Old Turnpikes and Toll Gates

From what we can learn. the earliest tol1 gates in Pennsylvania were erected in 1835 by the State Commissioners. One of the purposes of erecting them was to clear the roadway of immense droves of cattle, sheep, hogs and large flocks of turkeys that were being driven to the eastern city markets.

Since there was no other way through the mountains, the drovers were compelled to pay toll at a small tax per head. It is interesting to note that stage coaches and conestoga wagons with steel rims nine inches or wider paid less toll than vehicles with a narrower tack.

There were at least eight toll gates in Bedford County. The earliest one we know was located about five miles west of Schellsburg, midway between the Shot Factory and the Ship Hotel on the Allegheny Mountain. We have been unable to locate any record as to who signed the contract for the erection of a toll gate. A few stones of the footer or base can still he seen on the upper part of the road. There used to be a date painted on the face of one of the stones. This stone disappeared long ago.

On March 17, 1854 Frederick Nawgel and his wife Eve sold a tract of land in Bedford Township to the Bedford-Stoystown Turnpike Company. This land was located west of the Hedford Borough line. The purchase price was $100. One provision of the deed reads—"in case the party of the second part shall erect a toll gate on said lot of ground, the said Frank Nawgel is to have privilege of passing the same toll gate free for his mill purposes, this is going to mill during his natural life." Apparently a toll gate was never erected because on October 20, 1883 the Company sold this tract for $135. There is no mention of a toll gate. While we are on the subject of deeds, we located a deed dated 10 May 1833 for tracts of land situate in the manor of Bedford in what is called 'Barkley's Hill field', including a lime stone quarry for the use of the Turnpike road. (deed book 'R' page 572-3).

A toll gate existed just north of Bedford on what is now known as the Moorehead farm. Apparently it was not a paying business because in Deed Book AG pages 80-81, we find that through a sheriff's sale he seized and took in execution the Hollidaysburg-Bedford Turnpike road with all the franchises there unto belonging together with a lot of ground containing one-half acre, more or less, all cleared under fence with a story and half frame toll and dwelling house and log stable thereon erected, adjoining lands of Susan Carney and others in Bedford Township. Sale price was $130. The highest bidder was David Patterson. William S. Fluke was the sheriff.

The next toll gate was located east of Bedford in what is known as the 'Narrows'. Deed Book 'S' pages 201 and 202 has a deed recorded 12 June 1836 between Henry Leader, John H. West and William Hartley, Esq, and the president and manager of the Chambersburg-Bedford Turnpike Road Company for the consideration of $1.00. The piece of ground was on the south west corner of the new bridge along the 'Juniatta Branch'. The following is a part of the deed—"it is hereby understood and agreed to that the parties on the foregoing indenture reserve for themselves, their families owning the property, the right to pass and repass through the Turnpike gate or gates to be erected near the bridge which crosses the Raystown Branch of the Juniatta toll free forever and this reservation and right is hereby granted by us to the said parties."

When the toll gate was erected at this location all persons who traveled not only the Chambersburg-Bedford Turnpike Road, but residents from the Rainsburg-Friends Cove area had to pay toll to and from Bedford. These people objected to this assessment. Therefore they proceeded to build a roadway along the ridge and mountain side several hundred feet above and west of the toll gate thus avoiding the toll. (This road can be seen today when approaching and crossing the large curved cement bridge as you are traveling toward Bedford).

The toll gate was then moved by the Company to the eastern end of Bedford Borough line at or near the point where route 30 and Penn Street meet.

In the Bedford Inquirer dated May 18, 1923, appeared the following item, "Old Toll Gate at Narrows Removed". This land's original grant came from John Penn Jr., and John Penn Esq, made to George Woods, George Crogan, Conrad Hartzel1, March 18, 1776. Later transferred by George Woods to Dr. John Anderson, whose trustees sold it to Henry 1,eader, John H. West and William Hartley who in turn disposed it to Chambersburg-Bedford Turnpike Company on June 24, 1836. The.building at the narrows was a quaint stone structure two stories with porches front and rear. The first keeper was John Oglesby and the last was Frank Giffin when the toll gates was abandoned in 1902.

According to stories handed down through the years, it seems this move caused quite a hit of ill feeling among the Cove residents. Not long after this move, the covered bridge at the narrows mysteriously became engulfed in flames. Some person or persons had hauled a load of hay into the bridge and set fire to the hay. (This incident happened December 4, 1902).

Harry L. Stern, a former hardware and plumbing store owner of Bedford used to tell stories about the old toll gate. Mr. Stern's mother was employed by the Company as operator. When Mr. Stern was a young lad, he remembered how he had to run through the bridge to apprehend travelers who traveled the eastern or Snakespring side of the 'Juniatta' to collect tolls, even though they did not cross the bridge. If they refused to pay and if he could recognize the traveler his name was forwarded to the Chambersburg Office where they had a Justice of Peace make attempts to collect the toll.

In checking the old maps of Bedford County, we could find only one other toll gate on the Chambersburg-Bedford Turnpike Road. It was located a few hundred yards west of the Borough line of Everett. The one record we found relative to this company's obtaining land in West Providence Township was dated September 7, 1876 when the Company leased thirty-four-one-hundredths of an acre of land for as long as the Company shall exist. The owners also reserved the right to pass and repass through the toll gate free.

