Estcourt Station: American Homes With Canadian Driveways
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- Опубліковано 27 сер 2024
- American House with a Canadian Driveway...
Welcome to Estcourt Station, Maine!
At the top of Maine - literally, the top - there’s a row of about a dozen American houses that sit on a Canadian street. That sounds weird because it is. People in Estcourt Maine cannot technically exit their driveways without passing it by border patrol.
Estcourt Station is the northernmost point of New England and the Eastern US… we know that now. But for a long time after the US broke from Britain, the Maine-Canada border was ambiguous, and both the US and Canada (which was part of Britain at the time) gave land grants to citizens in parts that the other claimed. Villages existed on both sides and in between. Including Estcourt, which was tucked against the lake right outside the Canadian town of Pohenegamook (did I get that right?).
The US & Canada finally got their act together in 1842 when they signed a treaty that exactly confirmed the Maine border. To resident’s surprise, it turns out that the true border went through their houses, yards, even mailboxes.
One specific row of houses is mostly on American soil, but fronts a street that lies in Canada. That street, now known as rue de la frontier (or border street), provides the only road access to and from these homes. There are no usable roads on the US side - it’s hundreds of miles of dangerous logging tracks that go nowhere.
Regardless, people in Estcourt seemed to carry on and no one really watched too closely. Until 9/11, when both countries became decidedly more vigilant about protecting the border.
That’s had some crazy and unfortunate consequences. In 2002, a Canadian name Michel Jalbert (yes I know the accent is horrible, at least I didn’t say Michael Jalbert right?) drove to the local gas station on the US side to fill up, he was arrested and jailed for illegally crossing the border in what became an international incident. The gas station was barely 100 feet off the Canadian street but on the US side, and border control where he was technically supposed to check in was a few more 100 feet down the road. The story’s a bit more involved bc Michel had a minor prior conviction and a gun in his car, but he ended up spending weeks in jail and can never enter the US again, even if he’s on empty.
After that, things in Estcourt got more tense. Canadian Snow plows refused to clear American driveways, residents would drive on the shoulder of the road to ensure they were in the right country, and neighbors wouldn’t come over for dinner if the border station was closed. The gas station eventually shutdown and most people moved away. Canada border patrol reports that no one lives there permanently anymore, but the 2020 US Census gives it a population of 4.
Apparently most of the houses are Canadian owned now and border agents consider residents in Canada when they’re on their property. Interestingly, homeowners pay pro-rata taxes to both Quebec and Maine, and the houses are one of very few American places that have Canadian area codes. There’s reports that a few Americans still spend summers there. If they do, they can only really go out when the border station is open, that would be weekdays 9-5, closed on weekends, holidays, and Canadian Labor Day. (show hours on US website).
Thx for exploring w me. - Map Nerd
#estcourt #maine #quebec #border #geography #map #uscanadaborder
Imagine living in a world where dumb stuff like this happens… oh wait.
see also: entire middle east conflict post 1920's partition
What's even dumber is the southern border is wide open
Imagine if they just had enough common sense to cede the land over ti Canada or give all the residents dual citizenship.
Dual cit wouldn't help. You still need to check into each border passing whenever you want to leave.
The best solution is for Canada to sell the land to maine seeing they only got like a 20 feet wide stripe of dirt because some dipshits didn't want to follow the water way.
Then again water ways are constantly moving so....
@@Thekilleroftanks They are mostly canadian houses so why give them to the states? Give the couple houses over to Canada.
The problem is that once you do this to Estcourt, you have to do this to every
Single. Exception. Its just too complicated
@@rufinomedado3184 No problem and not complicated at all. Just give Canada all of that land and population. Hell, it is to slowly happening anyway. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
@@rufinomedado3184 Yeah but the only reason it's complicated is because the bureaucrats decided it should be. Give me 6 months and the power to do it and I'd straighten all this out and fix just about every problem and edge case similar to this one.
