Undated photograph of the "Firecracker," a fishing boat, as requested by Martinolich Shipbuilding. The vessel is passing quietly through the waters of Commencement Bay; a glimpse of one of Kaiser's aluminum domes is visible on the far right of the photograph.

Fishing boats--Tacoma; Martinolich Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

The "Lori Ann" docked outside Tacoma Marine Supply in late February, 1969. She may have been a crab boat. A small "for sale" sign is posted in the pilothouse. Work order placed by Tacoma Boatbuilding Co.

Boats--Tacoma;

Ticket for the last ferry ride across the Narrows, on July 2, 1940 aboard the Kalakala. Ferry service was being suspended due to the opening of the first Narrows Bridge and locals could become a part of history for only one dollar. The Young Mens Business Club (YMBC) was sponsoring the ride as part of the 6 day celebration of the joint dedication of the Narrows Bridge and McChord Field. Over 1400 revellers boarded the ferry at the Tacoma Municipal, Point Defiance or Gig Harbor docks for the rollicking four hour ride to Bremerton and back. The entertainment included music and dancing with period costumes optional. TPL-6714, TPL-6725.

Kalakala (Ferry); Celebrations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ferries--Tacoma;

Manson-Osberg Company was located at 1602 Canal Street in industrial Tacoma. The company is listed as a general contracting business; in May of 1949 they were working in one of Tacoma's waterways near the tideflats area. Interior view of "Husky," a dredging machine owned and operated by Manson-Osberg Company. Photo ordered by Mr. Morris of Manson-Osberg Company.

Equipment--1940-1950; Barges--Tacoma; Underwater drilling--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dredging--Tacoma; Dredges--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery; City Waterway (Tacoma); Manson-Osberg Co. (Tacoma);

Puget Sound Boat Building Corporation has just completed rebuilding the "Pacific Queen, " formerly an Army tug, in May of 1949. This 183-ft. long fishing boat was bought by eight Puget Sound fishermen. The fishermen and Puget Sound Boat spent one year planning, followed by six months of rebuilding the vessel (T.N.T., 5/15/49, p. B-3). TPL-8629

Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Construction industry--Tacoma; Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound Boat Building Corp. (Tacoma);

Puget Sound Boat Building Corporation had just launched the "Pacific Queen" into Tacoma's City Waterway (now Thea Foss Waterway) in May of 1949. She was bought by eight Puget Sound fishermen who intended to be salmon fishing by June of that year. The "Pacific Queen" sailed to Seattle and continued on to Bristol Bay (T.N.T., 5/15/49, p. B-3). TPL-8630

Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound Boat Building Corp. (Tacoma);

Birchfield Boiler, 57' x 16' 4" seiner. Possibly the Esther B. This purse seiner is seen from the starboard side.

Birchfield Boiler, Inc. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ship trials--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The "Mary S." was joining a big fleet of Manuel Sousa and Associates fishing boats in San Diego, California. Manuel Sousa was visiting his native land, Portugal, therefore he was not able to attend the launching; L. L. Livesly, partner and managing owner, represented the company. View of the recently launched J. M. Martinac tuna clipper, the "Mary S." (T.N.T., 4/15/49, p. 29). TPL-8995

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

The "Mary E. Petrich" would be capable of fishing for tuna in Australian waters, these waters have never been fished by American coast-based vessels. The tuna clipper could travel at a speed of 13-1/2 knots. View of the large crowd gathered at Western Boat's main plant, for the launching of the "Mary E. Petrich", the largest tuna clipper ever built (T. Times, 3/16/49, p. 1). TPL-8989

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

The largest tuna clipper ever built, the "Mary E. Petrich" would be capable of carrying 450 tons of tuna under quick freeze refrigeration. This new vessel would be known as the queen of the tuna fleet, named after the late wife of Martin Petrich. View of Helen C. Petrich (right), wife of James F. Petrich Sr. and daughter-in-law to Martin Petrich; Helen was the "Mary E. Petrich" launching sponsor (T. Times, 3/16/49, p. 1). TPL-8990

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

Western Boat Building Company has just completed and launched the "Mary E. Petrich", the largest tuna clipper ever built. The new vessel is 149-1/2 feet long, has a 34 foot beam, 1,600 horsepower submarine type diesel engine, and cost about $500,000 to build. The tuna clipper was named after Martin Petrich's late wife; view of the "Mary E. Petrich" being led out by tugboats, shortly after being christened (T. Times, 3/16/49, p. 1). TPL-8988

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma);

J. M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corporation just finished building another Tacoma built fishing boat. The beautiful tuna clipper "Mary S." was built for Captain Manuel Sousa and Associates of San Diego, California. "Mary S." is 109 feet long and has a 600 horsepower engine, the vessel cost $300,000. View of "Mary S."; Martinac boat building plant in background (T.N.T., 4/15/49, p. 29). TPL-8993

