New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-24
ANOLD DOLLHOUSE ABOLISHED
FLATBUsHAvE. A PUBLIC HIGHWAY.
TOLLS COLLECTED FOR EIGHTY YEARS
PLANK ROAD COMPANY DIsBANDED.

TOLLS COLLECTED FOR EIGHTY YEARS
PLANK ROAD COMPANY DIsDAHDED
The old toll .houso in the llne Of Flsibush-aVo'
Just outside the city limits, IN the ancient Vhas'
of Flatbush has been abandoned and the street mas
become a public highway. This was the last Vi a
dozen or more places for the collection OF 'ons "
Kings County which Aourlshcd in the first hall Oh
the century. They wers upon the Jamaica pam
road. the FIatbush plank road, the old Coney ISanu
road and the Gravesend highway. In 1909 peSinnie
of the private ownership Of roads was made pS 'H'
orgauzaiio Of the Brooklyn Flatbush anu Jamaica
Turnpike Company TO take for the purposes "
turnpike road the public highway from INC oia CIV
new ferries In the Town Of Brooklyn to the GNU"
in the Town of Flatbush. and from the junction oi '
Jamaica and Flatbusn roads TO the Town OF 'an"'''
except in such parts where the turnpike ROAD ieS'o'
the said public highways Tho Commissioners ~
pointed TO appralse the value of the properly nus
acquired under law passed In 1ooJ s"arlou D'O'"
800 and Flatbush $50. ,.
Before that time the roads OF Kings County hau ~
little more than wheel tracks made by ITO H'a,
carts used to transport the farmers crops 10 VI.
ferry and 10 carry back their supplies. Inc Wv
Indian trails from the East River TO flatOush 90"
Jamaica had been widcned for highways ana lo"o 90
many a crook and turn. They were whoiS -
for pleasure riding and IL was rcgarueu d. p
public Improvement when the turnpike eoHPa"'
stracbtcned and improved the roadways, anu 81.
toll demanded was cheerfuily paid In consuerauo"
the increased facility of travel. The turhpiho ~
towed the general direction of the present Fuion-s
and Flatbush-ave., but the two separated d. PO.
near what is now Fla;bush and Atlantic aVeS'' auI
the Flatbush road wound a devious course aio"s
tho hills NJ what is now Prospect Park until IL icd0N
the village to which 1t led. tollgate s'oou -
the pont where the two roads separated ana aho'.-
at the entrance to Flatbush Just beyond the D"'''
Pass in Prospect Park o-..u.,v
In 1888 the rights Of the original Turnpike CohP"H'
were sold 10 the Brooklyn and Jamaica Ralroau I'm
pany which proceeded to build raiiroau -
brooklyn to jamaica The Old turnpike 10 -
was kent I'D unit 1853, when the Flatb"sh fiauA
poad companv was organized and purchased lo'
20 600 the mart of the old turnpike road III u''
ulare of Flatbush from the city line, at fla'o"SH
and Eleventh aves to the church III iIa'oU'"
Flatbushave had been laid out through thc cay
lis present straight line over Prospect liz anu '
been paved The Plank Road Company IA" u'0"
organized with $4,000 capital to MAINTAIN d P'a'
road from the city line to the tavern OF jon" DE
in FIatIands distance of four miles Inc lsH'
rav bevond the old Dutch church was concession o
odioininc owners At that time it was 'hoDt"
,hat great improvement in roadmaLinS h4t
in discovered in the laying u
rits tor roadway in place OF gravel or stone ana
his road was duly planhcd. Bus inc wear OIL ~"
rcore and thc decay OF the wooden hOor ohoW"! -
;rSu allcnesg and the old planEs were torn UP rom
| mi highway in 1850. 4 law was then pass
authorizing the contrary 10 permit tie Brooklyn Wy
Earoad COMPANY 10 lay tracks for surface ldIoIu
I'm nlace OF tho blanks and authorizing the com
~ Tho collection OF toll The part OF the street Wn.I'
the tracks were lad was paved ana thc Is' We,
kent as gravel road. in that condition u has snro
bccn maintained. The opening OF new stree,s "a a.
| caused the dollhouse to be removed, from uun ~
time from one point 10 another until u Wa9 Pu. d
DOZEN wears ago whore It last stood, between rc'
moro aud Hawthorne SIS. 80 -, ,o, h.,
Tho Plank Road Company would have eApIcu ~
IN 1853 but the stockholders took alvanas
81 eDecial law 10 roorCanze for another term o.
| tbirtv years The work OF maintaining the rnGl ma
bocn ken, up and the toll has been regularly coiic"l
mt the question of getting rid OF the o1 tpi
VIII oh has been regarded a serious dttfHi'h ~ t
nrosnoritv of the town. has been az taHi al van,
times Tho Plank Road Company ohefel - SrIt ~
RIGHTS for something less Than the par Ntiup ~ Us
stock FINALLY the matter was brout 10 a loOus
- tho mas arp Of tho bill authorizing Inc Dlhhhg ol
~ a., tho town last winter. by the Legislature. rs
- would be necessary for the town 10 own flatblh-
.yo before a sewer could he put IN n. the law pro-
,-ided that the rights OF the Plank Eoad tonlaW
could no purrhased for sum not Ia exceed TlOOpp
The necessary Steps have hccn takcn and bonds iol
tho amount we're ,Sued and sold and the legal trans
tar ha been completed. ITenccfOrth the town VII,
keen Flatbush-ave in order and no one VIII have 70
nav a fee to drive over IT, Tho removal OF The toI
house will be appreciated by MANY HrooFlyn paoWc'
who VIII find the pleasant village street bcah
tful suburban drive. II VIII also become more thal
ever the ho1oughfare the tanners of Kings county
on their way to the New York markets with loads Oh
produce fIom their farms and gardens.