WCP Solutions, 95 Years, 1930 - 2025
On March 1st, 2025, WCP Solutions celebrates 95 years of service and innovation. Since 1930, we’ve grown from a small family business to a trusted partner for industries across the West Coast. This milestone reflects our commitment to providing reliable solutions, building strong relationships, and supporting the communities we serve. Thank you for being part of our journey!
Pre-1930
WCP founder Richard “RA” Abrams was born in Oshkosh, WI.
During his teenage years, Richard gained valuable experience in various roles, starting as a court reporter and later as an attorney’s assistant, where he developed excellent typing skills that became a valuable asset in his career. He also attended Oshkosh Teachers College for two years, furthering his education, before working in an assay office in Minnesota’s Mesabi Range, one of the largest iron ore mining regions in the United States.
Richard enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War I and served on the Adjutant General’s staff at Camp Lewis, a major training facility in Washington state that played a key role in preparing troops for service.
Historical Event: The 19th Amendment granted women in the United States the right to vote.
After the war, Richard balanced work and education, attending evening bookkeeping classes at Seattle College and completing a correspondence course. He took on various jobs, including shoveling coal at the Lake Union power plant, leasing and operating a hotel on Bainbridge Island, and managing an Oriental rug store.
Pop Culture: Steamboat Willie, the first synchronized sound cartoon, introduced Mickey Mouse and revolutionized animation.
Historical Event: The Great Depression began with the stock market crash, leading to widespread economic hardship and unemployment across the United States and beyond.
Richard’s final role before founding West Coast Paper (now WCP Solutions) was liquidating a paper company that had closed due to the hardships of the Great Depression. Successfully completing this task in February 1930, he built key relationships during the process that proved instrumental in establishing his new company.
1930s
WCP Solutions was founded on March 1, 1930, by Richard Abrams in Seattle, WA. The company started by supplying packaging materials like brown wrapping paper, tying twine, and bags to merchants in Seattle’s Pike Place Market and International District. Richard’s wife, Amelia, along with a trusted colleague, played key roles in the early success of the business, shaping the customer-focused approach that continues to define WCP Solutions today.
The company was never a one-person operation and grew quickly; by the end of 1930, the team had expanded to six salespeople and relocated to a warehouse in Seattle’s SoDo district.
In 1933, a pivotal connection was established with Butler Paper Company, marking WCP’s entry into the fine printing paper business. This partnership laid the foundation for a key segment of the company’s operations, expanding the product offerings and strengthening our presence in the industry.
The company experienced steady growth in its early years, culminating in 1935 with the leasing of an entire building at 4th Avenue South and Holgate Street, further solidifying its footprint in Seattle. That same year, West Coast Paper was officially incorporated for the first time, coinciding with the introduction of Washington State’s sales tax.
1940s
West Coast Paper formed a new affiliate in Portland, OR in 1940, later sold to Al Weisenborn, who continued that business into the 1970s.
Historical Events: 1941 marked significant historical events, including the completion of Mount Rushmore and the attack on Pearl Harbor, which thrust the United States into World War II.
Allied Paper Company Tacoma formed as an affiliate and was later merged into West Coast Paper Company
Paul Jones Company acquired in 1947, and later merged into West Coast Paper Company in 1949.
The 1949 Seattle Earthquake caused severe damage to the building, nearly demolishing it and prompting extensive rebuilding efforts. This turning point highlighted the company’s resilience and adaptability, shaping its approach to growth and infrastructure. Support from other businesses during this time underscored the strong bonds within the industry.
1950s
Historical Events: 1955 marked the opening of Disneyland in California and the beginning of the Vietnam War, two events that would have lasting cultural and historical impact.
Dick R.W. Abrams, Richard’s son, first joined the company as an official employee during the summer of 1955. After completing his doctoral studies at the Institute of Paper Chemistry in 1963, he returned to the company full-time.
West Coast Paper Company moved to a larger facility at 5001 First Avenue South in Seattle, WA.
Historical Event: Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States, officially joining the Union on August 21 and marking a significant milestone in American history.
1960s
During the early 1960s, West Coast Paper achieved notable success in national contests. The company won a national sales contest with Permacel Tape, earning a month’s use of a chauffeured Rolls Royce, which was used to entertain customers and generate significant publicity, boosting sales across all product lines. Around the same time, WCP earned an award from the National Direct Marketing Association for an innovative promotional campaign featuring postcards of individuals delivering exceptional service. These achievements highlighted the company’s creativity, customer focus, and competitive spirit.
The West Coast Paper Profit Sharing Trust was established, marking a commitment to employees’ financial futures. Years later, the plan was later amended in 1988 to include a 401(k), further enhancing retirement benefits for our employees.
West Coast Paper supported the iconic Seattle World’s Fair, a landmark event that celebrated innovation, technology, and the future during the Space Age. The fair introduced Seattle to the world with enduring legacies like the Space Needle and Monorail. By fostering relationships with customers and the local community, West Coast Paper strengthened its role in a city poised for growth and progress.
(Image 77810, Seattle Municipal Archives)
Historical Event: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic ‘I Have a Dream’ speech on August 28 during the March on Washington, calling for civil rights, equality, and an end to racial discrimination in the United States.
West Coast Paper expanded its operations by moving to a larger facility at 2203 First Avenue South in Seattle, marking another milestone in the company’s growth.
Historical Event: On July 20, Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the moon during NASA’s Apollo 11 mission, famously declaring, ‘That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.’ The historic event captured the world’s attention, with newspapers across the globe featuring bold headlines like ‘Man Walks on Moon’ and ‘The Eagle Has Landed,’ as millions rushed to commemorate the achievement with print.
In the late 1960s, WCP introduced striking new visual branding, featuring bold black and red on a yellow background—a style that continues to influence our creative branding to this day.
1970s
Pop Culture: A year of innovation and entertainment – Wheel of Fortune premiered, becoming a cultural staple across the US. At the same time Microsoft was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. Though it started small, the company soon moved to the Seattle area, where it would grow into a global tech powerhouse, revolutionizing personal computing and shaping the digital future.
Pop Culture: A galaxy far, far away came to life as Star Wars premiered, mesmerizing audiences with its epic storytelling, groundbreaking special effects, and unforgettable characters, forever changing the landscape of cinema and pop culture.
1980s
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1990s
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2000s
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2010s
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