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

The "Mary S" slid down the ways at Martinac Shipbuilding on April 14, 1949. The , launching of the 109-foot tuna clipper drew the attendance of L. L. Livesly, partner and managing owner of Manuel Sousa and Associates of San Diego, California. Mrs. Joe Martinac Jr. and Mrs. L. L. Livesly were the launching sponsors for the "Mary S." (T.N.T., 4/15/49, p. 29). TPL-8994

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma--1940-1950; J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding Corp. (Tacoma);

William Skansie (far left) and the crew of the Skansie's Shipbuilding Company stand in front of a 59-foot fishing boat that was completed in April of 1949. The yet un-named seiner was the first fishing boat to be built at the Skansie shipyard in Gig Harbor since 1930. John Cosulich (sixth from the left) had been foreman at the Skansie plant for 37 years. This Skansie fishing boat was designed by J. A. Martinolich of San Francisco, California. Skansie's Shipbuilding Company was owned and operated by William Skansie and Mitchell Skansie Jr. (T.N.T., 4/18/49, p. 14). TPL-8339

Fishing boats--Gig Harbor--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Gig Harbor; Launchings--Gig Harbor--1940-1950; Skansie's Shipbuilding Co. (Gig Harbor); Cosulich, John--Family; Skansie, William;

Skansie's Shipbuilding Company had just completed and was launching their first fishing boat in April of 1949. John Cosulich and his wife were the fishing boat's sponsors; John Cosulich has been Skansie shipyards foreman for 37 years. View of fishing boat sponsor, Mrs. John Cosulich (right) and unidentified man, at the Skansie shipyards for the boat launching (T.N.T., 4/18/49, p. 14). A patron stated that the woman in the photograph is not Mrs. John Cosulich (her name was Marina). It is the daughter-in-law of John and Marina Cosulich. Her name is Dolores Cosulich, née Seghieri. The unidentified man is Tony Cosulich, her husband.

Fishing boats--Gig Harbor--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Gig Harbor; Launchings--Gig Harbor--1940-1950; Skansie's Shipbuilding Co. (Gig Harbor); Cosulich, John--Family;

Skansie's Shipbuilding Company built their first fishing boat, this boat will join the Puget Sound fishing fleet. Skansie's was located at 3209 Harborview Drive in Gig Harbor; the shipyard was operated by the Skansie brothers, Mitchell Jr. and William. View of unnamed 59 foot fishing boat, built by the Skansie shipyards, after having been launched (T.N.T., 4/18/49, p. 14). TPL-8306

Fishing boats--Gig harbor--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Gig Harbor; Launchings--Gig Harbor--1940-1950; Skansie's Shipbuilding Co. (Gig Harbor); Cosulich, John--Family;

Skansie's Shipbuilding Company had just built their first fishing boat in April of 1949. Skansie's had built other types of vessels in the past, including a ferry boat. View of Skansie fishing boat launching party; John Cosulich (right) and Mrs. John Cosulich (third from left) are the launching sponsors; other four people are not identified (T.N.T., 4/18/49, p. 14). According to a patron the individuals in the photo are John Cosulich on the far right, Dolores (Mrs. Tony Cosulich) third from left (not Mrs. John Cosulich), and Tony Cosulich, Dolores' husband, on the far left.

Fishing boats--Gig Harbor--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Gig Harbor; Launchings--Gig Harbor--1940-1950; Skansie's Shipbuilding Co. (Gig Harbor); Cosulich, John--Family;

Birchfield Boiler company were builders of all steel welded vessels of all types and designs. Birchfield fabricated the steel used in their ship building and also specialized in ship repairs and conversions. View of Birchfield Boiler built "Situk", a 48 foot by 16 foot by 28 inch power scow built for Libby McNeill and Libby.

Barges--Tacoma; Construction industry--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Birchfield Boiler, Inc. (Tacoma);

Birchfield Boiler company were builders of the famous "Birchfield Boiler", they also specialized in building tanks, hot water heaters, pipes, stacks and various types of vessels. Birchfield Boiler, Inc. was located on 2503 East 11th Street in Tacoma's tideflats area; the plant was on the Port Industrial Waterway, now known as the Blair Waterway. View of Birchfield Boiler built "Situk", a 48 foot by 16 foot by 28 inch power scow built for Libby McNeill and Libby.

Barges--Tacoma; Construction industry--Tacoma; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Birchfield Boiler, Inc. (Tacoma);

Launching at Western Boat. Ordered by Seattle Times by Mr. R.H. Calkins. The John N. Cobb is afloat near the 11th Street Bridge just after launching from the Western Boat ways building. The vessel would be equiped for exploratory navigation as well as for experimental fishing by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.. Snow is on the ground as seen on the opposite shore of City Waterway. The tall buildings of the business district of Tacoma are seen in the background. (Pacific Fisherman, March 1950, p.29) TPL-9652

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Ships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cityscapes;

The Hortensia-Bertin sits in the ways building at Tacoma Boat Building ready for launching into Commencement Bay. The large tuna clipper was designed by Arthur DeFever of San Pedro, and measured 103' x 24'10". O.E. Bertin would be her captain. She would have outstanding communication capabilities with radiophone and code instruments, a Northern Radio sending set and a National receiver. She was capable of carrying a crew of 20 and 185 tons of fish at 10 knots. Her home port was to be Tegucigalpa, Honduras. (TNT, 1/5/1950, p.21; Pacific Fisherman, April 1950, p.26; Pacific Fisherman, October 1950, p.12) TPL-9024

