Henry Mill & Timber Co. ( 1925-1945)

This mill was located on the spot today occupied by Jack Hyde park. In 1922, W. Yale Henry and John C. Buchanan purchased property once occupied by the Tacoma Mill Co. then razed the old mill and wharf. The bluff behind was cut away to create a paved roadway—the North 30th Street extension from Old Town, east, to Tacoma-proper.

In 1913-14, the N. P. railroad had put in a double-track “main-line” from Tacoma-proper—which passed the smelter (through a tunnel) and continued south. (The shoreline had tracks-galore). The new Henry Mill had to be built on the North (water) side of the tracks; it was built during 1922-24, but full-time production did not start until 1925, when the entire Ruston Way/30th Street project was finished. The mill was always called “Henry” but the main force behind the business over the years was the Buchanan family (John C. and sons John F. and Donald). In 1929, John C. fell ill, and son John F. took over his position. Later, Donald ran the Henry Mill Fuel Co. which delivered wood and sawdust to residents in Tacoma. (The Buchanans were involved in other mills, which we will come to later).In 1942, a big fire destroyed most of the Henry Mill, but it continued to assemble huge pre-fab trusses during WWII. After the war, the mill was sold to the Tacoma Lumber & Fabricating Co. (Which continued until 1950).

Nerheim, J. N.. The History of Lumber Mills in Old Town. Tacoma, WA. Self-published, 2004.