Elevated view of Tacoma's downtown and industrial area. Smoke from various lumber and chemical companies in Tacoma's industrial area blends into the sky. Busy plants meant employment for thousands of local residents. The Tacoma Hotel and Tacoma Savings & Loan can also be spotted on the left of this September 2, 1954, photograph, taken from the seventh floor of the Winthrop Hotel.

Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma);

E.L. Cliffe (L), plant superintendent, and Col. Edward Schmitt, commanding officer of the Army Personnel Center, Ft. Lewis, met with Pennsalt employee William Otto at the company's facilities on November 10, 1954. Col. Schmitt toured the plant in preview of industry tours for military personnel on Armed Forces Appreciation Day, November 30th. Mr. Otto shows the two men the machinery used in making corrosion-resistant molds used in the manufacture of chlorine and caustic by Pennsalt. Other companies, including Puget Sound Plywood, Brown & Haley, Heidelberg Breweries and Hooker Electrochemical, would also be offering tours for the military on Armed Forces Appreciation Day. (TNT 11-21-54, B-11)

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Machinery; Cliffe, E.L.; Schmitt, Edward; Otto, William;

ca. 1910. A grouping of rough loggers, probably employees of the Grays Harbor Logging Co., posed for the camera on and around a downed giant tree, circa 1910. The early era of the Grays Harbor lumber industry was often called the "Timber Rush," as fortunes were made in the attempt to clear cut the great stand of Douglas Fir. The Grays Harbor Logging Co. was in operation from 1909-1920. They had logging camps on the East Fork of the Wishkah River and maintained offices in Aberdeen. The company's president was C. H. Shutt and the Secretary/Treasurer was F.E. Burrows. ("They Tried to Cut It All" by Edwin VanSyckle") (photograph courtesy of Dan Powell) TPL-9833

Grays Harbor Logging Co. (Aberdeen); Lumber industry--Grays Harbor; Loggers; Woodcutters;

ca. 1910. An unidentified logger stands in front of a logging shed, circa 1913. The shed is labelled "Grays Harbor Logging Co., Camp #2." The Grays Harbor Logging Company was located on the East Fork of the Wishkah River, outside of Aberdeen in Grays Harbor County, where they maintained three logging dams. The head of the company was Calvin Herbert "Bert" Shutt, who drowned in one of his own logging ponds on the river November 18, 1915. The company was in operation from around 1909-1920. By 1913, the company also maintained offices in Aberdeen, located on "Skidroad," near the corner of Hume and F St. The secretary/treasurer of the company was F.E. Burrows. ("They Tried to Cut It All" by Edwin Van Syckle) (photograph courtesy of Dan Powell) TPL-9835

Grays Harbor Logging Co. (Aberdeen); Lumber industry--Grays Harbor;

ca. 1888. Eight loggers pose with two large sections of logs that are sitting on a flat-bed railroad car. On the side of the railroad car are the words - W. F. McKay, Tacoma, Wash. T. One of the logs is larger in diameter then the out stretched arm of one of the loggers. Two loggers hold a long hand saw. The Puget Sound Directory for 1888 lists a William F. McKay as a logger.

Loggers; Logs; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1880-1890

Light poles prior to turning in machine, Cascade Pole at Port of Tacoma Road, Vic Monahan. A view of the railroad sidings at Cascade Pole and several long, straight poles that have been creosoted on one end lined up near the sidings. Specialized railroad-tie sized log- holding frames are seen in the yard. They could easily move many poles from place to place in the manufacturing processes.

Cascade Pole Co. (Tacoma); Utility poles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad sidings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Light poles prior to turning in machine, Cascade Pole at Port of Tacoma Road, Vic Monahan. A view of several poles that have been creosoted on one end as a preservative for the portion of the wooden pole that would be buried under ground. Creosote is obtained by the distillation of wood tar. The yard is shown with railroad sidings running straight ahead and curving to the right. Piles of poles are seen on the left.

Cascade Pole Co. (Tacoma); Utility poles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad sidings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Light poles prior to turning in machine, Cascade Pole at Port of Tacoma Road, Vic Monahan. A view of several poles that have been creosoted on one end. Cascade Pole offered both open tank and pressure creosoting. Cascade Pole was located at the end of Blair Waterway, an ideal location for logs to be delivered by rail and poles to be shipped by rail or water. Pacific Boat Building Company is seen in the background.

Cascade Pole Co. (Tacoma); Utility poles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad sidings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Factories--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Interior view of Buffelen Manufacturing Company's facilities; a laborer is operating a forklift, which appears to be moving plywood panels. Buffelen was one of the top six Douglas Fir plywood companies in Tacoma. American Manufacturing Company specialized in designing and manufacturing lumber and plywood handling equipment and machinery; photo ordered by American Manufacturing Company Inc.

Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Hoisting machinery; Laborers--Tacoma; Machinery industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Buffelen Lumber & Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); American Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma);

In December of 1948, E. Leslie Records, the son of Elmer H. Records, monitored his father's new "Thermal-Chemical carbonization and distillation process" for producing "smogless coal" in their research laboratory at 990 Middle Waterway. The process was created by Elmer H. Records, and he hoped it would be the answer to atmospheric pollution from coal gases. It took low grade bituminous and lignite coal, like the coal found in Washington, and converted them into a fuel comparable to high grade anthracite. (T. Times, 12/20/48, p. 5).

Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Laboratories--Tacoma; Coal--Tacoma; Testing--Tacoma; Air quality--Tacoma; Pollution--Tacoma; Research facilities--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; Industrial Research Lab (Tacoma); Records, E. Leslie;

New home for the Whistle Bottling Works, built in 1926 by the Cammarano Brothers. Interior showing machinery and potted plants. The new $50,000 plant was filled with modern equipment. After being "mixed" according to preset formulas, flavored syrups were poured into sterilized bottles on a conveyor belt. They travelled from machine to machine, where they were filled with carbonated water, capped and labelled. The plants and flowers were probably sent by well wishers for the plant's opening. (TDL 8/22/1926, pg. A10-14) (filed with Argentum)

Beverage industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Whistle Bottling Co. (Tacoma); Bottling industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cammarano Bros. (Tacoma);

Photograph from the August 1926 grand opening of the Whistle Bottling Co.'s new $50,000 plant. The plant could turn out 30,000 bottles of soda a day thanks to modern machinery, such as the one shown in the picture. Filled bottles travelled around the plant on a conveyor belt, into machines which capped the bottles and labelled them. The factory produced beverages for Whistle, Nu-Grape, Hires, Green River and others. It was owned by the Cammarano Brothers. (TDL 8/22/1926, pg. A10-14) (filed with Argentum)

Beverage industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Whistle Bottling Co. (Tacoma); Bottling industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cammarano Bros. (Tacoma);

The second floor laboratory, or "mix" room, in the new $50,000 Whistle Bottling Co. plant. Interior shot showing vats, gallon bottles on shelves. The room had a long testing bench or counter with shelves above it filled with graduates, filters and a large assortment of concentrated syrups. A 100 gallon mixing tank was used for compounding "simple syrup" from boiling water and pure cane sugar. This tank was connected with mixing tanks, where the simple syrup was mixed with the concentrated syrups that gave the beverage its distinctive taste. The mixed syrup flowed down a pipe into the first floor machine room where it went into sterilized bottles that were topped off with carbonated water. (TDL 8/22/1926, pg. A10-14) (filed with Argentum)

Beverage industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Whistle Bottling Co. (Tacoma); Bottling industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cammarano Bros. (Tacoma);

This was how the new Whistle Bottling Company factory, built for the Cammarano Brothers by Mcdonald & Michael contractors and located at 2314-18 A Street, appeared in August of 1926. At that time, the 5 year old company was moving to its new white $50,000 modern concrete plant. The two-story, 75 x 100 foot building was three times larger than the company's previous location at 301 East 25th. The new plant could turn out 30,000 complete bottles of "soda pop" a day: manufactured, bottled, capped and labeled. The company bottled Whistle, Nu-grape, Hires, Green River and others. The Cammarano Brothers, Phil, James, William and Ed, were self-made men; progressing from odd jobs to being the heads of their own factory. (filed with Argentum) (TDL 8/22/1926, pg. A10-14, TDL 7/11/1926, pg. E8)

Beverage industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Whistle Bottling Co. (Tacoma); Bottling industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cammarano Bros. (Tacoma);

Pennsylvania Salt, 2901 Taylor Way. Industrial sections of the City of Tacoma. Industries on the Tacoma Tideflats including an overhead pipe line and electric rail lines. This site is believed to be part of the Penn Salt plant as viewed in July of 1938.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Close up of chlorine tank cars for Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company. Two men working on top of rail car, one is inside porthole. Photograph taken on July 2, 1940.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad tank cars--Tacoma;

Close-up of chlorine tank cars for Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company. Three men on top of tank car adjusting equipment overhead in this photograph dated July 2, 1940.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad tank cars--Tacoma;

Man on platform of Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company chlorine tank car in this photograph dated July of 1940. Hylebos Waterway in background.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Railroad tank cars--Tacoma; Hylebos Waterway (Tacoma);

Flat cars for advertising use for Pennsylvania Salt. Man explaining pipe adjustment on equipment to workman at chemical plant. Industrial safety mask close by. Photograph was taken on May 17, 1940.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Gas masks;

