Haskell Free Library and Opera House — Attraction in Derby

This was a cool place to visit. It is a working public library as well as an active opera house. This building was built on the Vermont and Canadian border. Inside 1/2 is in the USA and the other 1/2 is in Canada. You can stand in both countries at the same time, the black line on the floor is the actual border. Books are available for check out and purchase. They have a tour for $10 that includes the opera house. Our guide, Natasha was awesome and very knowledgeable about the history. You could tell she really loved her job. It made the experience even better. If you just want to see the opera house part they have a $5 quick peek. This allows you to see the inside of the auditorium without taking the history tour. Outside you have to be careful not to cross the border on the street. There are concrete barriers and there is a small pillar that has the United States on 1 side and Canada on the other side. I was actually able to lean over the barrier and get a picture of the Canada side of the pillar. They do have a Canadian border guard near the barriers, the experience was worth it. If you get a chance visit I recommend it. I'll post interior and...

in 2016 I came up here exploring the library and the legendary piece of tape that acts as a invisible border. I was able to film a little around the library including walk around the public library. Such a beautiful area, I think they removed the flower pots shortly after that. This place is a true connection between the towns from US to Canada. If you do enough research you will discover that borders are unlawful, we live in 2023 people. If I want to visit my family and friends in Canada I should have that right to do so. I feel so sorry for the town of Derby as many business shutdown because no one wants to be watched by US BORDER PATROL. by the way I love the Canadian Border Patrol very kind and gentle and we even spoke french... I don't trust the government and we need to keep this beautiful library alive, willing to donate money... Knowledge is the keeper in our lives!

fun fact: NO GOVERNMENT...

A nice place to comfortably relax and to watch a play when there is a performance. However, visitors should know that this is a small facility primarily serving the needs of people living nearby on both sides of the border. And that, as stated on its website, it is not a border crossing. The entrance is on the U.S. side, so Canadians (and Americans who blunder into Canada) have to go through customs. When it was built, its much ballyhooed location on both sides of the border was more functional than symbolic. That was when no one needed to show anyone anything to travel between the U.S. and Canada. It was also long before 9-11 made a border crossing anywhere difficult, and long, long before COVID for a time made a border crossing anywhere all but impossible. Visitors and staff have no choice but to comply with the laws of both the U.S. and Canada, and must make the best they can of...