We did learn however, that although not shown on a map, there were two toll gates located east of Everett. One was about a mile beyond this town, and the other one mile east of Breezewood, about half way up the hill. This old house is still standing, but the overhead section has been torn down. It was operated by Martha Staily after the Civil War. (Mrs. Staily's husband contracted 'TB' while a prisoner in Andersonville. He returned home but lived just a short time. She operated the toll gate after his return and death).

The old famous Juniata Crossings bridge was built in 1818 as a part of the Chambersburg-Bedford Turnpike Road. The old road's office and records were destroyed July 30 1864 by fire when General Jubal Early commanded General McCausland to demand the citizens of that town to either give the Confederate Army the sum of $100,000 or have the town destroyed. When the money was not given, the town was set afire.

This Turnpike Road ended in Bedford at the point between the current Altoona Federal Savings building and Murphy's store. The Bedford-Stoystown Turnpike Road began at this point. This Company came into being March 8, 1815 at a cost of $170,000.

We understand that about fifteen years ago, an old Secretary's minute book of this road was found in an old farmhouse in Napier Township. If this could be made available we are certain it would contain some very important and interesting information on this thirtymile road. John Schell was president of the Company and George Kimmel general manager.

The road was opened to travel in 1817. The first toll gate on the road was located five miles east of Stoystown. Others followed. However, we failed to find any references in the Courthouse where they were located, when they were erected or closed. One historian w rote "The Stoystown-Bedford or western section was terminated several years ago. This was written in 1906. Therefore the toll gates must have been abandonded sometime around 1900.

Blackburn in his history of Bedford and Somerset Counties wrote that in the year of 1825 iithe Company collected tolls to the extent of $8.491.93, while the expenses were $1.793.43." He also quotes one traveler of 1817 "Old America seems to be breaking up and moving westward We are seldom out nf sight of family groups " It is said that within the fast year 12,000 wagons, each drawn by four or six horses and carrying great loads of merchandise, passed over the road. Add to these the numerous stages filled to their utmost with passengers and the innumerable number of travelers on horseback, on foot, and in light wagons and you have before you an idea of the bustle and business along its route.

We were very fortunate to find posted in the Fort Bedford Museum a copy of the rates of tolls for every five miles of Bedford-Stoystown Turnpike Road Company in 1819.

For swine, sheep and cattle, viz for every score (or 20) of swine, 6 cents, for every score sheep, 6 cents, for every score cattle, 12 cents.

For every horse or mule, laden or unladen with rider or leader, 3 cents.

For every sulky, chair or chaise-with one horse and two wheels, 6 cents.

For either of them-with two horses and two wheels, 9 cents.

For every chair, coach phaeton, chaise, stage, wagon, coaches or light wagon with two horses, four wheels, 12f/2 cents.

For either of them-with four horses and four wheels, 20 cents.

For every other carriage of pleasure, under whatever name it may go, the like sums, according to the number of wheels and of horses drawing the same, 20 cents.

For every sleigh or sled- for each horse drawing the same, 2 cents.

For every cart or wagon or other carriage of burden, the wheels of which do not in breadth exceed 4 inches- for every horse drawing same, 4 cents.

For every cart or wagon, the wheels of which shall exceed in breadth 4 inches and shall not exceed 7 inches- for every horse drawing same, 3 cents.

For every cart or wagon, the breadth of the wheels of which shall be more than 7 inches, or being of the breadth of 7 inches and shall roll more than 10 inches- for every horse drawing the same, 2 cents.

For every cart or wagon, the breadth of the wheels of which shall be more than 10 inches and not more than 12 inches or being 10 inches, shall roll more than 15 inches- for every horse drawing the same, 1 1/2 cents, and for such carriage, the breadth of the wheels of which shall be more than 12 inchesfor every horse drawing same, 1 cent.

When any such carriage aforesaid shall be drawn by oxen in whole or in part by oxen or mules in whole or part, two oxen shall be estimated equal to one horse, and every ass or mule as equal to one horse, in charging the aforesaid tolls.

EXCEPTIONS

No toll shall be demanded or taken from any person or persons passing or repassing from one part of his or her farm to another, nor from any persons attending funerals or places of worship—nor from Militia men on days of training. Their horses and carriages shall be exempt from payment of tolls, in going thereto and returning therefrom nor from any person residing west of the Dividing Ridge of the Allegheny Mountain, and packing salt on any beast or beasts of burden.

One other Turnpike was formed or incorporated by the Governor on February 3, 1818. It was called the Somerset-Bedford Turnpike Company. Apparently this road had a lot of traffic because in 1845 the Company collected tolls amounting to $6,517.00 while the expenses were $5,215,00. Again, we failed to find any mention or the location of toll gates. Neither do we know when this Company disbanded. Perhaps this information is recorded in Somerset County.

However while reviewing a Geological Survey of Bedford County in 1874, we found on page 113 a report that a tol1 gate was located at the foot of Dry Ridge. This Ridge extends westward from near Manns Choice to within less than one-half mile from the West End Post Office.

We also learned that the little old log house that was once located on the road from Mann's Choice to the Forks Inn (Stuckey Farm ) was a toll gate. It was operated by Nancy Blankley Sellers, who was a grandmother of the late Harold Dallard of Bedford. This road, by the way, was part of what is now the current route 31.