Canaan–Hereford Road Border Crossing facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Canaan-Hereford Road Border Crossing |
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US Border Inspection Station at Canaan, Vermont
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| Location | |
| Country | United States; Canada |
| Location |
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| Coordinates | 45°00′46″N 71°33′37″W / 45.012666°N 71.56028°W |
| Details | |
| Opened | 1930 |
| US Phone | (802) 266-3375 |
| Canadian Phone | (819) 844-2242 |
| Hours | Open 24 Hours (Canadian station is only open for commercial traffic during business hours on weekdays) |
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U.S. Inspection Station-Canaan, Vermont
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| MPS | U.S. Border Inspection Stations MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 14000601 |
| Added to NRHP | September 10, 2014 |
The Canaan–Hereford Road Border Crossing is a special place where the United States and Canada meet. It connects the town of Saint-Herménégilde, Quebec in Canada with Canaan, Vermont in the US. This crossing is found where Quebec Route 141 and Vermont Route 141 roads join.
This border crossing is open 24 hours a day for most travelers. Both the US and Canadian border stations here are very old buildings. They have been used by border officers for a long time. The US border station was even added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014. This means it is an important historical building.
Where is the Border Crossing Located?
The border between Vermont and Quebec is mostly a straight line from east to west. This border crossing is west of a small stream called Leach Creek. This creek flows into the Connecticut River. The crossing is also northwest of the main part of Canaan village.
Just north of the border is the small Canadian village of Hereford. The area right south of the border in the US is mostly countryside.
This crossing is about three miles (4.8 km) away from another border crossing. That one is called the Beecher Falls–East Hereford Border Crossing. A main office for the US Border Patrol is located between these two crossings. You can still see parts of an old building called the Canaan Line House near the border. It used to be a popular spot during a time when certain goods were not allowed.
The Canadian Border Station
The Canadian border station is located a short distance north of the actual border line. You will find it on the east side of Quebec Highway 141. This station is where Canadian officers check people and goods entering Canada.
The United States Border Station
The United States border station is about 700 feet (213 meters) south of the border. It is on the west side of Vermont Highway 141. This building is made of brick and has two stories, but it looks like one and a half stories. It has a sloped roof.
On each side of the main building, there are garage areas with flat roofs. A metal cover protects a single lane of traffic. This allows officers to check vehicles in all kinds of weather. The front of the main building has three sections. There are large windows on each side of the main entrance.
Inside, the building is set up evenly. One side is for immigration checks, and the other side is for customs. Customs officers check goods, while immigration officers check people's travel documents. Some of the garage areas on the south side have been changed into restrooms.
This station was built in 1933. It was part of a big plan by the United States government to make its land borders safer. This plan was needed because more people were using cars to travel. Also, there was an increase in people trying to enter the country without permission. There was also a lot of smuggling happening at that time. This station was one of the first built in Vermont under this new program. It looks similar to other border stations built around the same time. It is one of ten such stations from the 1930s that are still standing in Vermont.
