Canaan–Hereford Road Border Crossing facts for kids
The Canaan–Hereford Road Border Crossing is a special place where Canada and the United States meet. It connects the small towns of Saint-Herménégilde, Quebec in Canada and Canaan, Vermont in the US. This border crossing is found where Quebec Route 141 and Vermont Route 141 roads join.
This crossing is open 24 hours a day for regular travelers, like families in cars. The buildings used by both the US and Canadian border agencies are quite old. They are some of the longest-serving buildings of their kind. The US border station even became a recognized historic place in 2014.
Where the Border Crossing Is Located
The border between Vermont and Quebec is mostly a straight line from east to west. This specific crossing is located west of a small stream called Leach Creek. It's 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) from another border crossing, the Beecher Falls–East Hereford Border Crossing.
The Canadian Border Station
The Canadian border station is located a short distance north of the actual border line. You can find it on the east side of Quebec Highway 141. This station helps people and goods enter Canada safely and legally.
The United States Border Station
The United States border station is about 700 feet (213 meters) south of the border. It sits on the west side of Vermont Highway 141. The building is made of brick and has a classic style. It has a sloped roof and looks like a house with one and a half stories.
On each side of the main building, there are garage-like sections. These have lower, flat roofs. A metal canopy covers one lane of traffic. This protects cars and officers during inspections. The inside of the building is set up with one side for checking people's travel documents and the other for inspecting goods.
This station was built in 1933. It was part of a big plan by the US government to make its land borders more secure. At that time, more people were traveling by car. There was also a need to control people trying to enter the country without permission. The government also wanted to stop the secret movement of certain goods across the border.
This station was one of the first of its kind built in Vermont during this time. It looks similar to other border stations from that period. It is one of ten such stations from the 1930s that are still standing in the state.
