Construction of the 3rd U.S. Border Station (1932). Part 1 0f 3)

 -photograph scanned with permission from private collection-

The above photograph is dated, 1 March, 1932 and shows the laying of the foundation for the third Customs building.  We are looking NE from a location in what is now the traffic exit lanes just south of the current (fourth) US Customs building and the International boundary (on the north edge of Sumas, WA).  On the left of the picture are dwellings in Huntington, B.C., Canada.  The brick structure with the three brightly framed windows on the right is the Gillies building housing the OK Garage and the soon to be replaced, second Customs house (as seen in my 30 January post).

-photograph scanned with permission from private collection- 

The above picture, dated 1 June,1932, is looking west towards the familiar Sumas landmark, Moe's Hill.  Moe's Hill is the location of many seemingly aerial views of both Sumas, WA and Huntingdon, B.C beginning as early as 1896.  The International boundary runs across the top of the hill. 

 According to Burl Beane (Sumas Customs Port Director 1961-1976) the fine bricks for the Customs house were made by the Kilgard Brick Plant located at Kilgard, B.C. (about 6 miles to the NE).

-photograph scanned with permission from private collection-

The bottom photograph is facing SW, dated 1 August, 1932, shows the US Border Station from a location in front of the Gillies building seen in photo two.  There are signs to the left of the cool car advertising the AAA and Lions Clubs.

According to research of Burl Brooks Beane:

"Construction was started late in 1931. The excavation produced a nightmare of water and mud, due to the hydrostatic pressure which is common in the area. (Sumas has an unlimited supply of excellent water, from artesian wells.)  It was necessary for the builder to add large quantities of reinforcing steel and build on a massive under-ground slab, rather then normal footings.  The station was completed in October of 1932, at what is said to have been a large financial loss to the prime contractor.

Sumas has served another commercial pioneer and while doing so witness interesting changes in construction practices.  A brick company, which is located near-by, in Canada, has developed an impressive variety of building brick, fire brick and other structural clay products.  Numerous designs and sizes of bricks are imported for large building projects on the wisest coast.  

Bricks which are as large as building blocks are popular in schools and other public buildings to avoid additional labor costs of laying small types.

Large hollow bricks which are glazed on one side, in pastel colors, have been widely used to provide the normal outer wall and a finished interior wall in one operation.  In addition to developing advanced designs, the firm is well known for exacting quality control.   The importation of these new commodities have resulted in many classification problems and ruling over the years of there operation."

Look forward to a three part series about this now retired, beautiful building.  It served proudly till 1990 when it was replaced by the current Customs/Immigration facility.  So much has happened during the 82 years it has been a Sumas landmark.

Thanks for supporting my blog.  See you tomorrow.



A birds eye view of Huntington and the Hotel Alexandera

Photograph is credited to the Reach Gallery Museum in Abbotsford, British Columbia

http://www.thereach.ca/photo/p4407

This is a view taken from the top of Moe Hill (just to the west of Huntingdon, B.C./Sumas, WA.) from a position near the international boundary, facing North East. The Reach Museum dates this photograph as from some time between 1910 and 1920.  The view is of early Huntington, British Columbia.  In the foreground running left to right is 'C' St.  In the right foreground can be seen the rear of the famous Hotel Alexandra (as seen in the previous 2 posts).  To the northeast, after the draining of Sumas Lake in 1923, Hops were a major crop cultivated for the Canadian beer industry.

Tomorrow, back to Sumas.



Hotel Alexandria - Huntington, British Columbia - Ca. 1915

Photograph credited to the Reach Gallery Museum, Abbotsford, British Columbia.

The photo description from the Reach Gallery Museum is as follows:  "C Street (now Sumas Way) showing businesses lining the street: Home Bakery and Restaurant and the Hotel Alexandria. Michael Murphy and daughter, Alexandra Murphy, standing in front of the hotel. As a railway terminus and border town it was believed that Huntingdon would become the "Chicago of the West" but drainage of Sumas Lake opened the way for improved road transportation and spelled the demise of the rail systems."

This is an interesting photograph taken on the Canadian side of the International Boundary, across the border from Sumas, WA in Huntington, B.C.  We are looking west and can see the familiar Moe's Hill above and behind the hotel. The buildings that make up Hotel Alexander on C St.are festooned with patriotic buntings and flags.  It might be either Dominion Day or Victoria Day.

According to Wikipedia, Huntington was named after Collis P. Huntington, a Union Pacific Railroad executive.  Collis Huntington was working with the Canadian Pacific Railroad with the intention of connecting the U.P.R. and the C.P.R., so there would be a continuous line from Vancouver to Seattle then onto California.  The Union Pacific Railroad, the Northern Pacific Railroad, the Milwaukee Railroad and the Great Northern Railroad built lines to Sumas with hopes of crossing the border to Vancouver.   As it turned out, only the Great Northern Railroad made the connection to the B.C. Electric Railway (and the Canadian Fraser Valley).

It is fascinating to have Huntington, B.C. so close that it feels like a continuation of Sumas, WA.  However, Huntington has it's own history and sense of community.  Even though the two towns are intertwined with a shared history, one cannot forget the International Border which separates us. 

This is the first of three pictures featuring the Hotel Alexandria (and attached bakery).  I will be posting the second in this set tomorrow night.  See you then.