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'''''Significance.''''' The '''Catskill Turnpike''' was an important early route for New England emigrants headed to western New York and beyond. In the 20 years after it was built about 300,000 people mostly from New England settled in the counties along the Catskill Turnpike and its extensions. Other emigrants moved along the turnpike toward Ohio.<ref name="Gall">Lyman H. Gallagher, "The Catskill Turnpike in Stage Coach and Tavern Days," ''Crooked Lake Review'' (Fall 2005) at http://www.crookedlakereview.com/articles/136_167/137fall2005/137palmer2.html (accessed 28 December 2011).</ref> | '''''Significance.''''' The '''Catskill Turnpike''' was an important early route for New England emigrants headed to western New York and beyond. In the 20 years after it was built about 300,000 people mostly from New England settled in the counties along the Catskill Turnpike and its extensions. Other emigrants moved along the turnpike toward Ohio.<ref name="Gall">Lyman H. Gallagher, "The Catskill Turnpike in Stage Coach and Tavern Days," ''Crooked Lake Review'' (Fall 2005) at http://www.crookedlakereview.com/articles/136_167/137fall2005/137palmer2.html (accessed 28 December 2011).</ref> | ||
'''''Feeder routes.''''' Emigrants reached the Catskill Turnpike along three main routes. First, they came up the Hudson River Valley by boat or via the [[Albany Post Road|Albany Post Road]]. Second, they came along the [[Catskill Road|Catskill Road]] (later Ancram Turnpike<ref name="Ancr">"Map and Timeline: 1800 to 2020 (and Beyond)" in Susquehanna Turnpike.org at http://www.susquehannaturnpike.net/15901.html (accessed 28 December 2011).</ref>) from Springfield, Massachusetts to Catskill, New York. Third, there was also stagecoach service on the [[Greenwood Road|Greenwood Road]] from Hartford, Connecticut to Albany which could drop them off near Catskill. | '''''Feeder routes.''''' Emigrants reached the Catskill Turnpike along three main routes. First, they came up the Hudson River Valley by boat or via the [[Albany Post Road|Albany Post Road]]. Second, they came along the [[Catskill Road|Catskill Road]]<ref>''Handybook'', 848.</ref> (later Ancram Turnpike<ref name="Ancr">"Map and Timeline: 1800 to 2020 (and Beyond)" in Susquehanna Turnpike.org at http://www.susquehannaturnpike.net/15901.html (accessed 28 December 2011).</ref>) from Springfield, Massachusetts to Catskill, New York. Third, there was also stagecoach service on the [[Greenwood Road|Greenwood Road]]<ref>''Handybook'', 850.</ref> from Hartford, Connecticut to Albany which could drop them off near Catskill. | ||
By 1769 European settlers were following an early pathway from Catskill to Ithaca which eventually became the Catskill Turnpike.<ref>Archer Butler Hulbert, ''Pioneer Roads and Experiences of Travelers'', vol. 2, Historic Highways of America, vol. 12 (Cleveland, Ohio: Arthur H. Clark Co., 1904), 144. Google books [http://books.google.com/books?id=a71pj9gURHYC&amp;amp;amp;pg=PA143&amp;amp;amp;source=gbs_toc_r&amp;amp;amp;cad=0_0#v=onepage&amp;amp;amp;q&amp;amp;amp;f=false online copy]; {{WorldCat|9316729|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}.</ref> In 1800 the New York legislature commissioned several turnpikes (toll roads), inspectors, mail, and stagecoach service to improve roads from the Hudson River to the Susquehanna River. Tolls were to be collected at gates every ten miles. Once stagecoach service began, inns were soon established every few miles to provide the beverages, food, and lodging needed for people and animals.<ref name="Gall" /> | |||
One of the roads from the Hudson to the Susquehanna was called the '''''Ulster and Delaware Turnpike''''' (or '''''Jericho''''', or '''''Esopus Turnpike''''') and went from Rhinebeck-Kingston to Bainbridge (formerly Jericho). Another called the '''''Susquehanna Turnpike''''' went from Catskill to Unadilla, a few miles from Bainbridge. Stock companies were formed to raise the money, build, and maintain the roads. In 1804 the legislature authorized an extension called the '''Catskill Turnpike''' (or '''''Bath Turnpike'''''<ref>Almyra E. Morgan, ''The Catskill Turnpike: a Wilderness Path'' (Ithaca, NY : DeWitt Historical Society offckLRof Tompkins County, 1971), 5. Tompkins County Public Library [http://tcpl.org/local-history/documents/nys-cny/Catskill_Turnpike.pdf digital pdf copy]; {{WorldCat|63600251|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}.