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- "Toll Gate, Turnpike Movements, Telford Road System, McAdam Road System" - In the 19th century, road improvements in the United States tended to be private efforts financed by investors and supported by tolls. This illustration shows two methods of road construction. The Telford system used a base layer of stone blocks and an upper layer of smaller interlocking stones to support the road surface. Macadam (or McAdam) roads eliminated the stone-block foundation.
- 1850-1900
- Collections - Artifact
"Toll Gate, Turnpike Movements, Telford Road System, McAdam Road System"
In the 19th century, road improvements in the United States tended to be private efforts financed by investors and supported by tolls. This illustration shows two methods of road construction. The Telford system used a base layer of stone blocks and an upper layer of smaller interlocking stones to support the road surface. Macadam (or McAdam) roads eliminated the stone-block foundation.
- Rocks Village Toll House - Many early American bridges operated as private businesses. Travelers paid tolls to cross them. Tolls repaid construction costs, funded maintenance, and hopefully produced a profit for owners. Workers at this toll house, built in 1828, collected fares for a bridge across the Merrimack River at Rocks Village, Massachusetts. Henry Ford acquired the building in 1928 and moved it to Greenfield Village.
- 1828
- Collections - Artifact
Rocks Village Toll House
Many early American bridges operated as private businesses. Travelers paid tolls to cross them. Tolls repaid construction costs, funded maintenance, and hopefully produced a profit for owners. Workers at this toll house, built in 1828, collected fares for a bridge across the Merrimack River at Rocks Village, Massachusetts. Henry Ford acquired the building in 1928 and moved it to Greenfield Village.
- Rocks Village Toll House in East Haverhill, Massachusetts, 1928 - This photograph shows the Rocks Village Toll House located near Haverhill, Massachusetts. Just as private ferry operators carried early travelers across rivers, many early bridges were built and operated as private businesses, and travelers paid tolls to cross them. Workers at this toll house collected fares for a bridge across the Merrimack River.
- April 01, 1928
- Collections - Artifact
Rocks Village Toll House in East Haverhill, Massachusetts, 1928
This photograph shows the Rocks Village Toll House located near Haverhill, Massachusetts. Just as private ferry operators carried early travelers across rivers, many early bridges were built and operated as private businesses, and travelers paid tolls to cross them. Workers at this toll house collected fares for a bridge across the Merrimack River.
- Rocks Village Toll House in East Haverhill, Massachusetts, 1928 - This photograph shows the Rocks Village Toll House located near Haverhill, Massachusetts. Just as private ferry operators carried early travelers across rivers, many early bridges were built and operated as private businesses, and travelers paid tolls to cross them. Workers at this toll house collected fares for a bridge across the Merrimack River.
- 1928
- Collections - Artifact
Rocks Village Toll House in East Haverhill, Massachusetts, 1928
This photograph shows the Rocks Village Toll House located near Haverhill, Massachusetts. Just as private ferry operators carried early travelers across rivers, many early bridges were built and operated as private businesses, and travelers paid tolls to cross them. Workers at this toll house collected fares for a bridge across the Merrimack River.
- Tom Quested, Former Rocks Village Bridge Toll House Keeper and Draw Tender, East Haverhill, Massachusetts - At left in this scene is Tom Quested, identified as a one-time toll collector at the Rocks Village Bridge near Haverhill, Massachusetts. Quested also operated the bridge's movable drawspan, which allowed tall ships on the Merrimack River to pass through it. In their spare time, some Rocks Village toll collectors made and repaired shoes.
- Collections - Artifact
Tom Quested, Former Rocks Village Bridge Toll House Keeper and Draw Tender, East Haverhill, Massachusetts
At left in this scene is Tom Quested, identified as a one-time toll collector at the Rocks Village Bridge near Haverhill, Massachusetts. Quested also operated the bridge's movable drawspan, which allowed tall ships on the Merrimack River to pass through it. In their spare time, some Rocks Village toll collectors made and repaired shoes.
- Rocks Village Toll House in Greenfield Village, July 1932 -
- July 08, 1932
- Collections - Artifact
Rocks Village Toll House in Greenfield Village, July 1932
- View of the Old Toll House at the Entrance to Hog Neck Bridge at Sag Harbor, New York, circa 1870 - Many early American roads and bridges operated as private businesses. Travelers paid tolls to use them. Tolls repaid construction costs, funded maintenance, and hopefully produced a profit for owners. The bridge illustrated here was part of a toll road from Bridgehampton to Sag Harbor on New York's Long Island. Toll collection on the route began in 1837.
- circa 1870
- Collections - Artifact
View of the Old Toll House at the Entrance to Hog Neck Bridge at Sag Harbor, New York, circa 1870
Many early American roads and bridges operated as private businesses. Travelers paid tolls to use them. Tolls repaid construction costs, funded maintenance, and hopefully produced a profit for owners. The bridge illustrated here was part of a toll road from Bridgehampton to Sag Harbor on New York's Long Island. Toll collection on the route began in 1837.
- Interior of Rocks Village Toll House in Greenfield Village, June 1954 - Workers in this building collected tolls from travelers crossing a bridge over the Merrimack River near Haverhill, Massachusetts. They also operated the bridge's movable span when needed to clear the way for boats on the river. In their spare time between road and river traffic, toll collectors earned additional income by making and repairing shoes.
- June 23, 1954
- Collections - Artifact
Interior of Rocks Village Toll House in Greenfield Village, June 1954
Workers in this building collected tolls from travelers crossing a bridge over the Merrimack River near Haverhill, Massachusetts. They also operated the bridge's movable span when needed to clear the way for boats on the river. In their spare time between road and river traffic, toll collectors earned additional income by making and repairing shoes.
- Interior of Rocks Village Toll House in Greenfield Village, June 1954 - Workers in this building collected tolls from travelers crossing a bridge over the Merrimack River near Haverhill, Massachusetts. They also operated the bridge's movable span when needed to clear the way for boats on the river. In their spare time between road and river traffic, toll collectors earned additional income by making and repairing shoes.
- June 23, 1954
- Collections - Artifact
Interior of Rocks Village Toll House in Greenfield Village, June 1954
Workers in this building collected tolls from travelers crossing a bridge over the Merrimack River near Haverhill, Massachusetts. They also operated the bridge's movable span when needed to clear the way for boats on the river. In their spare time between road and river traffic, toll collectors earned additional income by making and repairing shoes.
- Rocks Village Toll House in East Haverhill, Massachusetts, 1928 - This photograph shows the Rocks Village Toll House located near Haverhill, Massachusetts. Just as private ferry operators carried early travelers across rivers, many early bridges were built and operated as private businesses, and travelers paid tolls to cross them. Workers at this toll house collected fares for a bridge across the Merrimack River.
- April 01, 1928
- Collections - Artifact
Rocks Village Toll House in East Haverhill, Massachusetts, 1928
This photograph shows the Rocks Village Toll House located near Haverhill, Massachusetts. Just as private ferry operators carried early travelers across rivers, many early bridges were built and operated as private businesses, and travelers paid tolls to cross them. Workers at this toll house collected fares for a bridge across the Merrimack River.