For more than a century, a unique cross-border institution has straddled the line between Stanstead, Quebec and Derby Line, Vermont: The Haskell Free Library & Opera House, where visitors from both countries can freely mix, sharing literacy, culture and friendship. But now, the Trump administration has instituted new rules, restricting access to visitors from Canada.

Derby Line

The Haskell Free Library and Opera House, located on the border between Derby Line, Vermont, and Stansted, Quebec, has served as a symbol of cross-border cooperation for over a century. The building, intentionally constructed to span both countries, has allowed residents and visitors from both sides to freely enter and interact.

Recently, new restrictions have been implemented, requiring Canadians to report to a legal US port of entry before accessing the library's main entrance. This change follows an incident involving the fatal shooting of a US Border Patrol agent nearby and concerns about smuggling and illicit activity in the area. While the library remains open, Canadians must now use a less prominent entrance, altering the spirit of openness that has defined the landmark. Community members on both sides express sadness over the changes but continue to value the library as a shared cultural space.

A cross-border landmark faces restrictive new future

With Lee Cowan, we head north to a most unusual landmark that for more than a century has served as a cultural welcome mat between the United States and Canada. There's still a place where you can walk freely across an international border, no questions asked. The only protest is the squeaking floorboards near the well-worn boundary line painted on the floor. This is the Haskell Free Library and Opera House, a Victorian palace to art, culture and education that actually has dual citizenship. Because part of it sits in Stansted, Quebec, the other half stretches into Derby Line, Vermont. It was the vision of Martha Stewart Haskell, a wealthy Canadian who married a wealthy American. She had it built in 1901 as a gift. What was the point of having it specifically sit across the border? She wanted it to be welcoming to both communities, and at that time, this was family, both sides. American Kathy Converse has been volunteering here for 20 years. She's seen kids and parents. This is the ticket office. Tourists and residents. French speakers and English speakers. All coming and going freely. But this month, it changed. And it's just sort of, I'm going to stick with my one word that I use for the situation, sad. In January, the same day President Donald Trump was sworn into office, U.S. Border Patrol agent David Maland was shot and killed during a traffic stop. It was about 15 miles from the library. A Seattle woman has been indicted for his murder. Hundreds churned out on the streets of Burlington in January to say goodbye. A week later, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem flew to Vermont to pay her respects. She also made a surprise visit to the library. How'd that go? I have to say she was very polite with me. But a few weeks after Noem's visit, Sylvie Boudreau, president of the library's board of trustees, was notified the building's literary loophole was closing. Ending Martha Stewart Haskell's century-old vision of cooperation. Getting emotional, but I don't think she would have thought, you know, because her first mission was really to reunite people, not to divide. Starting this month, Canadians are no longer allowed to use the U.S. sidewalk that leads to the library's grand front entrance. Instead, they have to report to a legal U.S. port of entry first. Welcome to Canada. Welcome to Canada, yep. But in the back of the library, on the Canadian side, was a rarely used emergency exit. They turned that exit into an entrance. Not as welcoming to Canadians as the front, perhaps, but for now, it'll have to do. It's like when you're losing a friend, a dear friend. That's what it feels like. You know, like you backstab me, and it's going to take a while before I forgive you. Canadian Susan Brothwell wasn't about to take a chance. We didn't dare cross that border. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the changes were necessary because of incidents of smuggling and illicit cross-border activity around the library. Around the library? Outside? Yes. We have people crossing often. But it's not because of the library, you know. She should know. Loudreau worked for the Canadian Border Services Agency for 20 years. And to think that the library, because of one little sidewalk, would have that big of an impact on border security, for me, it doesn't make a lot of sense. That's Jody Stone. He's the mayor of Stansted, Quebec. But he's just as well-known in Derby Line, Vermont. If you look at the community, if it wasn't for the borders, you wouldn't know that it was two separate countries. We share water and sewer. Our fire departments come to each other's aid when needed. But we've tried to keep it as open as possible. Take a drive down Canoosa Street, as in Canada-USA Street. So named because the border is essentially that yellow line down the middle of the road. On the American side, signs of support and solidarity. On the Canadian side, a morphing of our two flags into one. I'm proud to be in a community where our neighbors appreciate us as much as we appreciate them. That back entrance will eventually be getting a makeover. A donation box shows that the dollars don't discriminate. Both sides want to make it right. Despite all the noise outside, in here, under the mournful eyes of a massive moose, the Haskell Free Library and Opera House remains a place where no sides are taken. Where differences are celebrated, and where the promises of the past are kept. It's like, you know, it's like, you know, it's like, you know, It's like all that politics and all these rulings don't exist. We are here for all the same thing. It's literacy, culture, and friendship.

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