</ref>) from the end of the Ulster and Delaware Turnpike at Baibridge west to Bath. The Catskill Turnpike name eventually also became associated with the route from Bainbridge-Unadilla to Catskill.<ref name="Gall" /> In 1804 twice a week mail service was started between Catskill, New York, and Athens, Pennsylvania, the eastern end of the '''''Forbidden Path''''', the probable explanation for the Catskill Turnpike being associated with the Forbidden Path.<ref name="Ancr" /> | One of the roads from the Hudson to the Susquehanna was called the '''''Ulster and Delaware Turnpike''''' (or '''''Jericho''''', or '''''Esopus Turnpike''''') and went from Rhinebeck-Kingston to Bainbridge (formerly Jericho). Another called the '''''Susquehanna Turnpike''''' went from Catskill to Unadilla, a few miles from Bainbridge. Stock companies were formed to raise the money, build, and maintain the roads. In 1804 the legislature authorized an extension called the '''Catskill Turnpike''' (or '''''Bath Turnpike'''''<ref>Almyra E. Morgan, ''The Catskill Turnpike: a Wilderness Path'' (Ithaca, NY : DeWitt Historical Society offckLRof Tompkins County, 1971), 5. Tompkins County Public Library [http://tcpl.org/local-history/documents/nys-cny/Catskill_Turnpike.pdf digital pdf copy]; {{WorldCat|63600251|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}.</ref>) from the end of the Ulster and Delaware Turnpike at Baibridge west to Bath. The Catskill Turnpike name eventually also became associated with the route from Bainbridge-Unadilla to Catskill.<ref name="Gall" /> In 1804 twice a week mail service was started between Catskill, New York, and Athens, Pennsylvania, the eastern end of the '''''Forbidden Path''''', the probable explanation for the Catskill Turnpike being associated with the Forbidden Path.<ref name="Ancr" /> | ||
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Stagecoaches usually took four days and nights to drive from Ithaca to Catskill. This service continued year around even in the snow. Some years the traffic was so heavy two passenger coaches were hitched together followed by a baggage wagon. Before the railroads, cattle drovers also used the turnpike to take their herds to market usually in Dutchess County.<ref name="Gall" /> | Stagecoaches usually took four days and nights to drive from Ithaca to Catskill. This service continued year around even in the snow. Some years the traffic was so heavy two passenger coaches were hitched together followed by a baggage wagon. Before the railroads, cattle drovers also used the turnpike to take their herds to market usually in Dutchess County.<ref name="Gall" /> | ||
Soon after it was built the turnpike began to turn a profit. It was most prosperous from 1820 to 1830. Competition from railroads and the Erie Canal was responsible for a decline in turnpike traffic and revenues after 1830. The western parts of the road were abandoned by the stock company, and the number of toll gates in Greene County was gradually reduced from ten in 1830, to five in 1842, and three in 1884.<ref>J. G. Beers, "The Susquehanna Turnpike" (1884) appearing in Susquehanna Turnpike.org at http://www.susquehannaturnpike.net/15301/index.html (accessed 28 December 2011).</ref> Stagecoach service was discontinued in 1850 when the Erie Railroad built through to Owego.<ref>Morgan, 14.</ref> | Soon after it was built the turnpike began to turn a profit. It was most prosperous from 1820 to 1830. Competition from railroads and the Erie Canal was responsible for a decline in turnpike traffic and revenues after 1830. The western parts of the road were abandoned by the stock company, and the number of toll gates in Greene County was gradually reduced from ten in 1830, to five in 1842, and three in 1884.<ref>J. G. Beers, "The Susquehanna Turnpike" (1884) appearing in Susquehanna Turnpike.org at http://www.susquehannaturnpike.net/15301/index.html (accessed 28 December 2011).</ref> Stagecoach service was discontinued in 1850 when the Erie Railroad built through to Owego.<ref>Morgan, 14.</ref> | ||
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