International Boundary markers @ Sumas (Part 1 of 4)

Photograph #1, credited to the Reach Gallery Museum, Abbotsford, B.C.

http://www.thereach.ca/photo/p5621

 

 This is great photograph from the Reach Gallery Museum showing the old Boundary Marker which signified the International Boundary between the United States and Canada, at Sumas.

The following information is found on the International Boundary Commission website http://www.internationalboundarycommission.org/products.html

"The International Boundary Commission was established 4 June, 1908 by a treaty signed between the United States and Great Britain.  (Great Britain acted on behalf of Canada).  The two countries, at that time, appointed geographers/surveyors to act as Commissioners.  Their purpose was to accurately define and mark the border between Canada and the United States.  The Commissioners were expected to refer any disputes regarding the boundary to the American and Canadian governments.

 

In 1925, another treaty ratified the agreement between Canada and the United States empowering the Commissioner's to maintain the boundary. They were charged with keeping the boundary clear of vegetation in a 20' wide swath and building identification markers.   This is still the longest shared border between two countries. It runs from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from the Pacific up to the Artic. (According to Wikipedia, the terrestrial boundary is 5,525 miles long which includes 1,538 miles of border along the Alaska/Yukon frontier).  Canada's official motto seems quite appropriate..."A Mari usque Ad Mari!" ("From Sea to Sea!")

 



 Photo #2...taken by Deborah Morgan, 28 March, 2014

Photo #2 shows a wonderful antique, porcelain plate (from my personal collection) commemorating the first Sumas International boundary marker.  The image on the plate depicts the same boundary marker that is in photograph #1.   This plate is dated by appearance and style to be circa 1910 to 1915.  The only mark on the back reads "Made in Germany"  .

Photograph #3 taken by Deborah Morgan, 28 March, 2014

 This is a close-up of the image on the plate shown in Photo #2. 

 

Thank you for visiting my blog.  The next post will concern the stone marker currently in place @ Sumas/Huntington.  

Third U.S. Border Station (part 3.2 of 3 )

Photograph taken by Burl B. Beane, November 1990, facing SW on a cloudy (rainy?) day.  The southern, wooded slope Moe's Hill is on the right.  The new 4th US Border Station is on left, rear. 

 

I intended to do a posting about the history of the border markers along the border.  However, another picture surfaced that needed to be shared regarding the moving of the 3rd Border Station, this time with the building elevated on the moving dollies.  Interesting!  It is truly amazing that they managed to move the brick building and keep it intact!  The story of the moving of this wonderful, historical building can be found in my post "Sumas Border Station (Part 3 of 3), 24th Mar, 2014".  The building weighed 714 tons on the wheeled carriage!  It would have been really something to see. 

 

My next post will involve the present and past International border markers.  Thanks for visiting my blog.

3rd Sumas U.S. Border Station (part 3.1 of 3)

Posted from the Morgan family collection.

 

 

Just when I thought I have posted all I could regarding the 3rd U.S. border station, a local resident, purchased this great photograph of the building and asked to contribute it to my blog.  This photograph is looking NW with Canada Customs in the distance.  From the age of the cars this appears to have been taken sometime in 1969 or later on a mostly cloudy, wind free day.  

 

Tomorrow I will post regarding the earliest and the current official International boundary markers here in sunny Sumas.   Thanks for visiting my blog!

Sumas, WA - July 1982 - an aerial view of the northern part of Sumas.

 Scanned with permission of and from the collection of Mr. B. Bromley.

 

Photograph #1 is a wonderful aerial view of Sumas, WA, as it was in July, 1982 oriented NNW.  Photograph #2 identifies the main landmarks and business.

