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'''''Footpath to turnpike.''''' 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 [{{PionRoad}} 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. Stock companies were formed to raise the money, build, and maintain these higher quality roads. Tolls were to be collected at gates every ten miles to repay the stock companies. As traffic grew, inns were soon established every few miles to provide the beverages, food, and lodging needed for people and animals.<ref name="Gall" /> | '''''Footpath to turnpike.''''' 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 [{{PionRoad}} 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. Stock companies were formed to raise the money, build, and maintain these higher quality roads. Tolls were to be collected at gates every ten miles to repay the stock companies. As traffic grew, inns were soon established every few miles to provide the beverages, food, and lodging needed for people and animals.<ref name="Gall" /> | ||
'''''Overlapping trail names.''''' The original pathway from Springfield, Massachusetts to Unadilla, New York was called the ''Catskill Road''. When the legislature upgraded the Catskill-to-Unadilla section they called it the ''Susquehanna Turnpike''. But when the turnpike was extended west to Bath the whole west-side-of-the-river road was renamed the ''Catskill Turnpike'' (or ''Bath Turnpike''). At the same time the east side of the river was renamed the ''Ancram Turnpike''.<ref>Almyra E. Morgan, ''The Catskill Turnpike: a Wilderness Path'' (Ithaca, NY : DeWitt Historical Society of 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> During the same period, the legislature commissioned the upgrade of a different, connected road starting farther to the south at Kingston (on the Hudson River). It went west to Bainbridge (near Unadilla) and was called the ''Ulster and Delaware Turnpike'' (or ''Jericho'', or ''Esopus Turnpike'')<ref name="Gall" /> Also, in 1804 twice a week mail service was started from Catskill, New York, partly following the Catskill Turnpike but to Athens, Pennsylvania, the eastern end of the Seneca Indians' ''Forbidden Path''. This probably explains why the Catskill Turnpike is also associated with the Forbidden Path.<ref name="Ancr" /> | '''''Overlapping trail names.''''' The original pathway from Springfield, Massachusetts to Unadilla, New York was called the ''Catskill Road''. When the legislature upgraded the Catskill-to-Unadilla section they called it the ''Susquehanna Turnpike''. But when the turnpike was extended west to Bath the whole west-side-of-the-river road was renamed the ''Catskill Turnpike'' (or ''Bath Turnpike''). At the same time the east side of the river was renamed the ''Ancram Turnpike''.<ref>Almyra E. Morgan, ''The Catskill Turnpike: a Wilderness Path'' (Ithaca, NY : DeWitt Historical Society of 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> During the same period, the legislature commissioned the upgrade of a different, connected road starting farther to the south at Kingston (on the Hudson River). It went west to Bainbridge (near Unadilla) and was called the ''[[Ulster and Delaware Turnpike]]'' (or ''Jericho'', or ''Esopus Turnpike '')<ref name="Gall" /> Also, in 1804 twice a week mail service was started from Catskill, New York, partly following the Catskill Turnpike but to Athens, Pennsylvania, the eastern end of the Seneca Indians' ''Forbidden Path''. This probably explains why the Catskill Turnpike is also associated with the Forbidden Path.<ref name="Ancr" /> | ||
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'''''Stagecoaches and drovers.''''' 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 commonly used the turnpike to take their herds a few miles a day to market usually in Dutchess County.<ref name="Gall" /> | '''''Stagecoaches and drovers.''''' 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 commonly used the turnpike to take their herds a few miles a day to market usually in Dutchess County.<ref name="Gall" /> | ||
'''''Rise and fall.''''' 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. Maintenance on the western parts of the road was abandoned by the stock company (becoming a NY public road), 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> | '''''Rise and fall.''''' 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. Maintenance on the western parts of the road was abandoned by the stock company (becoming a NY public road), 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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