In July of 1943, with our country at war and an army to feed, bringing in the crops became a patriotic duty. Most men were either in the service or working in the defense industry; therefore, the job of harvesting fell to women and youth. Especially targeted as a work force were youth organizations and the schools. Here, women and students work side by side in a Puyallup Valley spinach field. Wooden crates are placed in the field and Richards Studio's wood paneled station wagon is parked in the distance. Adults were also urged to join the youths in the harvest of valley peas and berries whose peak was to be reached soon. 1,200 kids had already been enrolled in Pierce County's harvest army through the Tacoma Agricultural Manpower Committee of the Chamber of Commerce. 7,000-10,000 adult workers were needed the first two weeks in July. Bus transportation would be provided by the Chamber of Commerce. (T.Times 7-2-43, p. 16-article on harvesting)

Agricultural laborers; World War, 1939-1945--Students--Tacoma; Croplands--Puyallup Valley;

General Mills plant. This exterior view includes the grain elevators and the retail outlet building. Sperry Flour Company, a division of General Mills, may be forced to suspend flouring operations because of wheat shortages. Other plants of General Mills and six other companies will be closing. The government is able to pay 30 cents more per bushel than the mills which are subject to ceiling prices. Before this happened Tacoma was the biggest four milling center west of Minneapolis and Kansas City. (T.Times, 5/15/1946) TPL-6517

Agricultural industries--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; General Mills, Inc., Farm Service Division (Tacoma);

General Mills plant. Exterior view of the hay, grain, feed and seed retail business outlet for General Mills. Trucks and an automobile are parked along side. TPL-6518

Agricultural industries--Tacoma; World War, 1939-1945--Economic & industrial aspects--Tacoma; General Mills, Inc., Farm Service Division (Tacoma);

Younglove Fruit & Produce Co. was founded by E. A. Younglove in 1907. They moved in 1935 to a larger better equipped building that allowed them access to rail and water transport systems. Their new location made them one of the most complete and efficient wholesale food distributing centers on the Pacific Coast. View of produce, photo ordered by Robert Baker, manager of Younglove Fruit and Produce Co.

Farm produce--Tacoma; Agriculture--Tacoma; Fruit industry--Tacoma; Younglove Grocery Co. (Tacoma);

Douglas Fir Plywood Association. A young farm hand forks silage onto a conveyor belt system to move the material around in the interior of the silo. Silage is cut up material grown for feed. It is allowed to ferment in the silo and is then fed to livestock.

Farmers--Puyallup; Silos--Puyallup; Conveying systems--Puyallup; Plywood; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Douglas Fir Plywood Association. This interior view of a silo shows that the walls are built of sheets of plywood. This view also provides a closer view of the conveyor belt system for moving silage. An electric motor seen in the opening of the silo rotates two wheels that pull a chain the length of the wooden trough. The chains in turn, pull the belt with the silage material on it. Prefabricated silos built with treated plywood were built by a number of companies in Washington state during the 1940s including Modular Structures Incorporated of Tacoma.

Farmers--Puyallup; Silos--Puyallup; Conveying systems--Puyallup; Plywood; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Douglas Fir Plywood Association. A silo built against a barn in rural Pierce County. A conveyor belt type loader stands next to the silo as well as the farmer and his dog.

Farmers--Puyallup; Silos--Puyallup; Dogs--Puyallup; Conveying systems--Puyallup; Plywood; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Douglas Fir Plywood Association. A farmer leans against his new plywood silo standing next to his barn. A conveyor belt loader leans against the top of the silo.

Farmers--Puyallup; Silos--Puyallup; Plywood;

Buck & Sons manufactured farm machinery, sold Ford and Ferguson Tractors, repaired tractors and sold tractor tires. Exterior view of their building, Ferguson System tractor sign above entrance, shop windows, garage on left side.

Agricultural machinery & implements--Tacoma; Machinery; Tractors--Tacoma; Storefronts--Tacoma; Buck & Sons Tractor & Implement Co. (Tacoma);

Buck & Sons manufactured farm machinery, sold Ford and Ferguson Tractors, repaired tractors and sold tractor tires. Exterior view of their building, Ferguson System tractor sign above entrance, also visible are Puget Sound Paint and Hardware store and Signal gas station.

Agricultural machinery & implements--Tacoma; Tractors--Tacoma; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma; Storefronts--Tacoma; Buck & Sons Tractor & Implement Co. (Tacoma);

Buck and Sons was holding a tractor and farming equipment demonstration for the local farmers. They were showing their new merchandise and their new and modern facilities. Buck and Sons had modern equipment and supplies to meet a farmer's needs. Interior view of Buck and Sons.