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

Launching of the John N. Cobb at Western Boat. L-R, Mrs. Emmett Egan and Mrs. Margaret E. Johnson, wife of Captain Sheldon W. Johnson, stand ready to christen the John N. Cobb, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service exploratory vessel. She was named after John N. Cobb, the first Dean of the School of Fisheries of the University of Washington, who had also served with the United States Bureau of Fisheries. Ordered for the Seattle Times by Mr. R.H. Calkins. (Marine Digest, 2/4/1950)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Egan, Emmett--Family; Johnson, Margaret E.;

Dignitaries pose during the launching of the Hortensia-Bertin at Tacoma Boat Building. She would contain the most modern of navigational and communication equipment with radiophone and code instruments, Northern Radio sending set and National receiver. She would also be equiped with a 181 h.p. Chrysler-powered Western "Fairliner' bait-tender which was also equipped with a radiotelephone. The two gentlemen on the left are Haldor Dahl and Arne Strom, owners of Tacoma Boat. Mrs. Arthur DeFever of San Pedro, California, is third from the right holding long-stemmed roses. She was the wife of the boat's architect and sponsor of at the launching. Ordered by C.F.A. Mann. (TNT, 1/5/1950, p.21; Pacific Fisherman, April 1950, p.26; Pacific Fisherman October 1950, p.12) TPL-9025

Launchings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fishing boats--Tacoma; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Dahl, Haldor; Strom, Arne;

Launching at Western Boat. Ordered by Seattle Times by Mr. R.H. Calkins. The John N. Cobb stands in the ways ready to be formally launched. Flags are draped over the first and second decks. The boat was to becoma an exploratory vessel for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. She was designed by W.C. Nickum & Sons, Seattle naval architects, and built by Western Boat. She was of very heavy wood construction, 93' in length, and powered with a 550 hp Fairbanks-Morse diesel engine. (Pacific Fisherman, March 1950, p.29)

Launchings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Ships--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Detailed picture of main engine of John N. Cobb, U.S. Fish and Wildlife exploratory vessel, at the Western Boat Building. She was designed by W.C. Nickum & Sons, Seattle naval architects, and built by Western Boat Co., Tacoma. She was of heavy wood construction, 93' in length, and powered with a 550-hp. Fairbanks-Morse diesel. She was equipped for exploratory navigation, as well as experimental fishing. Her primary duty was the testing and exploring of latent fisheries in Alaska waters, with special attention to Albacore Tuna.

Boat engines; Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Western Boat Building Co. (Tacoma); Fishing boats--Tacoma--1950-1960

Tacoma Boat Building Company was the exclusive designer and manufacturer of the "Northern Dragger" winches, "North" purse seine winches, "Northern" anchor winches and "Northern purse seine and dandelion blocks. The company built wood and steel trollers, purse seiners and tuna clippers, and had built many government vessels during World War II. View of the boat's helm, compass and engine controls. TPL-9021

Boats--Tacoma; Helms; Control rooms--Tacoma; Compasses; Navigation; Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Interior view of boat, built by Tacoma Boat, showing the engine room. Included in the view are the diesel auxiliary engines, fresh water still, ammonia compressors with control panel and distribution headers, synchronizing switchboard, power panel and motor starters topped off with a 600 h.p. heavy duty diesel propulsion engine. Tacoma Boat announced their 16-year record in February 1948 as: 104 new commercial vessels of wood and steel; and, 1,073 commercial vessels rebuilt, modernized, converted or repaired. TPL-9023

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

Tacoma Boat Building had just completed the Yolande-Bertin, she was being launched and was out on a trial run through Commencement Bay. Tacoma Boat Building specialized in wooden and steel government, commercial, fishing and pleasure boats; the company was owned by Haldor Dahl and Arne Strom. View of Yolande-Bertin of Tegucigalpa, a diesel tuna clipper out on Tacoma's Commencement Bay (Pacific Fisherman Yearbook, 1950). TPL-9019

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

Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. was started in 1936 by H. Dahl and A. Strom. The partners wanted to build fishing vessels for North Pacific fishermen. In 1941 they signed their first contract to build government boats and moved into a larger, newly expanded plant at the head of the City Waterway. View of Yolande-Bertin of Tegucigalpa, a diesel tuna clipper (Pacific Fisherman Yearbook, 1950). TPL-9016

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

Tacoma Boat Building recently completed diesel tuna clipper, the Yolande-Bertin of Tegucigalpa was designed by Arthur De Fever of San Pedro, California. The Yolande-Bertin was considered a wonderful addition to the impressive Pacific Tuna Clipper Fleet. View of Yolande-Bertin of Tegucigalpa, a diesel tuna clipper out on Tacoma's Commencement Bay (Pacific Fisherman Yearbook, 1950). TPL-9018

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