North Bend Ranger Station

The North Bend Ranger Station is a collection of buildings operated by the USDA Forest Service in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1936, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. The multiple buildings indicate the expansion of Forest Service responsibilities from custodial supervision to extensive resource management.[2] North Bend Ranger Station is considered historic both for its distinctive rustic architecture and for its association with the federal New Deal programs.[3]

North Bend Ranger Station
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
North Bend Ranger Station
Location	42404 SE. North Bend Way, North Bend, Washington
Coordinates	47°29′23″N 121°46′20″W
Area	7.9 acres (3.2 ha)
Built	1936
Built by	Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)
Architect	Multiple
Architectural style	Rustic architecture of USDA
MPS	USDA Forest Service Administrative Buildings in Oregon and Washington Built by the CCC MPS
NRHP reference No.	91000157[1]
Added to NRHP	March 6, 1991

Description

North Bend Ranger Station consists of eight buildings that contribute to the historical designation, as well as eight additional buildings. The architectural style of the buildings is descrbed as "distinctive Pacific Northwest rustic".[3] The historical buildings are:

• The recreation office is a one-story wood frame building, 28 by 55.6 feet (8.5 m × 16.9 m), built in 1936.[2]
• The equipment repair shop is a one-story wood frame building built in 1936 and joined to an adjacent 3-bay shop in 1938.[2]
• The fire office is a one-story wood frame building, 29 by 38 feet (8.8 m × 11.6 m), built in 1937.[2]
• The warehouse is a ​1 ¹⁄₂-story wood frame building, 50 by 50 feet (15 m × 15 m),[2] also known as Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Fire Warehouse[4]
• The crew house is a one-story wood frame building, built in 1936.[2]
• Two residences with garages are both ​1 ¹⁄₂-story wood frame buildings/[2]
• The storage building is a one-story wood frame building, built in 1935.[2]

History

The CCC was a federal emergency work program dedicated to the stewardship of America's natural resources which provided work for unemployed young men and used the enrollees to work on conservation projects. Managed by the United States Army, individual camps and work projects were directed by cooperating agencies. The men of Camp North Bend, directed by the National Forest Service, built the North Bend Ranger Station.[5]

The warehouse building is now a visitor information center and an entrance pass sales outlet for Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and other federal lands.[6] The conference hall is used for training, education, and public meetings.[7]

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
2. E. Gail Throop (January 1986). National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: North Bend Ranger Station. National Park Service. Retrieved July 12, 2019. With 30 accompanying pictures within larger USDA Forest Service Administrative Buildings in the State of Oregon and Washington built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
3. E. Gail Throop (September 1984). "USDA Forest Service Administrative Buildings in the State of Oregon and Washington built by the Civilian Conservation Corps".
4. "North Bend Ranger Station, Building 2230, 42404 Southeast North Bend Way, North Bend, King County, WA". Library of Congress. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
5. Ervin, Keith. "A Memento To An Era -- Ccc Alumni Fight To Preserve, Restore New Deal Landmark Of Camp Waskowitz". The Seattle Times.
6. "US Forest Service Ranger Station". Savor Snoqualmie Valley. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
7. "North Bend Ranger Station". The Mountaineers. Retrieved 2019-07-12.