Whenever someone mentions “The Border” in the United States, it is almost natural to immediately think of the country’s southern border with Mexico. Instead, today we are going to take a step back in time and visit Rue Canusa. It’s one of the most unique places on not just the US-Canada border, but on any international border.
Rue Canusa is a Glimpse into the Past
It wasn’t too long ago that crossing the US-Canada border was much more open than it is today. Small border towns became united by the fact that the border ran right down the middle of them. Customs checkpoints were minimal, and in town, you could cross back and forth between the two countries pretty freely. However, both the United States and Canada began to crack down on border security during the second half of the 20th century. As a result, the international border quickly morphed into a divider instead of a symbol of unity in most border communities.
Two communities that seem to have defied the border division over time are the towns of Stanstead, Québec and Derby Line, Vermont. They remain united by Rue Canusa (French) or Canusa St. What makes the road unique is that the international border runs right down the middle of the street. The houses on one side of the street are in Vermont, and the houses on the other side of the street are in Québec. We can take it a step further. When you’re driving down the street, the traffic coming in the other direction is in a different country.
What About Customs?
So I know exactly what you’re wondering, here. How does customs work here? It’s actually pretty simple. Rue Canusa is a Québec Provincial Highway (QC-247). If you’re coming from Canada and staying in Canada (i.e. not going to any of the houses on the Vermont side of the street), you do not need to check in with customs. If you’re doing anything else, you must report to customs. My understanding is that there is a special protocol for people who live on Rue Canusa, but I do not know what it is. Rue Canusa is only about 500 meters in length, so there really aren’t that many houses along it.
Rue Canusa in Photos
Here is short a photo essay of my drive down Rue Canusa. I was heading eastbound, so Québec is on the left side of the street and Vermont is on the right side of the street.
Well, that was a really cool little detour. It’s now after 4 PM, so it’s time to scoot back across the border into the US. Our final stop of this epic adventure is the Haskell Free Library and Opera House.
