Congress ponies up money for a federal building in
Richford that includes a Chinese detention center.

News was spreading quickly on January 10, 1906, about a possible building project in Richford. The U.S. House had proposed a bill that would allocate $75,000 to Richford. $10,000 was earmarked for site preparation, with the remaining $65,000 slated for a federal building to house a post office, customs, court, and a Chinese detention center.

During the early 1900s, Richford was a major port of entry from Canada into the U.S., and in fact, was the only Chinese port of entry in all of New England.

Although it would take nearly a decade to finally be approved and completed, the new building went into use in January of 1915.

The Vermont Book Of Days photo.

January Archives | January 11