a rainy evening, lights from the closed store reflect on the wet streets. Food King followed the new trend in shopping with multiple floor to ceiling windows and bright lighting. A neon crown stands atop of the flat roof of the brick building. According to the 1957 City Directory, Walter Hogan was listed as owner of three Food King stores in the Tacoma area. The "K" Street Food King was managed by Gene Sweet. Photograph ordered by Birkenwald, Inc. TPL-3797 (TNT 1-15-57, A-6,7, 10)

Food King (Tacoma); Supermarkets--Tacoma; Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Two boys, looking remarkably like twins, smile at the chef bearing a platter of cooked ham at the Carstens Packing Co.'s Christmas party. A variety of meats was offered for hungry guests at the December 9, 1956, gathering. Carstens was the largest independent meat packing company on the West Coast. Photograph ordered by Pacific National Advertising Agency, Seattle.

Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Christmas--Tacoma; Meat;

Exposure of a grinder at the Washington Coop Farmers Association. The workman appears to be changing a screen on the grinder. A chute to the right appears to feed the material to be ground, possibly grain, into the machine. There is another large pipe leading up from the machine. Photograph possibly taken inside the Association's feed mill.

Food storage buildings--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; Mills--Tacoma; Farming--Tacoma; Food industry--Tacoma; Washington Cooperative Farmers' Association (Tacoma);

Exposure of a grinder at the Washington Coop Farmers Association. The workman appears to be changing a screen on the grinder. A chute to the right appears to feed the material to be ground, possibly grain, into the machine. There is another large pipe leading up from the machine. Photograph possibly taken inside the Association's feed mill.

Food storage buildings--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; Mills--Tacoma; Farming--Tacoma; Food industry--Tacoma; Washington Cooperative Farmers' Association (Tacoma);

Nalley's Inc. Marcus Nalley, on the right, and officials from the Milwaukee railroad company inspect "insulated compartmentizer" freight cars on the rails outside of the Nalley plant. On the left is Robert Montgomery, city freight agent, and in the center is Ray Powels, Milwaukee agent. Marcus Nalley was a Milwaukee chef 40 years previously and is at the time of this picture the Chairman of the board for Nalley's, Inc. The railroad car is a new type being built in Renton and the Nalley shipment is its first cargo. (TNT 7/1/1956, pg. A-7)

Nalley's, Inc. (Tacoma); Food--Tacoma--1950-1960; Food industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Nalley, Marcus; Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Railroad freight cars;

Twelve salesmen are photographed in the National Biscuit Co.'s Tacoma office on October 2, 1954. Sixth from the right in the center of the photograph is branch manager, H.A. Messick. Messick had been with the company for twenty years and his promotion to district sales manager of the special products division was announced later that month. Messick and his sales staff are standing behind an array of Nabisco products, including Ritz crackers, Ginger Snaps, Fig Newtons and Snowflake Saltines. The Nabisco motto, "Be Sure...Buy Nabisco!" is prominently displayed. (TNT 10-28-54, A-9)

National Biscuit Co. (Tacoma); Messick, H.A.; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Crackers; Signs (Notices);

Twenty-two employees of the General Mills Inc., Sperry Division, pose behind a large "C Day Parade '54" banner on April 2, 1954. The brand names of several General Mills cereals are listed on the banner, including Cheerios, Wheaties, Kix, and a new cereal, Sugar Jets. Nearly fifty years later, Cheerios, Wheaties and Kix are still being devoured by the hungry public.

Flour & meal industry--Tacoma; Grain industry--Tacoma; General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma); Banners--Tacoma;

Boxes of Ebia, Cardinal, Nosalitos and Wilson brand tomatoes are shown in this March, 1954, photograph. Most of the brands are from Mexico. A Flavorseal machine helps in the sorting process. It is unclear whether the tomatoes are being packaged for sale or used for sauces.