I think the best course of action here would be for the US to lease the properties to Canada. They would function as Canadian soil while remaining property of the US, similar to an embassy.
Don't be crazy that is a completely reasonable and simple solution between two nations with one of the longest track records of friendly interactions in history. Politicians can't simply be reasonable!
I honestly think Canada should just give the road to the US, those are still United States citizens.
Never mind didn't see the last part. Honestly the people living there are Canadian just give it to the Canadians
@@SirTravis-vn6yp yes they should.
just redraw a little bit of land over. it's not much land or property anyway.
Embassies don't function as soil of the ambassador's nation though. That's a myth. They're part of the hosting nation but the hosting nation can't send police in without invitation.
the US and Canada need to get their act together and sort out these issues.
sadly political people are babies; can't THINK; even real babies would know how to create a proper border
But the U.S. and Canada seem to take more of an “agree to disagree” stance towards their borders, especially compared to how other countries’ borders are disputed.
Can't, unless they agree to form like shengen area
Most politicians don't care because these border issues like Campobello Island, Point Roberts, and the Northwest Angle that cause huge inconveniences for people only affect a little over 1200 people and are generally obscure to the wider public.
Ya maybe, but I think there's a couple hundred things more important than this to fix.
They really looked at this mess of a situation, said "that's what's up", refused to fix anything, and forced everyone to just up and leave
Sounds like it's better for the US just to cede the land over to Canada but I'm sure there are a thousand arguments as to why that sets a bad precedent.
It isn't the first time both nations traded land to avoid headaches like this.
The more logical conclusion would be to annex Canada 😂
@@rooooooby the white house is a pretty nice building, it would be a shame if it was, burnt down, *cough* again *cough*
@@rooooooby gl getting the uk's approval (you know, daddy britain)
None of them are good arguements. Ceding land for practical reasons just makes sense, unless you have patriot brain.
I feels bads for the guy that just needed gasoline.
Banned from the US for life??? stupid af honestly
@@levinszki i thought he said he just hasn't re entered USA since then. I bet he's always subject to search and seizure(s).
@@SpitefulAZ No, they said he was banned for life
Just imagine having to get your passport stamped every time you leave your house. Then when you go anywhere else internationally having to explain this. Would just look so shady.
You don't get your passport stamped as an American or Canadian when crossing the US/Canada border.
Maybe they all have Nexus or Global Entry cards if they have to cross the border that frequently.
Yes you do. @@antikommunistischaktion
It wouldn't look shady at all to cross the us-canada border daily. I live in Detroit and I know many people who commute to work in windsor and vice versa
And you don't need passport to cross us-canada border by land or sea
So the US was overly hostile to harmless neighbors and destroyed a small community because of it... litterally pathetic
That’s the US for you
Blame George w bush and the republicans.
Psssst Canada also tightened up its borders post 9/11 it's not just the US. European moment.
@@pauls4522No, I think that if 9/11 happened under Gore, the same sort of thing may have happened, since the U.S. as a state rather than any political party was under threat. Though the U.S. could have done better at demarcating its border.
Welp, that's us Americans. We go from nothing to the other extreme whenever anything like this happens.
Hearing you pronounce Pohénégamook made my day
I forgot how to pronounce the word and I ended up panicking internally and saying “Raphael” I’m deeply ashamed of myself 😅😭😂
How to destroy a town over an OCD-style technicality. This is all literally a high level of oppression.
Very well said.
It was never really much of a town to begin with.
@touqasbonquishes9781dude a guy was arrested for trying to live his fucking life it's pathetic
Wow what a nuisance to live there. Sounds like that’s something would happen to me growing up. Not yet perfect but not yet the worse(since owning a house is impossible rn)
imagine having to pass a border patrol security checkpoint every time you go take a crap
Boarder Patrol: What is the reason for your visit to our country?
Home Owner: I’d like to take a dump.
