The Haskell Free Library and Opera House, which straddles the Quebec-Vermont border, officially opened its new Canadian entrance on Wednesday, marking a significant change in access for visitors from both countries.
New Door in Stanstead, Quebec
The new door opens to Stanstead, Quebec, while the existing entrance remains in Derby Line, Vermont. A black line runs across the floor inside the library to indicate the international border between Canada and the United States.
The building, over a century old, has long been a symbol of cross-border harmony. However, the past eight months have been challenging after the Trump administration ended a long-standing arrangement that allowed Canadians to enter from the U.S. side without passing through customs.
Why Was Canadian Access Restricted?
In October 2025, U.S. authorities cancelled the arrangement that permitted Canadians to use the existing entrance in Derby Line without customs clearance. The decision was announced in March of that year, two months after then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem visited the library and referred to Canada as "the 51st state" while standing on the Stanstead side.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson stated that the change was in response to drug trafficking, claiming that "drug traffickers and smugglers were exploiting the fact that Canadians could use the US entrance without going through customs." However, no evidence of drug trafficking was provided, though in 2018, a Quebec man was sentenced for smuggling handguns across the border, some of which were hidden in the library's bathroom trash can.
Library Prepared for Change
Sylvie Boudreau, president of the library's board of trustees, told the National Post that she had anticipated the change following Noem's visit. "I had already looked into where we could put an entrance on the Canadian side," she said.
This is not the first time Canadian access has been restricted; tighter controls were imposed after the September 11, 2001 attacks and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Adapting to Restricted Access
Since October 2025, Canadians wishing to use the library's main entrance had to present themselves at a port of entry and go through U.S. customs. Initially, a repurposed emergency exit served as a temporary entrance on the Stanstead side. During construction of the new door, visitors had to use a tower with four flights of stairs to reach the Opera House, then go back downstairs and through a staff office to enter the library.
Only library members and staff were permitted to enter directly from Canada, with exceptions for emergency personnel, people with disabilities, school groups, and others.
Creating the New Entrance
The Canadian Door was originally an emergency exit that required extensive renovation to become a suitable entrance. The library's website provided updates on the project, noting that architectural plans were approved by both the Quebec and Vermont governments and Historic Preservation Societies.
The new entrance restores easy access for visitors on both sides of the border, allowing the historic library to continue its role as a symbol of cross-border community.