Agricultural machinery & implements--Tacoma; Tractors--Tacoma; Meetings--Tacoma; Buck & Sons Tractor & Implement Co. (Tacoma);

Washington Co-op Farmers Association. Items used by farmers are on display: wheelbarrow, feeders, sprayers, tires, oil, grease, paint and paint brushes, insecticides, hand tools and a cultivator plus other items. The customer counter is on the right side.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Agricultural industries;

Mr. Schaeffer. Washington co-op. Exposure of farm supply warehouse at Milwaukee Street taken on June 10, 1947. Supplies of DDT, garden tools, tires, paint, etc.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Merchandise display--Tacoma--1940-1950;

As the United States moved into a peacetime economy after WWII, Tacoma's industries began manufacturing new products for the growing domestic market. In December of 1947, the Marine Iron Works, 1120 East D Street, was building "Mighty Man" garden tractors. Designed by B.A. Winter, a top aviation engineer, the "Mighty Man" was aimed at home owners and small suburban farmers. It could operate as a two wheeled, walk behind tiller, or be easily converted to a four wheeled riding machine. (Photo ordered by Condon Advertising Company) TPL-9139

Agricultural machinery & implements--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tractors--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; Marine Iron Works, Inc. (Tacoma); Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Marine Iron Works located at 1120 East D Street, was designing and building lightweight garden tractors, known as the "Mighty Man". These small tractors were intended for use on small farms and gardens, they could pull up to 8,000 pounds on a 2% grade. These tractors were becoming very popular with the urban farmers. View of "Mighty Man" garden tractor in action, photo ordered by Condon Advertising Company. TPL-9140

Agricultural machinery & implements--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tractors--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; Marine Iron Works, Inc. (Tacoma); Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Marine Iron Works designed and manufactured small tractors known as the"Mighty Man" tractors. The "Mighty Man's" were designed by a top aviation engineer, B. A. Winter, specifically for small suburban farming. The "Mighty Man" tractors had an automatic 5 jaw clutch, 4 cycle air coded Wisconsin engine, which was built in the plant, and could pull up to an 8,000 pound load on a 2% grade. View of 8 blade disc tractor, used for plowing small farms. TPL-9136

Agricultural machinery & implements--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; Tractors--Tacoma; Marine Iron Works, Inc. (Tacoma);

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association refrigerated delivery truck. The truck is painted with the logo for the Lynden brand, one of the co-op's brands. Lynden sold eggs, chicken and turkey. Washington farmers banded together and sold under the co-op's brands in order to get better prices for their goods. The grain elevators can be seen on the left.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Grain elevators--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

As the holidays approached in 1953, the Washington Co-operative Farmers Association stood ready with their refrigerated delivery trucks. This truck was painted with the logo for the Lynden brand, one of the Co-op's brands, and their most popular holiday product - turkey. Lynden sold eggs and chicken, as well as the holiday gobbler. The truck was posed at the Co-op's Mill and grain elevators, located at 1801 Taylor Way, on the tideflats. The Co-op was formed of Washington farmers who banded together and sold under the Co-op's brands in order to get better prices for their goods.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Grain elevators--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A new Diamond-T petroleum truck is parked near the Washington Cooperative Farmers Association's feed mill in April, 1954. The Co-op continually upgraded their equipment; this new truck would be used to deliver gasoline, lube and heating oils to Co-op customers. No passengers would be permitted on board and smoking was strictly prohibited.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Diamond T trucks; Signs (Notices);

Bulk feed is being poured into plywood storage units at the Ken Bergman Poultry farm on May 13, 1953. The feed is being delivered by the Washington Co-op Farmers Association using their Diamond T double-tank truck. Washington Co-op Farmers was able to provide home delivery of bulk feed to its members, as well as other bulk deliveries such as petroleum and gasoline. Bulk deliveries could then be stored in appropriate facilities until needed by the customer. Photograph ordered by Tom Sias, Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Storage tanks; Plywood; Shipping; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Employees of the Washington Cooperative Farmers Association carefully monitor the pouring of bulk feed into the storage units at Ken Bergman's Poultry farm on May 13, 1953. Using Diamond T and other large trucks, the Farmers Association was able to make home deliveries of bulk feed, petroleum and gasoline to its members. Here the lid on one plywood unit is opened and feed is being siphoned from the truck's storage tank directly into the farm's silo. Photograph ordered by Tom Sias, Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Storage tanks; Shipping; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