Do you need customs papers and an inspection by Maine DACF when you serve dinner from the Canadian kitchen into the US dining room? 🤣
If the house has only one postal address, then it may not matter, but I’m no expert in this topic.
...Why did that arrest feel like a lawsuit waiting to happen? I know it never did happen, but it felt like it could have...
exactly, banned from the US for life??? that's ridiculous.
Glad to live in the Schengenzone.
yepp
glory to the Schengen, glory to the EU.
@@Sednaslol eat ze bugs
Consider Stewart British Columbia and Hyder Alaska, which are about couple of miles apart. The only road to Hyder is in BC, running to Stewart. Both hamlets are accessible by water. Stewart has about 500 people and Hyder about 50.
Imagine driving to work, but when you pull out of you driveway, you say you're gonna be late cause you're in another country 💀
"Hey man can you come over I need help with my homework"
"Yeah alrighty lemme just check in with border patrol
...Sorry man, no can do. Border patrol office is closed😒
Perfect example of government officials, on both sides, settling disputes to suit themselves without consideration of their constituents
Man if you ever felt like doing a follow up video with as many small details about life there and how the laws work with the border patrol (i.e. does it.mean you literally can't go outside or to the store if you don't check in??) And maybe a little on the rail/roadways to n from there!? That would be amazing!🙏🏽
!?
Great content as always 👍
Trying to find this full video from the Short took way too long to enjoy the ending.
Basically everyone moved away
What a petty dispute but it’s the US so why would they not be petty
If anything Canada should be the one giving up the land like come on!
@@Ozymandias54 why should Canada be the one to give up the land? It would make more sense for the houses to be in Canada then the road to be in the US.
@@Kishanth.J he’s saying it’s because canada is the second largest country
@@ayjay23 And?
@@ayjay23 Canada has given up more land to the US than the US has to Canada. Canada gave up the three San Juan islands in the Haro sea. The Alaskan Panhandle and America still has disputes over Canadian fishing territories, Canada’s claim to the northwest passage and then their the issue of Americans complaining about Canadian restricting movement to Alaska and US enclave like point Robert and Angle inlet
It's interesting, but I don't blame those folks for not wanting to be there permanently. That border issue is a lot of boosheet to put up with, especially in this post-9/11 world
This is why you don’t want government involved in anything.
What is "Canadian Labour Day??" We celebrate the same day. If they want people to report they should have to staff it 24/7. I'm surprised they haven't put a road on the US side.
In 2060 the yearly extra u will have added up to long enough that USA's is one day before
I think that exceptions like these should just be marked down as special zones that allow transit between the countries openly, but require border crossings if you exit to either side. Or better yet, common sense applications of the law for things like gas stations and other amenities. The idea that because no one bothered to fix it, places like this have to be giant messes is stupid.
Fun fact: They actually are in other instances. So for towns that are entirely isolated from all other US roads (such as Hyder, Alaska), those towns' residents and their guests are given a special exemption from typical border proceedures (as long as any guests remain exclusively within that town). There are also exemptions for when the border "falls within a building or structure," where the entirely of that structure is both considered to be US *and* Canadian territory, assuming a person legally entered that structure from an entrance on their side of the border (such is the case for several buildings in the town of Derby Line, in Vermont).
Overall, the issues like the one in this video is being driven by (almost exlusively right-wing) extremist and xenophohic policies; Canada's held special/exception status for US border towns and their residents for nearly 150 years.
Legally, by International Laws, if they wanted to help people there, they could just create a "free zone" "strip" agreed (and signed) by US and Canada.
Ever heard of the Schengen Agreement? This story sounds like pettiness we have overcome in Europe 30 years ago.
Did you watch the video?
I don’t know whether many Americans or Canadians are up for this if Canada doesn’t join the Compact of Free Association.
love this - dont know why, im fascinated by US state lines as well - whats wrong with me???