 

 

 

 

Key photograph

 

1.  Canadian Border Station

 

2.  United States Border Station

 

3.  Maple Leaf Tavern

 

4.  Elenbaas Feed Store  (The old Gillies Building which was the 2nd Customs Station and O.K.   Garage...(see 30 January, 2014 post)

 

5.  Norman G. Jensen custom broker

 

6.  Duty Free Store

 

7.  "76" gas station

 

8.  American Legion Hall ( Post #212)

 

9.  B & B Tavern with Sumas Drug Store at SW corner of building

 

10.  Unoccupied building (originally the Bowling Alley)

 

11.  St. Anne's Catholic Church

 

12. Wee Drop Inn, later known as Desperado's Saloon

 

13.  Bromley's I.G.A. (2nd store), originally the Sumas Mercantile

 

14.  Barkerville Tavern

 

15.  Elenbaas Feed and Seed Mill

 

16. The eastern slope of  Moe's Hill

 

I will be referring to this picture in future posts as I highlight the individual businesses and landmarks that help tell the story of Sumas. 

 

Thanks for visiting my blog. 

 



 





Third US Border Station - (part 3 of 3)

Photograph by Deborah G. Morgan, March 23, 2014

This is a contemporary view of the 3rd Sumas Border Station taken looking NE.  The front entrance faces west and is located 1 1/2 blocks S of the international boundary.  The light blue building that can just be made out behind the hedge on the extreme left side of the picture is the American Legion (Post #212).

January 1988 brought forth rumors of major change to the scenery at the border crossing at Sumas.  It was announced that the grand old Border Station was no longer adequate to house the federal offices.  There simply was not enough space to accommodate the growing traffic and activities at the Sumas crossing.  A decision was made to raze the neighboring Maple Leaf Tavern, the Elenbaas Feed Store across the street (which was, from 1914 to 1932 the 2nd Border Station and OK Garage...see post for 30 Jan, 2014 ) and Norman Jenson's Broker Office.   The City was given an opportunity to move the 3rd Border Station as it was listed on the Register of Historic Places.  

Plan was to sell the station for $1 to the city of Sumas and move it to the City Park on Third Street between Cherry Street and Sumas Avenue.   The ground floor was to be turned into the city library and the top floor would consist of meeting rooms for the City.  However, the cost for the moving and building conversion was beyond what the city could afford.   A new foundation for the building would cost $90,000 and the federal General Services Administration, who were giving away the building, by law could not spend money on non-federal property. So suddenly everything came to a standstill.  The GSA determined that the only option was to tear down the old building.

This developed into a desperate attempt to save the building.  However, a little bird saved the day.  The Vaux's Swift is an unique, local little bird that prefers hollow Douglas Fir trees and other forest snags to roost for the night.   Unfortunately much of their habitat has been lost and in response they seek out shelter in urban brick chimneys.   They roost on the vertical rough surfaces of the brickwork.  There are not many places available for the little birds and the Sumas old Border Station is one of their sites.

There was an outcry from the Audubon Society and then the Sierra Legal Defense Fund stepped in and threatened to sue if GSA continued forwards with the demolition of the old building.  There was a lot of support to save the old building and the roosting place for the little birds.

Finally Clifford Moon, of Moon Construction from Seattle stepped forward and was determined to save the building.  He was the lowest bidder for either tearing down the building or moving it.   He decided to do the right thing. 

According to the Sumas Astonisher: 
  "The move was of epic proportions!  The building was placed on eight dollies front and rear.  Each dolly had eight wheels which made a total of 128 tires.   The building weighed 714 tons.  The power to move the building came from a heavy oil-rig truck which was cabled to the building and its brace trucks via eight pulleys.
    On the journey to the building's current location, the lead 16 wheels sunk a foot or more into the soft soil at the edge of the road and ruptured the water main to the American Legion Hall.  The next morning, the movers, J.W. Dent and Co. of Seattle, saved the day by hydraulically retracting the sunken wheels and placing steel plates underneath, then re-extending the wheels."

The beautiful building stills stands in its final location and has numerous office spaces for rent. Her vintage good looks have been nicely restored. Consider visiting this wonderful historic building at 115 Harrison Street, Sumas, WA., halfway between Sumas Avenue and Cherry Street.

