The daily lives of a tiny village with a population of less than 1,000 residents that straddles the 45th parallel between Canada and USA have taken a twist in recent months.
On the American side the Village of Derby Line, Vermont and on the Canadian side the town of Stanstead, Ontario, residents on both sides of the dividing line are encouraged to carry official I.D to legally cross over the border. Tensions between the two countries have increased in recent months as a trade war rumbles on.
A row of plant pots across the road that crosses the two countries is now a visible reminder that things have changed for the residents. There is a low obelisk marker that on one side shows USA and the other Canada on the pavement outside of the famous Haskell Library and Opera House. In fact you can return your book to the library in America and you have to cross the border into Canada to borrow a book.
The auditorium of the Opera House on the first floor is also subject to division as the border line crosses amongst the seats. The stage is within Canada and most of the seats are in USA with only a well worn black masking tape along the floor as a visible marker.
The front page of the website to the Haskell Library and Opera House now has an announcement that a Library card is required for Canadians to enter through the USA entrance and if you don’t have one or are a tourist the side door has to be used on the Canadian side.
There is a small border control building on I91 that is open 24 hours a day but ever since ‘9/11’ the regulations for both sides of the border have changed. Road signage and street signs appear in both English and French where the borderline crosses between the two countries.
Visiting Derby Line would make an interesting road trip from Boston or indeed Montreal and is less than a three hour drive between New England states.
USA Road Trips by Max 
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