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Overview

In 1912, the Pacific Ammonia and Chemical Company plant on Lake Union consisted of one large manufacturing building surrounded by about four smaller structures and possibly two storage tanks. This complex was situated on a wooden platform supported by pilings sunk into Lake Union. The wharf that was built into Lake Union was aligned on a northwest-southeast axis.

Building History

This plant for the production of anhydrous and aqua ammonia was to be completed by 05/01/1908. An article in the banking and business magazine, Commercial West, stated in 03/1908: "Because Seattle affords a better market for its products, the Pacific Ammonia Company will remove its plant from San Francisco to Seattle early in May. Through McGraw, Kittinger & Case the company today closed a deal for the purchase of 2 3/4 acres of ground on the shore of Lake Union from C.D. Stimson. Robert P. Greer, manager of the Ammonia company, represented it in the deal. The price paid was $25,000. The Pacific Ammonia Company is one of the members of the National Chemical Company. It will employ 100 men in the plant which is to be in operation by May 1, if the plans of the company are carried out in detail. The removal from San Francisco is absolute. The deal would have been conssummated earlier but for a controversy with Game Warden H. Rief, who objected to the location of the plant on the lake shore because it might endanger the lives of the fish in Lake Union. After consulting authorities it was decided by the parties interested that it is not the purpose of the law to create a fish preserve of a body of water such as Lake Union in the heart of Seattle. Besides this the contention has not been established that the plant will injure fish." (See "To Move to Seattle," Commercial West, vol. XIII, no. 11, 03/14/1908, p. 27.) The game warden mentioned, Henry Rief (born 12/04/1870 in NE), remained active during the 1900s and 1910s in preserving fish and game populations in the Seattle area. After 1920, however, he became a salesman for the Oregon–Washington Railroad and Navigation Company and the Seattle Gas Company.

Another article in the Seattle Daily Times stated in its 05/24/1908 issue: "Announcement is made that the Pacific Ammonia and Chemical Company, which recently purchased a large piece of water front property just north of the gas works, on the shore of Lake Union, will begin immediately the erection of a factory. The architect in charge of the work, Charles Haynes, says that he has been instructed to rush the work as rapidly as possible. The Pacific Ammonia Company is to move its San Francisco plant to Seattle. It has another large plant in Sidney, Australia." (See "Ammonia Plant To Be Built at Once," Seattle Daily Times, 05/24/1908, p. 39.)

According to historian Clarence Bagley: "They are large producers of ammonia used for refrigerating machines and the trade has quickly recognized the exceptional purity of the company's products and their unequaled facilities for manufacturing and shipping. The plant of the company is now an extensive one situated on Lake Union at the foot of Blewett avenue. In 1914 the company built its factory extensions and installed the most recent improvements and innovations in ammonia manufacture. They have a branch warehouse in San Francisco and concentrating plants in Tacoma, Bellingham, Spokane and Aberdeen. They supply much of the trade of the entire Pacific coast from Alaska to South America and also make extensive shipments to the orient."

He continued: "All of the ammonia produced in the United States is obtained from ammoniacal liquors resulting from the distillation of coal, which liquor is used principally in the manufacture of sulphate of ammonia and aqua ammonia. The process employed by the Pacific Ammonia and Chemical Company represents the experience of chemists through more than thirty years. The rapid growth of the fish freezing industry as well as other branches of business on the Pacific coast where ammonia refrigeration is employed make the maintenance of a supply of pure ammonia on the western coast essential. Moreover, the plant has excellent shipping facilities both by rail and water. It is situated on Lake Union, in the heart of Seattle, and the low temperature of the lake water for condensing purposes is one of great advantage. The plant has a capacity of five million pounds of 26° aqua ammonia and one million pounds of anhydrous ammonia per annum. In order to readily meet the demand of its trade the company in addition to having concentrating plants in the cities above mentioned has established stock points at San Francisco and Los Angeles, California, at Portland, Oregon, and at Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia, while supplies are also maintained in various oriental points, including Yokohama and Kobe, Japan, Hongkong, China, and Manila." (See Clarence Bagley, History of Seattle from the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Volume 3, [Chicago:S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1916], pp. 735-736.)

Building Notes

From at least 1901-1920, Robert F. Greer was the Manager of the Pacific Ammonia and Chemical Company's Seattle Factory. The publication, History of Seattle from the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, stated: "Mr. Greer has been manager of the business since 1901 and the success of the undertaking is largely attributable to his efforts." (See Clarence Bagley, History of Seattle from the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Volume 3, [Chicago:S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1916], p. 735.)

Alteration

An addition was made to the plant in 1914.

PCAD id: 18851