Derby Line–Stanstead Border Crossing facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Derby Line-Stanstead Border Crossing |
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Canada Border Inspection Station at Stanstead, Quebec
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| Location | |
| Country | United States; Canada |
| Location |
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| Coordinates | 45°00′21″N 72°05′58″W / 45.00579°N 72.099323°W |
| Details | |
| Opened | 1909 |
| U.S. Phone | (802) 873-3161 |
| Canadian Phone | 1 800-461-9999 |
| Hours | Open 24 Hours |
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U.S. Inspection Station-Derby Line, Vermont
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| MPS | U.S. Border Inspection Stations MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 14000609 |
| Added to NRHP | September 10, 2014 |
The Derby Line–Stanstead Border Crossing is a special place where the United States and Canada meet. It connects the towns of Stanstead, Quebec in Canada and Derby Line, Vermont in the U.S. This crossing links Main Street (U.S. Route 5) in Derby Line with Quebec Route 143 in Stanstead.
It's one of two main crossing points between these two towns. For a long time, this was a very busy crossing. However, after the Interstate 91 highway and the Derby Line–Rock Island Border Crossing were built in 1965, traffic here became less busy. The historic U.S. station building from the 1930s is now a protected landmark. Both the U.S. and Canadian border stations are open 24 hours a day.
Contents
A Unique Border Town
This border crossing is located right between the villages of Derby Line, Vermont and Stanstead, Quebec. These two villages are built right up to the border line. They have always had a friendly relationship.
The Haskell Free Library and Opera House
A great example of this friendship is the Haskell Free Library and Opera House. It was built in 1904 and sits right on the border! This means you can be in the library in the U.S. and walk into the opera house in Canada. It serves both communities.
Border Rules and Safety
The border itself is a straight line running east to west. Because the villages are so close, managing the border has always been a bit tricky. In the past, people could cross on many different small roads. However, for safety reasons, rules changed around 2009. Now, you can only cross the border between these towns on U.S. Route 5 or Interstate 91. All other small roads that used to cross the border are now blocked off.
The United States Station
The U.S. border station is about 300 feet (91 meters) south of the border. It's on the west side of U.S. Route 5. The main building is a two-story brick building with a sloped roof. It looks like an old, grand house. A covered driveway extends out for cars to pass through for inspection.
Behind the main building, there's a large garage for checking vehicles and a special building for inspecting animals. Because fewer people use this crossing now, only the southern part of the main building is used for customs and immigration. The northern part is now home to the local post office!
History of the U.S. Station
The current U.S. station building officially opened in 1932. It was one of many similar stations built by the U.S. government. This one was the biggest and fanciest in Vermont during the 1930s. These stations were built to make border security better. This was important because more cars were being used, and there was an increase in people trying to cross the border illegally or smuggle goods.
Before 1932, U.S. Customs officers worked out of a hotel nearby. In the 1920s, they even used a rented house as their office.
The Canadian Station
The current Canada border station was built in 1970. The older Canadian border station building is still there, right next to it, but it's now a restaurant!
Just like on the U.S. side, the small streets of Stanstead used to connect directly to the streets of Derby Line. Now, all these local streets are blocked off. This means all traffic must use the main crossing on Main Street. The Canadian name for this crossing was once Rock Island.
Operating Hours and Services
The U.S. station operates from 8 AM to 8 PM, seven days a week. The Canadian station, however, is open 24 hours a day, every day. This border crossing does not handle large commercial trucks or goods.
Near the Canadian station, there's an automated security barrier. When a car approaches heading towards the U.S., a sensor detects it. The barrier then opens automatically to let the car go forward to the Derby Line crossing in Vermont.
