Pacific / Leybold-Smith Shingle Co. (1903-1957)

Pacific Mill was built by Fred Johnson and the Hagberg Brothers—Lewis, Andrew and Charles

Pacific Mill was built by Fred Johnson and the Hagberg Brothers—Lewis, Andrew and Charles. The team had a shingle mill (later on in your tour) far down the shoreline, but decided the Pine Street location was more practical; it was closer to Old Town and, before any form of roadway existed along the waterfront, easier for employees to reach. Lewis Hagberg died in 1907, and Andrew and Charles became president and manager, respectively. Later, the “second generation” Johnsons (Carl and Conrad) took positions at the mill.

Pacific Mill was inland of the shoreline, and in 1913 when the planked roadway was built (on the present location of Ruston Way) it left the burner, conveyor and log-ramp on the bay side. The roadway was highly-elevated from Old Town to this point, so it passed over the conveyor and log ramp.

In 1920 the mill was sold to William Leybold and M.R. Smith and it became Leybold-Smith Shingle Co. When Ruston Way was put in, a way was needed to clear the conveyor and log-ramp, so a little wooden bridge was built to go up and over—an antiquated version of the modern thoroughfare. By 1957 the mill was old and tired and it was time to shut it down. The little bridge remained until the end; over the years it had acted as a giant speed bump, slowing cars which sped along Ruston Way in those days. By the end of 1957, the mill was razed and the gap on Ruston Way where the bridge stood was filled in and paved over. Leybold-Smith was the last shingle mill to operate on Old Town’s waterfront.

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