| Stanstead | |
|---|---|
| — Town — | |
| Motto: Three Villages, One Border — Trois Villages, Une Frontière | |
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Stanstead
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| Coordinates (425, rue Dufferin[1]): | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Estrie |
| RCM | Memphrémagog |
| Settled | 1789-1796 |
| Incorporated | February 15, 1995 |
| Electoral Districts Federal |
Compton—Stanstead |
| Provincial | Orford |
| Government[1][2][3] | |
| • Mayor | Philippe Dutil |
| • Federal MP(s) | Jean Rousseau (NDP) |
| • Quebec MNA(s) | Pierre Reid (PLQ) |
| Area[4] | |
| • Land | 8.8 sq mi (22.70 km2) |
| Population (2009)[5] | |
| • Total | 3,012 |
| • Density | 337.5/sq mi (130.3/km2) |
| • Change (2006-09) | 0.8% |
| • Dwellings | 1,388 |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Postal Code(s) | J0B 3E0, 3E1, 3E2, 3E4, 3E5 |
| Area code(s) | 819 |
| Access Routes[6] A-55 |
Route 143 Route 247 |
| Website | www.stanstead.ca |
Stanstead is a town of about 3,000 people, part of the Memphrémagog Regional County Municipality in the Estrie region of Quebec. Stanstead is located on the Canada-United States border across from Derby Line, Vermont.
The town of Stanstead was created in 1995 by the merger of the former towns of Stanstead Plain, Rock Island and Beebe Plain.
The Haskell Free Library and Opera House was deliberately constructed straddling the border for access for both Canadians and Americans.
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The Tomifobia River runs through the town of Stanstead, dividing the U.S./Canadian border at times. Along portions of Canada's Canusa Street, houses on the southern end of the street lie entirely within Vermont, while their driveways direct northward, and connect to the street in Quebec, as the northern portions of their properties are within Canada. These residents' backyard neighbours are American, while families living right across the street are Canadian, though no noticeable boundary exists between the two (the street itself is entirely within Canada). In other places, the international border runs through individual homes, so that meals prepared in one country are eaten in the other. An entire tool-and-die factory, once operated by the Butterfield division of Litton Industries, is also divided in two by the border.[7]
Prior to merging, the towns of Stanstead, Rock Island and Beebe were known collectively as "Trois villages" or "Three villages."
In 1940, traffic on Quebec Route 143 was halted due to snow from March 22 to April 3. This was the area's main route at the time. Dufferin Heights was most affected. Volunteers helped to shovel out the snow. The snow was so high, that steps were made on the banks so that shovelers could climb up and dump it so it wouldn't slide back into the road. Trains were similarly affected though able to dig out more quickly.[8]
Stanstead Plain was founded in 1796 by Johnson Taplin, who came from New England in search of good farming land.
The Mansur or Red Brick one-room school was built in 1819. It is the oldest one-room school remaining in Quebec.[9] Built in 1795, the former customs house located at 575, Dufferin street, is the oldest Canadian authority building still standing.
The first census was held in 1825.[10]
The town blossomed in the 19th century, due to the influx of United Empire Loyalists and the development of the granite industry. In 1855, the village was incorporated by the Quebec legislature. The town was the main center of commerce of the region through the late 18th century, losing preeminence to Sherbrooke. Stanstead was also at one time the seat of the former Stanstead County.[11]
The railroad reached Stanstead in 1871.[12] Today its tracks have been transformed into bike trails owned by the regional government.
A seminary built here in 1829 became Stanstead College in 1873.[13][14] In 1884, Ursulines opened a convent here which operated a Francophone college.[15] The convent and the school both closed in 2004.[16][17] The word "college" here designates a high school in each case. Starting 2011, the convent became an elders residence named the "Stanstead Manor".
In 1878, the Governor-General of Canada, Lord Dufferin, and his wife visited the town.[18]
Rock Island was settled in 1798 by Samuel and Selah Pomroy from Massachusetts. In 1802, a bridge was built across the Tomifobia River to ease access to Derby Line. The following year, Col. Charles Kilborn built a saw mill and a corn mill, then set up a dam on the river to feed them. A few years later, a channel was dug in the bend of the river. The territory located between the channel and the river was named Rock Island.
Rock Island was incorporated as a village in 1892, and became a city in 1957.
Rock Island is known for the Haskell Free Library and Opera House, deliberately constructed on the international border and opened in 1904. The original owners were a couple with dual nationality; Mr. Carlos F. Haskell was an American businessman from Derby Line who owned a number of sawmills, while Mrs. Haskell was born in Canada. The intent was that people on both sides of the border would have use of the facility, which is now a designated historic site. In recent times, however, after the boundary controls were hardened between both countries, Canadian citizens need to report to their customs after visiting the building.
Another famous native of Rock Island is Henrietta Banting (1912-1976), the wife of Frederick Banting, co-discoverer of insulin in 1922. The Bantings donated some land to the town, and the municipal authorities recognized them by naming a public park in their honor in 1981 (located on the north side of Notre-Dame Ouest Street going westbound towards Dufferin).
It is also the home of the Dairy Association Company, the manufacturers of Bag Balm.[19][20]
The Butterfield factory closed in 1982 after a lengthy strike by Canadian workers.[21]
Beebe Plain was colonized about 1789 by Zeeba Beebe of Connecticut. A saw mill was established as the town’s first business in 1863. By 1869, Beebe Plain had a church, two stores, a post office, a customs post and some houses. The village separated from the Canton of Stanstead and became a separate municipality. From 1874 to 1935, a Chautauqua-style holiday resort, including a meeting hall, a dining room and about thirty country cottages, attracted thousands of people, mainly Americans from New York and Boston. The granite industry is the major force in the area’s economic history.
A building located at 3, Principale (Main St.) is in similar state to the Haskell Library - a line runs through its north aisle. In this case, however, Canadian citizens are not allowed to access the building without reporting to the U.S. customs first, and then to the Canadian customs if going back.
Access to homes on Canusa Street is made through the Canadian border. U.S. citizens residing there have to report to their customs if traveling south, and to the Canadian customs if traveling elsewhere in Beebe.
The town of Stanstead was created in 1995 by the merger of the former towns of Stanstead Plain, Rock Island and Beebe Plain.
The Canadian side of the former Butterfield building is being used by small industrial businesses, such as the Sealander Waterworks as a demonstration plant for renewable energy.[22]
Stanstead College is located here.
The Haskell Free Library and Opera House has an international border line painted on the floors of the building. Another landmark is Centenary United Church.
Drinking water for the adjacent towns of Derby Line and Stanstead, is pumped from wells in Canada, stored in a reservoir in the United States and distributed through a system maintained by Canadians. Derby Line’s sewage makes a cross-border trip for treatment.[23]
The Stanstead Journal, an English-language weekly newspaper founded in 1845, is still published.
There is a curling club which recruits members from both sides of the border.[24] A new ice arena will be built in Stanstead and completed by 2011. It will be named in honor of former NHL coach Pat Burns.[25]
| Ogden / Stanstead-Est | ||||
| Ogden | Stanstead-Est | |||
| Stanstead (town) | ||||
| United States Derby, Vermont |
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