Before bridges, railways, and paved roads, the St. John River unified communities, culture, and commerce throughout the Valley to the north and south. Many Valley families developed genealogical roots on both sides of the river, and it remained common for people to have parents from both sides or to live on one side and work across the border. Everyday activities such as dating, shopping, attending church, and even going bowling were handled by casually going across, not as matters of national security. Don Levesque said that politics truly divided the people and that before then the river was just another road, while after 9/11 the border became more of an obstacle than an entry. Ferry crossings once operated all along the St. John River from Allagash to Van Buren, including two at Fort Kent and others in Frenchville, St. Francis, Grand Isle, Madawaska, and Van Buren. In winter, when the river froze, it became even less of a physical barrier, and winter sports such as sulky horse races thrived in places like Grand Isle.