Haskell Free Library and Opera House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Haskell Free Library and Opera HouseFrench: Bibliothèque et salle d'opéra Haskell |
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Haskell Free Library and Opera House in 2012
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| Location | Stanstead, Quebec, Canada Derby Line, Vermont, U.S. |
| Built | 1904–1905 |
| Architect | Nate Beach & James Ball |
| Architectural style(s) | Romanesque Revival, Victorian, Queen Anne Revival |
| Official name: Haskell Free Library and Opera House National Historic Site of Canada | |
| Designated | 15 November 1985 |
| Designated | 8 September 1976 |
| Reference no. | 76000143 |
| Official name: Édifice Haskell Free Library and Opera House | |
| Type | Classified heritage immovable |
| Designated | 22 December 1977 |
| Reference no. | 93138 |
The Haskell Free Library and Opera House (French: Bibliothèque et salle d'opéra Haskell) is a beautiful building with a special secret. It sits right on the Canada–United States border! This unique building is found in Stanstead, Quebec (Canada) and Derby Line, Vermont (United States).
It's a Victorian-style building, meaning it was built around the late 1800s or early 1900s. The Opera House first opened its doors on June 7, 1904. It was built on purpose to be on the border. Both Canada and the U.S. have recognized it as an important historic building.
The library even has two different addresses: one in Vermont, USA, and one in Quebec, Canada.
Contents
What Makes the Haskell Library Special?
The Haskell Library and Opera House is truly one-of-a-kind. The library's books and the opera stage are in Canada. But the main entrance and most of the opera seats are in the United States.
Because of this, people sometimes joke about it. They call it "the only library in the U.S.A. with no books." They also say it's "the only opera house in the U.S.A. with no stage."
How Do People Enter the Building?
Everyone who visits must use the entrance on the U.S. side. There is no public entrance from Canada. However, there is an emergency exit on the Canadian side.
Canadians can walk directly into the U.S. entrance without going through customs. They just need to follow a special path on Church Street. They must return to Canada the same way right after leaving the building.
The Border Line Inside
A thick black line runs through the building. It marks the exact spot of the Canada–United States border. You can see it under the opera house seats. It also goes diagonally across the library's main reading room.
The opera stage and about half of the seats are in Canada. The rest of the opera hall is in the U.S. The building even has different postal codes and phone area codes for each country!
Books and Recognition
The library holds over 20,000 books. You can find books in both French and English. It's open to the public for many hours each week.
Both countries consider the building a historic treasure. The United States added it to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Canada named it a National Historic Site in 1985. Quebec also made it a provincial heritage site in 1977.
This special building has even helped families and friends from different countries meet. It became a place for reunions when travel rules made it hard to cross the border.
The History of the Haskell Building
The Haskell Free Library and Opera House was a generous gift. It came from Martha Stewart Haskell and her son, Horace "Stewart" Haskell. They built it to honor Martha's parents and her husband.
Why Was it Built on the Border?
The Haskell family wanted people from both Canada and the U.S. to use the library and opera house equally. So, they decided to build it right on the border.
Construction started in 1901. The Opera House opened in 1904, and the Library followed in 1905.
Inside the Opera House
The opera house is on the second floor. It can seat about 400 people. Some say it was designed to look like the old Boston Opera House. However, the Boston Opera House was actually built later!
The opera hall is beautifully decorated. It has a painted scene of Venice on its main curtain. There are also detailed plaster designs with cherubs (small angels). The building itself was made with very thick walls. They used granite stone from Stanstead, making it strong and grand.
Who Runs the Building Today?
The Haskell family later gave the building to the towns of Derby Line and Rock Island. Today, a special international board manages it. This board has four American directors and three Canadian directors.
Images for kids
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The international border is a black line on the floor of the library's reading room. Canada is on the right, and the United States is on the left.
More Unique Border Places
- Baarle-Nassau and Baarle-Hertog: Two towns with a very complex border between the Netherlands and Belgium.
- La Cure: A village split between Switzerland and France. One hotel there is divided by the border!
- Line house: A general term for any building that sits right on an international border.
