"United States Border Inspection Station, Jackman,
Maine"
By William O. Armitage, architect
Drawn by R.K. Hetcher for General Services Administration, ca. 1963
Watercolor and graphite on paper
27" x 34 1/2" National Archives and Records Administration, Records of the Public
Buildings Service
1960s Modern Federal Buildings: Border
Inspection Station, Jackman, Maine In the mid-to late-20th century, the proliferation
of the automobile, improved highway conditions, increased personal mobility,
and the growth of tourism made border crossings between the United States
and Canada more frequent. The border inspection station at Jackman, Maine,
was one of 48 stations designed and constructed along the boundary between
the two countries during the early 1960s. The small, relatively simple
structures to the left serve as the main inspection and immigration station.
They are of masonry construction with brick veneer which gave a stucco-like
appearance. The structure to the right was a garage and warehouse. Designed
by William O. Armitage, the station is a good example of modern, minimalist
architecture that formed a highly visable landmark. The inspection station
continues in use by the U.S. Customs Service and the Immigration and Naturalization
Service.