International boundaries are places of abrupt
transition, where a conceptual cartographic line can manifest
itself physically in many ways. Along the US/Canada border, it
is often in the form of a low fence or a cut-line through the
trees, running along the path of the border. If roads head to
the border in a perpendicular fashion, from either side, and
do not hit a natural obstacle like a river, they are usually
blocked by earthen berms, posts, guardrail, or overgrowth. If
the road goes through the border, it usually has an inspection
station, one for each country, on either side of the line.
In the case of the town/s of Derby Line, Vermont/Stanstead,
Quebec, the border runs right through the community, cutting
through the street grid, and even buildings as well, creating
an unusual international zone, where behavior is affected in
some interesting ways.
In the two sided town of Derby Line/Stanstead there are two
streets that cross the line without any checkpoints. Technically,
any time anyone crosses the international line, they are subject
to having to report, in person, to a port of entry inspection
station for the country they are entering. This makes traffic
on the streets that cross the line without a checkpoint, Maple
Street/Rue Ball and Pelow Hill/Rue Lee fairly light, as it is
more convenient to cross at Main Street/Rue Dufferin, where checkpoints
are often set up for “drive thru” service.
Pedestrians on the sidewalk are also technically required to
report as soon as they cross the line. Visiting someone on the
other side of the line, even if the building is next door, means
walking around to the inspection station first, or risk being
an outlaw. Playing catch on Maple Street/Rue Ball would be an
international event, and would break no laws presumably, so long
as each time the ball was caught, the recipient marched over
to customs to declare the ball.
When the international line crosses through a building, a different
set of rules applies. Residents of the small apartment building
in Derby Line/Stanstead do not need to report if they cross the
line inside the building. They only need to report if they leave
out the side of the building that opens on to a different country
than the one they entered the building from. The building’s interior
ends up being an international space, a bubble in the otherwise
nearly infinitely thin international line.
The most prominent building on the line is the Haskell Free
Library and Opera House. It was built intentionally on the border
in 1901, as a gift to the community, and a symbol of international
harmony. The entrances, one leading into the library, and the
other heading up the stairs to the opera house/theater, however,
are in the United States.
And though there are no restrictions on movement within the
building, the placement on the border can lead to complications.
The planning of a recent renovation project at the Library/Opera
House took three years due to the conflicting construction, fire
safety and historic preservation regulations of the two countries.
Some of the public bathrooms, for example, sit on the border
that runs diagonally through the building, and plumbers from
the US and Canada had to be involved to make sure the work met
their respective building codes. A fire escape for the theater
was located on the Canadian side, but had to be recognized by
the Americans, even though it wasn’t in their jurisdiction. If
there were a fire in the opera house, then the evacuees would
have to head immediately to the immigration station up the road.
The line painted on the floor inside the library and opera house
is more than just a novelty. Apparently it was required in order
to show which portions of the structure and furnishings would
be covered by the separate Canadian and American insurance policies.
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