Richford–Abercorn Border Crossing facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Richford-Abercorn Border Crossing |
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US Border Inspection Station in Richford, VT
as seen in 1936 |
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| Location | |
| Country | United States; Canada |
| Location |
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| Coordinates | 45°00′54″N 72°39′45″W / 45.015071°N 72.662539°W |
| Details | |
| Opened | 1845 |
| US Phone | (802) 848-7786 |
| Canadian Phone | (514) 538-2334 |
| Hours | Open 24 Hours |
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U.S. Inspection Station-Richford, Vermont
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| MPS | U.S. Border Inspection Stations MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 14000605 |
| Added to NRHP | September 10, 2014 |
The Richford–Abercorn Border Crossing is a special place where the United States and Canada meet. It connects the small town of Abercorn, Quebec in Canada with Richford, Vermont in the US. This crossing is found where two roads, Quebec Route 139 and Vermont Route 139, come together. It's located right between the two towns.
A border station has been here in the United States since at least 1926. The current building was built in 1935. It was added to the US National Register of Historic Places in 2014 because of its history. Both the US and Canadian border stations are open all day, every day, so people can cross at any time.
Where is the Border Crossing?
About 300 cars use the Richford–Abercorn Border Crossing each day. It's in a quiet, rural area in northern Richford and southern Abercorn. Vermont 139 and Quebec 139 are like one long road that goes north and south, connecting the two towns. A train track runs next to the road on the west side.
The Canadian border station is right on the north side of the border. Its main building sits between the lanes of traffic. The United States station is about 200 feet (61 meters) south of the border. It's on the west side of the road.
The United States Border Station
The United States border station is a rectangular building with one and a half stories. It's made of brick. On each side of the main building, there are one-story garages with four sections. A metal roof, called a port-cochere, covers the lane where cars stop to be checked.
The main part of the building has three sections across its front. The entrance is in the middle. This entrance leads to separate areas for checking people (immigration) and goods (customs). The windows are rectangular, with brick ledges and decorative brickwork above them. The main entrance has narrow windows on the sides and a window above the door, with a brick arch design. Some of the garage sections have been closed off and are now used for other things. The top floor of the building has two holding rooms and storage space.
This border crossing is the main entry point for the Richford station of the United States Customs and Border Patrol. Their main offices are located in the town of Richford. The current station building was constructed in 1932. Money for its construction came from the Public Works Administration (PWA), a government program.
The new building was needed because more cars were traveling. Also, during the 1920s, a time called Prohibition made alcohol illegal in the US. This led to more people trying to secretly bring alcohol across the border. There was also an increase in people trying to cross the border without proper permission. The building's design, called Colonial Revival style, was chosen to represent American values. This station is one of 13 similar buildings built in Vermont by the PWA. Ten of these buildings are still standing today.
The Canadian Border Station
People have been crossing at this spot for a very long time, even before cars existed. Canada has had a Customs office in Abercorn since 1845. The current Canadian border station building was built in 1966.