Maybe the best solution is to give the owners on this street unrestricted border entry passes to both when it comes to their homes and driveways that apply to this street or area, and a resident in which their property line involves both countries can enter either on their own property without going through a border station. I don't think a pass that applies to a private driveway or home access is going to be much risk in terms of crossing.
Awesome video!
do you order from american amazon, or canadian amazon?
Yeah, but this only needlessly complicates the lives of ordinary citizens. Why would a bureaucrat give AF?
I can’t imagine the equity of those houses LOL.
Solution should have been only the local residents can pass using drivers license or local tagged cars. Outsiders from either side use the checkpoint. That would have been the better solution
Something similar like this happened along the border of North and South Carolina. Like wtf. Just cede the land.
But that sounds like a more benign issue, since it isn’t like South Carolina alone could join the CIS or BRICS without Washington’s approval.
@@cyndie26it’s less serious than having to go to border patrol when you need gas, but paying taxes to two states is still an unnecessary headache to anyone unlucky enough to buy a house on a state line
They actually traded land some North Carolinians ended up in South Carolina and vice versa and some weren't really happy about it.
@@lastinlastout4318 actually, they just finally correctly identified which state it belonged to
@@Bankable2790 Not so simple. NC and SC have different government systems. In NC the education system is subsidized by a food tax which makes going to community college and the university very affordable. Then you find yourself a out of state student then your tuition shoots through the roof or the doctor who automatically became a SC resident with a NC state medical license. There is more to it than just moving borders.
Just move the houses, they are of the wooden kind of house that can be lifted, right?
What map did you use at 2:24? I can't find it online
data.census.gov/map
It's no wonder no one wants to live there--they can get in trouble and go to federal prison just for going about daily business. Just goes to show how overprotective and over regulated things really are, and there's no common sense to just let local residents go about their business.
A different kind of gated community
The scariest words you will ever hear. “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”
American homes with Canadian postal codes. Can’t get over that.
I don't know why the US and Canada makes it their mission to make it as hard as possible to live in these weird border towns/areas. Either one country sells land to the other, or vise versa, or work with these people.
Why the reference to "Canadian Labour Day"? The only difference is the spelling. Labour Day and Labor Day are both the first Monday in September.
Why not just ask the border control if you can cross it the day before then?
Good video. "Rue de la frontier" is actually "The street of the border" 👍
That’s what he said… Border street
Simply put, this is ridiculous....
The since I'm a mainer I kinda want to move there when I'm older
Imagine having to to through border patrol just to go to the grocery store
Then have your fruits and vegitables taken away and having to pay a import tax on the rest of the goods.
@@lexmarks567 😂
Who do they pay property taxes to ? Counties in both countries ?
I would assume the US because the majority of property is in the US
@@shahimagesyt Watch the video, most of the houses are Canadian owned
@@Ujabuja yeah u right. I commented before finishing the vid
what's the name of the first music?
So if I go when the border is closed who’s gonna stop me for crossing the border?
The Donald. If he gets re-elected he will build a wall and get The Duchy of Grand Fenwick to pay for it.
So one border you can pass with no issue and the other you can't drive down the street. Priorities.
If they have a Nexus card they can travel without the border patrol station being open. It just takes a phone call.
This happened in 2001
Imagine getting jailed for crossing a border for gas a few meters away
imagine going to jail for walking 3 feet from your house.
That’s sad. People had to leave their homes because of a stupid border. Smh.
There's an even dumber Canada & US border one. This one is Point Roberts, a location in the US that is connected to Canada. The only road from Point Roberts to the rest of continental United States is through Canada. During COVID the border stations were closed and the kids couldn't go to school or meet their friends. -_-
@@bobjones1999Don’t they have ferry services?
@@cyndie26@cyndie26 Yeah, they did have ferry services, but it is quite inconvenient to have to get on a ferry to do anything.
And then you have Baarle-Hertog and Baarle-Nassau
This is dumb yet easily resolvable, but putting someone in jail over this is beyond stupid. Absolutely tyranical.
