The Toll Gates and the Shunpike Road

The Albany and Sand Lake Plank Road had four toll gates, described in this article from the Albany Evening Journal, May 25, 1901:

The committee on toll gates from the Rensselaer Board of Supervisors has begun its inquiry into the proceedings to abolish the toll roads.... Arthur Peck, director and secretary, said there were four toll gates, one at Bath, a second three miles out, a third at Sand Lake and a fourth at Crooked Lake. He said that the road had not paid a dividend in the last 11 years, though the net receipts for the last 11 years were $2,262.39....

The first toll gate was just beyond Ninth St. at the Bath village limits, near today's I-90 ramp. (See the entire map here: F.W. Beers & Co., Bath, 1876.)


The second toll gate was opposite Robert C. Parker school. Folks who wanted to avoid that toll took the "Shunpike road" instead (now Mammoth Springs Road, Morner Road and Best Road), rejoining the Plank road at Defreestville. (See F.W. Beers & Co., North Greenbush, 1876)

The third toll gate was at the intersection of Tollgate Rd and Rt. 43 beyond West Sand Lake. The last tollgate was just north of the Crooked Lake House. (See F.W. Beers & Co., Sand Lake 002, 1876)

Previously: The Albany and Sand Lake Plank Road; Anatomy of a Plank Road
Next: Plank Road Directors

Historical newspaper pages found at FultonHistory.com.

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The Rensselaer Eagle didn't mention the fire. It happened just after an issue went to print, and a week later it was old news.

Gaslight Era: Storing Coal Gas

Great post on AllOverAlbany about Troy's Gasholder Building.

Maple Weekend!

March 19-20 and 26-27, generally 10am-4pm daily. Learn more and find a participating sugarhouse at the New York State Maple Producer's Association or the Upper Hudson Maple Producer's Association.

We drive all the way to Kent's in Berlin for our fix - read a detailed description of our 2009 visit. (It's a nice drive, mostly following the route of the colonial-era Eastern Turnpike through Rensselaer county.)

I've discovered that it's better to buy several small jugs, rather than one large one, to help keep the freshest flavor. (The air in a half-empty jug seems to diminish the zippy maple taste.)

I'll post a great maple-walnut muffin recipe later this weekend - check back.