Food industry--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Machinery; Tomatoes--Tacoma;

Meat being loaded aboard a ship, the "Pacificus", from Carstens. Ordered by Carstens Meat Packing Co. Carstens was the largest independent meat packing company on the west coast, with plants in Tacoma, Spokane and Seattle. TPL-8355

Carstens Packing Co. (Tacoma); Meat;

ca. 1953. General Mills-Sperry Division employees. For several years, the employees of General Mills, Inc.'s Sperry Division posed behind "C Day Parade" banners. Presumably, this was some sort of parade held annually; the "C" may have stood for "cereal." In 1953, 25 men were grouped behind the large banner apparently representing the Seattle-Tacoma District. Famous General Mills cereal brands were listed on the banner, including Cheerios, KIX, and Wheaties. All these brands are still in existence today.

Flour & meal industry--Tacoma; Grain industry--Tacoma; General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma); Banners--Tacoma;

Nalley's returned to the Western Washington Fair in Puyallup in 1952 with their recognizable display booth. The name, Nalley's, is spelled out in large letters over a slight awning with cut outs of people holding oversized Nalley products.

Nalley's, Inc. (Tacoma); Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1940-1950; Merchandise displays--Puyallup; Condiments; Canned foods;

Nalley's created three separate bags of candies for Halloween in 1952: a mixed trick or treat selection of individually wrapped candies, candies in Halloween shapes of pumpkins, ghosts and bats for 39 cents a bag, and spiced gum drops. The bags' labels have Halloween images of a black cat and a witch's and a pirate's mask.

Food industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Nalley's, Inc. (Tacoma)--Products; Packaging; Candy--Tacoma--1950-1960; Holidays--Tacoma;

A shopping cart has been filled to the brim with Nalley's candies with posters for "Nalley's Trick or Treat Candies" for Halloween.

Food industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Nalley's, Inc. (Tacoma)--Products; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Candy--Tacoma--1950-1960; Holidays--Tacoma;

Merchandise display at the Winthrop Hotel, Evergreen Room, in July of 1952. Nalley's celebrated not only their successful line, but also their solid blue collar labor pedigree by displaying the various unions of its employees. Nalley products pictured are Lumberjack Syrup, Mayonnaise, Potato chips, honey, ketchup, salad dressing, relish, pickles, mustard, shoestring potatoes, "Esquire Sauce," and canned meals.

Nalley's, Inc. (Tacoma)--Products; Food--Tacoma--1950-1960; Food industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950;

A White tank truck for Larro Feeds is parked in the parking lot of Gereral Mills Inc., Sperry Division, along Schuster Parkway near Sixth. Sperry Mills grain storage elevators are seen in the background.

General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma); White trucks--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Flour & meal industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Interior exposure of Nalley display with one woman by table filled with Nalleys products. Products also on shelves behind her. Nalley products featured are potato chips, mayonnaise, lumberjack syrup, chili and spaghetti dinner.

Nalleys, Inc. (Tacoma)--Products; Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Visiting teachers from Oakland munch on potato chips as they tour the Nalleys plant.

Nalley's, Inc. (Tacoma); Food--Tacoma--1950-1960; Food industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Potato chips; Teachers--Oakland--1950-1960;

Group shot of about 20 men at General Mills. The men are standing & kneeling behind a banner advertising General Mills cereals Cheerios, Kix and Wheaties.

Flour & meal industry--Tacoma; Grain industry--Tacoma; General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma);

Exposure of Nalley's 1952 Daffodil parade float with posing attendants at Nalley Valley. The Nalley float was titled "A Kings Castle," in keeping with the 1952 "King Alfred" theme. In 1923, The US Department of Agriculture suggested replacing the Puyallup Valley's dead and diseased hop crop with commercial bulbs and the reign of King Alfred began. Puyallup Valley soon became the world's top producer of daffodil bulbs. "Bulb Sunday" was born in 1926, when socialites were invited to go from field to field viewing the different varieties of daffodils. The tradition was going strong by 1932 when 80 - 100,000 people thronged the roads on "Bulb Sunday." It was discontinued in 1934 due to traffic congestion and the parade was suggested by Tacoma photographer Lee Merrill to take its place. ("A History of Pierce County, Washington" Vol. 1)