Vats at Cammarano Brothers. The Cammarano Brothers were bottlers of beer and other carbonated beverages. Four brothers owned and operated the facility, Phillip J., James J., and William B., and Edward J. Cammarano. (filed with Argentum)

Bottling industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cammarano Bros. (Tacoma);

On Monday, December 2, 1940 at 7:11a.m., the Columbia Powder Co., located at Frederickson 10 miles southeast of Tacoma, was rocked by a devastating explosion as 2,000 pounds of dynamite ignited. The explosion killed four workers and reduced the two story frame mixing shed of the plant to splinters. The blast was felt for 30 miles. Luckily more workers were not on site at the time of the explosion; a crew of 65 men was due to report to work at 8 a.m. The plant was new, having been built 6 years prior, and barricades built within the plant as safety measures prevented the plant from being completely leveled. It would be after the New Year before the plant could resume operations as the mixing plant provided the raw materials for the other plant processes. Colombia was one of four powder plants in the state. (T. Times 12/2/1940, pg. 1)

Industrial facilities--Frederickson; Nitrates; Chemical industry--Frederickson; Explosions--Frederickson; Disasters--Frederickson; Columbia Powder Co. (Frederickson);

Workers stand outside the gates of the Columbia Powder Co. in Frederickson rather than reporting to work on the morning of December 2, 1940. Much of the plant had been leveled when, at 7:11a.m., 2,000 pounds of dynamite exploded in the mixing shed of the plant. Four plant employees were killed, but the time of the explosion prevented a greater loss of life. A crew of 65 was due to report to work at 8 a.m. Plant employees would be out of work until the beginning of the year as the mixing plant furnished the raw materials needed for the other plant processes. (T. Times 12/2/1940, pg. 1)

Industrial facilities--Frederickson; Nitrates; Chemical industry--Frederickson; Explosions--Frederickson; Disasters--Frederickson; Columbia Powder Co. (Frederickson);

Boiler at Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing plant.

Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Boilers;

ca. 1940. Pennsylvania Salt Mfg. Co. boiler at chemical plant located in industrial Tideflats. This photograph was taken circa 1940.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Boilers; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1940. Pennsylvania Salt Mfg. Co. Gauges for Boiler No.2. The large chemical producing company was located in the Tideflats, along the Hylebos Waterway.

Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. of Washington (Tacoma); Gauges; Chemical industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950;

New fence around Air Reduction Company and old Peterman Manufacturing Company fence. In June of 1942, Peterman Co. moved to Garibaldi, Oregon, when their Tacoma site was taken over by the government for the expansion of the Seattle Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. In May of 1942, construction began on the Air Reduction Co., an oxygen producing plant. The oxygen was used in the production of vessels.

Factories--Tacoma; Air Reduction Sales Co. (Tacoma); Peterman Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma);

New fence around Air Reduction Company and old Peterman Manufacturing Company fence. In May of 1942, construction was begun on the Air Reduction Company, an oxygen manufacturing company, located at 702 Alexander Ave. Peterman Manufacturing had been located at 600 Alexander Ave. but in June of 1942 they moved to Garibaldi, Oregon. Their location had been taken over by the government for expansion of the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co., 100 Alexander Ave. The expansion was needed due to the increase of wartime contracts during World War II. Oxygen gas was used in large quantities for cutting steel plates in ship building and was also used in welding. The Air Reduction plant was able to support the war effort by producing the chemical necessary for building government vessels, and making it available locally.

Factories--Tacoma; Air Reduction Sales Co. (Tacoma); Peterman Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma);

Photograph of the new storage tanks at the Air Reduction Co., an oxygen producing plant. The plant opened around May of 1942 at 702 Alexander Ave. In June of 1942, Peterman Manufacturing was forced out of its location by the government. The land was needed for the expansion of the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. and its many defense contracts. Peterman, originally at 600 Alexander Ave., relocated to Garibaldi Oregon.

Factories--Tacoma; Air Reduction Sales Co. (Tacoma); Peterman Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Storage tanks;

Photograph of the new storage tanks at the Air Reduction Co., an oxygen producing plant. The plant opened around May of 1942 at 702 Alexander Ave. In June of 1942, Peterman Manufacturing was forced out of its location by the government. The land was needed for the expansion of the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. and its many defense contracts. Peterman, originally at 600 Alexander Ave., relocated to Garibaldi Oregon.

Factories--Tacoma; Air Reduction Sales Co. (Tacoma); Peterman Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Storage tanks;

Railroad boxcar being loaded with plywood sheets.

Industries - Wood Products Industry - Plywood Manufacturing Transportation - Rail Transportation - Freight Shipping