September 30, 2024
A library straddling the international border? A building with two addresses? This one- of-a-kind treasure is the Haskell Free Library and Opera House. The main entrance is in Derby Line, Vermont. It shares the border with Stanstead, Quebec. It was built deliberately on the border to promote community goodwill and serve people in the U.S. and Canada. It opened in 1904 as part library and part opera house.
A thick black line on the floor marks the international border going right through the library. The stage of the opera house and half the seats are in Canada, and the remainder are in the U.S. All visitors must use one entrance on the U.S. side of the building. Canadian visitors are allowed to enter through a special sidewalk route without going through customs, but they must return to Canada using the same route.
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