Most of the structures are mostly in the US
This is somewhat inaccurate. The roads on the US side aren't terrible, they are dirt, but they aren't just logging roads. Any SUV with tires that can stand driving on dirt shouldn't have an issue. The problem the Canadian had was that he entered the gas station after 5pm, the gate is closed now so it won't happen again. The cars in the driveways all have Canadian plates. The gas station closed down because the owner was a bad businessman according to the Canadian border officer we chatted to. There was no sign of the heavy CBP stupidity that you see at Derby Line.
This is just like the fictional demilertized zone in star trek between the federation and the cardasians. The federation citizens wouldn't leave, even after many of there worlds ended up on the cardasians side after the creation of the zone.
Id bought the land south of Me or a right away and built my own rd
A quick lesson In why borders shouldn't exist
But without borders, we could all end up like Ukraine being invaded by Russia.
Their town named escort what did you expect to happen 😅😅😅😂
0 Ave in Surrey is interesting too
Why? Explain
@Life of Ryan RC it has the US on one side and Canada on the other..houses on either side at some points..easy to walk across. I have seen border hoppers before. I drive it often
@@christalball93_ sounds interesting as well!
@Life of Ryan RC it's really long it takes like 40 min to drive it from white rock to Abbotsford
Goes thru Aldergrove and Langley
Get the boarder control to follow you across the boarder so your boarder control can arrest them. Hahaha.
So basically… everything was just fine until the government got involved
Sad
We should just take it
Why T.F. did they built a Berlin Wall in America?
Just move the border behind the properties and give some other land to the US for compensation. Problem solved.
Keep all your guns in the back in Maine, wonder how they get double taxed by both Maine US & Canada
why not just adjust the border?
Cause that would mean the US giving up a microscopically insignificant piece of land to Canada, which simply just can't happen
@@wilfstor3078 I believe the opposite would be true since the people living there are Americans Canada would need to give up the road because I don't think it would be reasonable to change the houses/land into Canadian territory as they are owned by Americans and Americans live there. Imagine getting a phone call that your house is now in another country lol
I say we build a wall, lock them free loaders out...😂
I just wannna know how open carry works, its legal in maine, but in canada, there is not such thing as "self defense" its only an american word apparently
The government will mess anything up, always and forever. U.S. & Ca are very proficient.
Meanwhile you can cross the Mexican border no problem
Way to screw up the residents
I would love to own one of those houses as I have dual citizenship with the US 🇺🇸 and Canada 🇨🇦 it would be awesome to live there.
You still have to use the border crossing!
Just go to the southern border they let you through no problem and you’ll probably get a free hotel, phone & walking around money.
Canadian and US labor day are the same.
I live there !!
there's somewhere else one can go though
So… basically america was petty and as a consequence now it’s not possible to live there properly… amazing
That’s the decidedly un-American they should’ve made that railroad track or the highway the border
This is one of the lamest border disputes I’ve ever seen
Grant dual citizenship to American residents and redraw the border to be more workable.
Weird
Or just extend the border to the water and avoid all this tomfoolery
Then you have a de-facto exclave, since accessing anything else is hundreds of miles away when it comes to the US side.
@@wojciechmuras553Then perhaps they could build a minor highway connecting it to the rest of the country.
Gets out, get shot by U.S police. Someone is achieving the american dream.
Nope. I 100% would NOT be checking in with anybody if I wanted to go get gas.
Bruh just give it to them at this point
It's almost like this could be solved with a little common sense. Like hey i know that guy he lives here. Probably ok if he walks freely in his front yard.
what a hassle
Another music video
Good job bureaucracy.
So what are the gun laws?
He technically smuggled a gun into the US which is a crime but its stupid that it was enforced in this case
On American soil, butt have a Canadian zip code. Well ain't that some shit
Ah yes, bureaucracy in action.