Puget Sound Lumber Co. (1901-1930)

This mighty mill (located between Junett and Cedar Streets) was built by James Buchanan (brother of John C.) and ran stiff completion to Danaher/Dickman and the Defiance Mill. In 1905,

Edwin V. Wintermote joined Jim Buchanan as a partner in Puget Sound Mill. In 1909 the mill was completely destroyed by fire. The tugboat “Fearless” carried pumping equipment but was inadequate in water volume to do much good for the mill; it did save all the lumber on the wharf. The mill was completely rebuilt, but was now located more over the water (The new 1909 Milwaukee Rail Line had required moving portions of the first mill).

Within a few years, the new mill had two large moving overhead cranes which ran from the docks, south over the Milwaukee Line (and roadway) to the N.P. tracks. The mill processed big logs for large timbers. James Buchanan (known as “Jim Buck) died suddenly in 1928, and Wintermote continued to run the mill.

In May 1930 fire again hit Puget Sound Mill. This time, Tacoma had a “real” fireboat (built just the year before) but there was bad news: the boat had sustained damage in a crash at its dock two weeks earlier and had not yet been repaired. It had to be steered from the rear in “tiller” fashion, and much of its pumping equipment was not working. The boat and many fire companies fought the enormous blaze but the mill could not be saved. It was not rebuilt but instead razed. The site sat vacant until 1946 when “AD” Cummings built a boat shop at the west-most end. Later (1958) the Harbor Lights Restaurant was built at the site’s east end.

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