Nalley's, Inc. (Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1952 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Nalley's float in the 1952 Daffodil Parade makes the turn from 9th onto Pacific Ave. Nalley's won the second place award in the commercial division. Royalty is well represented on this float because the 1952 theme was "Alfred in Wonderland, " with reference to the King Alfred Daffodil- Puyallup Valley's most famous export. More than 1,000,000 blossoms were used in the parade which took more than four hours to complete from starting point in Tacoma until its termination in Sumner. (TNT 4-5-1952, pg. 1)

Nalley's, Inc. (Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival (1952 : Tacoma); Festivals--Tacoma; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Merchandise display in L.E. Landon's office at Nalley's, Inc. L.E. Landon was president of Nalley's at this time. The display includes cans and bottles of Lumberjack Syrup, bottles of pickle relish, pickles, salad dressing, mayonnaise, Tang, french dressing, mustard, and peanut butter, and cans of shoestring potatoes, beef stew, chili con carne, rice dinner, spaghetti dinner and spaghetti and meat. Bags of the company's first product, potato chips, hang in the middle along with bags of Krun-cheese and pop corn.

Nalley's, Inc. (Tacoma)--Products; Food--Tacoma--1950-1960; Food industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950;

A workman stands by the switchboard for the controls and weighing machine at Tacoma Vegetable Oil Company. Ordered by Westinghouse Electric Supply Company, Vern Hodgins.

Tacoma Vegetable Oils, Inc. (Tacoma); Factories--Tacoma--1950-1960; Westinghouse Electric Supply Co. (Tacoma);

A worker at Wesley Crawford & Son examines an oil mist lubrication machine in November, 1951. According to the 1951 City Directory, the company was listed as a produce commission merchant. It was a fresh fruit and vegetable packing company.

Wesley Crawford & Son (Tacoma); Machinery; Packaging; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Interior view of Nalley's exhibit at Puyallup Fair. Nalley's had a very large exhibition booth at the Western Washington Fair in Puyallup whose design remained basically the same for several years. In September, 1951, Nalley's Beef Stew was the featured advertised product, "the meatiest stew you ever tasted". Previous years had seen Tang Salad Dressing and Lumberjack Syrup take center stage. Potato chips and cucumber chips were also on display in 1951. On the long balcony above the exhibit booth were cutouts of people holding onto various Nalley products including Shoestring potatoes, Pure Mayonaise, Treasure Pickles and Lumberjack Syrup.

Nalley's, Inc. (Tacoma); Exhibit booths--Puyallup; Western Washington Fair (Puyallup); Fairs--Puyallup--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Puyallup; Canned foods;

Mechanization could relieve men from heavy labor in the loading dock at the Sperry Mill. One man moves bags of flour from a rotating delivery platform to a wooden pallet. A man with a fork-lift can transport the flour directly to the loading dock at the Sperry Ocean Dock. Ordered by General Mills.

Flour & meal industry--Tacoma; Grain industry--Tacoma; General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma);

In 1900 Puget Sound Flouring Company was turning out flour on the waterfront between North 8th and 10th Streets. Later in the century General Mills (Sperry Division) bought up the Puget Sound company and maintained the main mill on the waterfront. A farm service division was located at 5446 South Washington. Here large bags of flour are being loaded onto a ship at the Sperry Ocean Dock. Ordered by General Mills. (TNT, 2/14/1950, p.A-14)

Flour & meal industry--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery; Grain industry--Tacoma; General Mills, Inc., Sperry Division (Tacoma); Sperry Ocean Dock (Tacoma); Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Nestle products display at Nalley's Sales Office featuring Nestle's semi-sweet chocolate morsels, Nestle's Toll-House cookie mix, Nestle's Quick, and Nestle's cocoa. Nalley's was appointed as a distributor of Crosse & Blackwell and Nestle institutional food products in Oregon, Washington and Western Montana in October 1961. Nalley's would distribute C & B and Nestle products to restaurants, hospitals, industrial caterers, schools and universities. Nalley's was the exclusive distributor for C&B in the Northwest. They were on a non-exclusive basis with Nestle. Nalleys was one of the largest food distributors in the Northwest. Ordered by Nalley's, Inc., Henry Willis. (TNT, 10/11,1961)

Nalley's, Inc. (Tacoma); Food--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cocoa industry--Tacoma; Food industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950;