Ruston's Early History
Start reading about Ruston, Washington here. Ruston’s identity, culture, and economy were bound to the smelter.
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ASARCO in Ruston, WA: Community LIfe
From its earliest days Ruston was a close-knit community. Some Ruston residents trace their histories back to the first days of settlement.
Working at ASARCO
For many years ASARCO in Ruston was one of the largest employers in the county, employing 1300 workers at its peak. The smelter’s...
ASARCO's Emissions
Because of its economic importance, residents were generally willing to live with odors and acid rain caused by proximity to the smelter.
WORKER’S CONCERNS ABOUT HEALTH AND SAFETY AT ASARCO
By the 1970’s there were growing concerns about health and safety issues at ASARCO’s Ruston plant. The work was known to be hard and ...
THE TACOMA PROCESS: JOBS vs. HEALTH vs. BOTH
Residents and workers were invited to participate in a difficult decision--to weigh environmental health against economic health, or jobs.
THE STRUGGLE TO REGULATE THE TACOMA SMELTER: 1900-1985
This post describes struggles to regulate the heavy metals that imperiled the health of Puget Sound residents and despoiled the environment.
ASARCO Closes; A Community Tries To Cope
In 1982 ASARCO announced its decision to close the Ruston smelter. Although rumors had circulated for some time, the announcement caught...
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