A Diamond T truck with two storage tanks of Bulk Feed from Washington Co-op Farmers Association pulls up to Ken Bergman's Poultry Farm on May 13, 1953. The driver and customer, presumably Mr. Bergman, examine paperwork in preparation to fill large plywood bins full of chicken feed. The Washington Co-op Farmers Association had built a $1,000,000 feed mill at the Hylebos waterway in the late 1940's. Besides having convenient transport facilities to ship feed throughout the nation, the feed mill would also make delivery of bulk feed much easier to its local members. Photograph ordered by Tom Sias, Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Diamond T trucks; Chicken industry; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

The area surrounding Wenatchee Washington. Wenatchee is a city on the Columbia River, at the mouth of the Wenatchee River, in southeast Chelan County. It is primarily an agricultural area and is close to being the geographic center of the state. Here hay has been cut & stacked and waits to be baled. A barn and farm house sit on the rolling hills. This area was revitalized with the availability of irrigation after the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam.

Farms--Wenatchee; Farmhouses--Wenatchee; Barns--Wenatchee; Hay; Haystacks;

Washington Coop Farmers Association, a truck carrying bulk feeds being filled directly from the feed mill. Built on 8 1/2 acres on the Hylebos Waterway, the feed mill was one of the most modern structures in the country. The Coop used both trucks and railroads to move its product across the country .

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Grain elevators--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Two of Don Dunn's daughters enjoy two piglets housed in the new pig house that was included in the "Farm-in-a-Day" at Moses Lake given to Donald Dun, a decorated GI and top notch farmer who had been flooded out by the Cottonwood River in Kansas. Ordered by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (Popular Mechanics "They Built Him a Farm in a Day" Dec. 1952, pg. 118-22+)

Farms--Moses Lake--1950-1960; Barns--Moses Lake; Dunn, Don--Homes & haunts; Families--Moses Lake; Swine; Girls--Moses Lake;

Don Dunn and his family are seen outside the completed seven room modern home given to the 30 year old WWII veteran as part of the "Farm-in-a-Day" project at Moses Lake. Building the home, out buildings, and fences, and fertilizing and planting 80 acres took volunteers 22 hours. The "butterfly" house was designed by a group of five architects headed up by Paul Kirk of Seattle. Ordered by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (Popular Mechanics "They Built Him a Farm in a Day" Dec. 1952, pg 118-22+)

Farms--Moses Lake--1950-1960; Farmhouses--Moses Lake; Dunn, Don--Homes & haunts; Families--Moses Lake;

In June of 1952, the Washington Cooperative Farmers Association operated a grain elevator, feed mill and warehouse complex at 1801 Taylor Way on an 8 1/2 acre site on the Hylebos Waterway. The mill, including its 163 Foot tall "headhouse" was completed in 1949 and was the last word in mill construction at that time. The site was served by the Tacoma Belt line, giving it access to all transcontinental railroads, and had a dock to accomodate ocean-going vessels. The mill was sold to Land O'Lakes/Cenex Feeds, Inc. in the 1980s and closed in 1990. TPL-9616

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Grain elevators--Tacoma--1950-1960; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A three-axle International truck has been fitted with a tank on the rear for Washington Cooperative Farmers Association. The truck is seen in front of two of the storage tanks at Standard Oil Company.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Standard Oil Co. of California (Tacoma); Storage tanks--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; International trucks;

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association held their 1952 stockholders' meeting at Temple Theater in Tacoma. Nearly 2,000 people from Pierce County and Enumclaw attended the annual nomination meeting of District No. 6 of the Washington Cooperative Farmers Association. Harold D. Foster of Sumner was renominated for director. He had held the post 21 years. Poultryman James Anderson of Edgemont was nominated for director as well. The vote would be made by ballot before the February 12, 1953, meeting. (TNT, 11/20/1952, p.3)

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Stages (Platforms); Temple Theatre (Tacoma);

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association held their 1952 stockholders' meeting at Temple Theater in Tacoma. This was the 35th anniversary meeting of the cooperative. Wide interest was shown in news brought by Harry J. Beernink, general manager, that the Co-Op was arranging to acquire reserves of both petroleum and phosphate to be able to produce fertilizer for Co-Op members. (TNT, 11/20/1953, p.3)

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Temple Theatre (Tacoma);