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Newsgroups: fido.eur.genealogy
From: Kp Man 
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Subject: New York City Entry Points By Year
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Date: Mon, 02 Apr 2001 03:40:15 GMT
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New York City Entry Points By Year: 

Aug.1, 1855 - April 18, 1890 Castle Garden 
April 19, 1890 - December 31, 1891 Barge Office 
Jan. 1, 1892 - June 13, 1897 Ellis Island 
June 14, 1897 - Dec. 16, 1900 Barge Office 
Dec. 17, 1900 - 1924 Ellis Island  

The State of New York opened the very first examining and processing center for
immigrants in 1855, Castle Garden, on an island off the southwest tip of
Manhattan. Immigration remained purely an affair of State, not federal,
government until 1875. In that year Congress asserted its Constitutional
prerogative to legislate immigration affairs by passing a law forbidding entry
into the USA of criminals and women "brought for lewd and immoral purposes". 

From 1875 the reception of immigrants was handled as a joint State/Federal
system. The Secretary of the Treasury signed a contract with the New York State
Commissioners of Emigration to continue its services at Castle Garden. On April
18, 1890, the Secretary terminated the contract and the Treasury Department
assumed total control of immigration at the Port of New York. The New York State
authorities refused to allow the federal government to use the Castle Garden
facilities. 

On April 19, 1890 the US set up a temporary center in the old Barge Office near
the Customs House on the southeast foot of Manhattan. Ellis Island opened on
January 1, 1892. On June 14, 1897 the original wooden structure burned to the
ground. ALL administrative records for Castle Garden for the period 1855-1890
and MOST records for the Barge Office and Ellis facilities were lost. [Ships
passenger lists still exist as these were in the custody of other agencies] The
barge Office was reactivated and used until the new Ellis Island facility opened
on December 17, 1900.  

By Stephen J. Saviello.  1997
Includes information obtained by Gay Raab. 


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