Photograph taken by Deborah G. Morgan, March 23, 2014

A front on photograph looking east at the 3rd Sumas Border Station.

Photograph taken by Deborah G. Morgan, March 23, 2014.

This is the buildings dedication plaque. It is visible in the above picture under the right hand window.

 

 Photograph taken by Deborah G. Morgan, March 23, 2014

The architectural detail on the beautiful windows on the west side of the building.

 

Thank you for visiting my blog today.  Tomorrow, a cool aerial view of north Sumas from July 1982!. 

 

 

 

 

 

3rd Sumas Border Station (part 2 of 3)

 Photograph taken by Burl Brooks Beane (circa 1970) from a location on the International boundary, looking S.  The building behind and to the left of the Border Station is the Maple Leaf Tavern that faced E onto Cherry St.

Photograph taken by Burl Brooks Beane (circa 1968) from a location just south of the International boundary looking SW.  The building on the right side of the picture is the Elenbass Feed & Seed Mill.  Behind the mill can be seen the south slope of Moe' Hill.
 The skiers still wanted to cross the border even when the roads were impassible.  

Photograph taken by Burl Brooks Beane (circa 1972) from a location looking NW at the Border Station toward Canada.  Vehicle under inspection by Customs Officer and K-9.

 

The Sumas Border Station (built 1932, see 19 March Post) was a landmark building in Sumas for many years.  It served as the office for the U.S. Customs and Immigrations personnel.  This building was witness to many travelers heading to the United States from Canada. 

 

 

Arthur J. Moe (of Moe's hill fame) was Deputy Collector In Charge from 1927 until late 1960.  He witnessed many changes to the local border crossing.  During Arthur's time, Border Station I and II(see 31 Jan Post) were in use.   Burl Brooks Beane replaced Arthur as Deputy Collector in Charge starting in 1961. In 1965, the top job title changed to Port Director.  Burl was involved during the Hippie Era and the drug culture which grew from it.  When Burl retired in 1976, Daryl Barnes took over as Port Director.

 

The end of World War 2 brought many changes to the port.  The Alaska Highway had been constructed by the U.S. Army and was joined by the John Hart Highway in Northern British Columbia with an improved highway in the Fraser Canyon.  This construction provided a direct route between the west coast and Alaska with the Port of Sumas being the logical crossing. 

 

'Lynden Transport, a local firm, pioneered a trucking service to Alaska and soon secured contracts which included the U.S. mail.' (pers. comm. B. Beane, 1976)

 

June 1, 1949 , the Sumas Border Station, which was previously closed daily from midnight to 8am, became a 24 hour port. 

 

The construction of Ross Dam between 1937 and 1949 (approximately 60 miles E of Sumas) brought a growth of traffic through the port

 

Customs Guards were designated Port Patrol Officers in 1947 and given more opportunities for search and seizure. This resulted in a sharp increase in the discovery of both illicit drugs and merchandise.

 

The 1960s and 70s brought an increase to the drug culture and smuggling was prevalent.  These times brought protests, rock festivals and free spirits.  For the Customs and Immigration Officers this presented a whole new set of challenges.

 

"The second floor of the Border station used to be the office (for support staff) with holding area (jail cells) first by the U.S. Customs Patrol and then by Customs and Immigration.  The basement had a large walk in safe.   Outside in the back of the building next to the car impound garage was an incinerator where they burned seized items." (pers.comm. H. Stokes, retired Sumas Customs Officer)   

 

As a child I remember visiting my father (Burl Beane) at the office.   I remember that when entering the front door, his office was to the right.   To the left was the immigration office.   I also remember the yellow insignia by the front door designating the building as a fallout shelter in case of nuclear war. 

 

In the next posting we will discuss the community's fight to save the grand old building, it's ultimate fate and the 'swallows that return to Sumas'. 

 



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.