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U. S. Customs / U. S. Border Station From Divide County History 1974, Crosby, North Dakota The Port of Entry at Ambrose was established in 1907. From 1907 to 1932 the office was located in a small building next to the Soo Line Railway depot. This building is still in Ambrose. It was moved to a lot in back of Mrs. Emil Hanson's home.
In 1932 a new office building and two homes for the officers were built at the border. In 1933 trees were planted west of the buildings. These trees have now grown to a height of 25 feet to 30 feet and serve as a windbreak, as a habitat for several species of birds in summer, and add considerably to the beauty of the port area. The trees were cared for by George Larson who was custodian at the port from 1932 until he retired in 1963. Mr. Larson lives in Ambrose. The port is open for business 13 hours a day, seven days a week. Office hours are from 9 am to 10 pm. Anyone desiring to enter the United States after the port is closed are directed to go to Portal, North Dakota, which is a 24 hour port. The staff at Ambrose consists of one Customs officer, one Immigration officer, and one Custodian. The first Collector of Customs was W. J. Breichman. Vincent Gilloley was Collector of Customs from 1918 to 1960. He retired at that time and moved to Phoenix, Arizona. Dallas Johnson was the next Collector of Customs from 1960 to 1965. He is now a Customs Inspector at Pembina, North Dakota. The present Port Director of Customs is Warren B. Norman. He assumed office in 1965. There have been a number of Immigration officers stationed at Ambrose. Here is an incomplete list: Sam Endicott, Otto Engen; Vern Jackson, Roy Grinnel, George Knutson, Ernest Lampi, and our present Immigration officer, Park C. Montgomery, who came to Ambrose in 1966. Morris Benson succeeded George Larson as Custodian. He has done an excellent job in keeping the buildings and grounds neat and clean and in caring for the trees. Each year he plants flowers around the port, and the wives of the officers cooperate by planting flowers around the homes. This results in the port at Ambrose being considered as one of the prettiest ports along the North Dakota border.
History taken from page 339 of
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