Riffe Hill AWS Site

I have not been able to find the Section/Township/Range (STR) for Riffe Hill but based on the program map, it was at or near a road today called Riffe Hill Road, just north of Riffe Lake.

This location on Riffe Hill came about midway through the AWS program to replace the nearby Bremer AWS site. Bremer was on private land using a private structure and the lease was canceled. Bremer was deactivated and Riffe Hill activated on September 3, 1943. This new location by September 18, 1943 was in use. The Forest Service had moved an old building from Snoquera to Riffe Hill to use for the observers.

By mid October, all nearby stations supervised by Snoqualmie National Forest were deactivated for the winter and since Riffe was the only one remaining, the Forest Service asked the State of Washington (DNR) to supervise the Riffe Hill observers, using their State own radio net. The Forest Service retained ownership of the improvements and the occupation permit from the Milwaukee Land Company in anticipation of moving the structure to the higher point to the east when it got logged. We have been studying this for some time as a lookout said the Forest Service. Other docs said the Forest Service was continuing to negotiate with the Milwaukee Land Company for the use and occupancy of the site. I believe the radio was installed by Kresek Sr.

In November, 1943, the Army had previously agreed to furnish men to construct the telephone line from Morton to Riffe Hill, and the Forest Service would furnish the materials. It turned out that the Army telephone crew was not available and the Forest Service requested the State to assume the responsibility of building the section of line. Materials with the exception of approximately 200 poles were on hand at the Mineral Ranger Station. The job consists of improving about five miles of the Morton Telephone Companys metallic line and extending the circuit about three miles to Riffe Hill. AWS funds were used to do the job. In December, DNR hired additional labor with AWS funds.

By January 21, 1944, Riffe Hill connected by telephone to Morton. They formerly reported via radio to Olympia. They also kept a radio at this post to relay messages for Kiona and Vanson fire lookouts, providing an alternate means of communication for these two stations when their telephone communication failed, using a frequency that would not conflict with the Olympia network.

On March 25, 1944 the Army requested the inactivation of Riffe Hill as an AWS post on April 1, 1944. They said since Riffe Hill is a fire lookout of the Snoqualmie Forest, the improvements would remain the property of the Forest Service. It asked for their AWS property other than stoves and fire extinguishers be returned to the warehouse for possible AWS use elsewhere. The UHF radio could be installed at one of the posts in the Capital Peak network which was not served with a radio. All army AWS instruction materials from Riffe Hill should be returned to the Seattle Filter Area.

Around April 8, 1944, the Forest Service planned to move the portable cabin at Riffe Hill AWS post now that the post had been discontinued. They wished wish to take the cabin to the Mineral Ranger Station for use in housing short-term employees. It could readily be hauled this 20 miles over good roads to the transport but would require taking a tractor there to skid the cabin to the loading point and load it. The cabin was built on skids. Authority was requested to make this move with AWS funds. The cabin was on private land and the occupancy was limited to six months after the end of the war. The present set-up was not suitable as a lookout station for that would require a tower. A few days later, the AWS department gave the ok to move the cabin using AWS funds, as early as possible.

A May 23, 1944 Report on AWS telephone lines gave this information:
Miles constructed: 4
Miles on: State highway and private land
Terrain: Highway to Post
Recommend: Retain for U.S.F.S. Lookout

A Nov. 1, 1944 Report of Aircraft Warning Service Stations gave this information:
Station is on: Private land with a temporary lease that was canceled.
Status: Newly constructed station with AWS funds.
Recommended for: Salvage
If retained, will be used for: Forest Service
Date Inactivated: April 1, 1944
Remarks: Portable cabin now moved off site and being used at Ranger Station.

So it seems the negotiations did not work to get the property or it was the need to build a tall tower to make the site work. Whatever the reason, it does not look the site was ever used for firefighting purposes.