Beebe Plain, Vermont facts for kids

Heading west on Canusa Street. The yellow line on the road shows the border. Houses on the left are in the US, and houses on the right are in Canada. Both sides are part of Beebe Plain.

Beebe Plain is a unique community that sits right on the border between the United States and Canada. It's located in Vermont, USA, and also stretches into Quebec, Canada. This means some homes and businesses are in one country, and others are just across the street in another! The Canadian part of Beebe Plain used to be its own town until 1995.

Where is Beebe Plain?

A US Border Patrol vehicle at the US-Canada border in Beebe Plain.

The border between the United States and Canada actually runs right down the middle of a street called Canusa Street. People often tell a fun story that some early mapmakers, who might have been a bit tipsy, decided to draw the border right through the village. They were supposed to put the border at the 45th parallel north, but they ended up making Canusa Street the dividing line.

Beebe Plain is part of a group of border towns. These include Derby Line, Vermont and Stanstead, Quebec. You can find Beebe Plain near Lake Memphremagog. It's located between the cities of Newport in Vermont and Magog in Quebec.

What is Beebe Plain Known For?

Beebe Plain is famous for its special type of stone called Beebe granite. It's also known as "Stanstead Grey Granite." This granite is very popular for building designs. It's also used a lot to make gravestones and memorials. Making granite is one of the biggest industries in this area.

A Quick Look at History

The village of Beebe Plain was started around the year 1798. It was founded by a person named Thomas B. Beebe. He was born in Windsor, Vermont, in 1776.

Fun Trails and Paths

A long time ago, a train track called the Massawippi Valley Railway used to run through Beebe Plain. It connected Lennoxville, Quebec to Newport, Vermont. This train line was removed between 1989 and 1991.

Today, many parts of the old railway path are used for fun outdoor activities. You can find several trails for biking and walking:

• The Newport Bike Path goes from Beebe Plain, Vermont, to Waterfront Park in Newport.
• Le sentier nature Tomifobia is a 19 kilometres (12 mi) trail. It runs from Beebe Plain, Quebec, to Ayer's Cliff.
• The Piste Cyclable de Stanstead is a bike path. It connects Beebe Junction, Quebec, to Stanstead village.
• Another section of the old railway path goes from North Hatley to Lennoxville, Quebec.

Some parts of the old railway line are not open anymore. For example, the section between Beebe's main street (Quebec Route 247) and North Derby Road in the US is closed. This means cyclists have to use Beebe's main street instead. Also, a section between Ayer's Cliff and North Hatley is no longer open.