Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-17
TIE NATIONS FIRST TURNPIKE

1written Specially for Tne Bulletin)
 h the sirort of the Eastern Con promote the MoheEan Trail. reference was made to the fret turnpike in the United States. It Is part of the his toricaI record Of the tewn tha. the road between Norwich and New Lon don. passing through what was earlier called Mohegan Fields, was first laid out by order of the Legislature. un- der ti5o sdrvey and direction Of 1=shua a tract of lana upon the route sumo lent for a large farm -
 This niust have hesn a carly as iH 1sss. Mr. Raymond died in 1878. and his son, the second Jo&huas speaks of this tract of land as my fathers homestead farm in the Mchegan
 For more than a century. the road was little better than an Indian trail. It's m1nerous Windifixs lords and precdpituous hills made it both incen- venient and hazardpus- Travel was chiefly on horse -back or with OK carts.
 ..9p. 17sss q number ef prop,inent in- dividnais formed an association to
 The Eonnecticut Legislature grant ed them lottery, the proceeds of which were to be expended in repair inx So. much of the road as ran tery was drawn at Norwich, in June 17e1.
 The following May. a company was incorporated to make the road a turnpike and erect a toil-gate: By was reduced to fourteen miles from the courthouse on Norwich Green to the courthouse in New London and the traveling was rendered tolorabiy safe.
 The toll began in june 17s2 t4- wheel carriages d.: do. 1-2 d.; man and horse 1 d.
 This was the first turnpike in the United States. Dr. Dwight observes in his. travels that this road brought the inhabitants of Norwich and New London more than half days jour ney nearer to each other.
 Formerly" he says, flew persons attempted to go from one of these places to the other and return the same day; the journey is now easily performed in little more than two hours"
 The turnpike became almost inmed- \ lately an important thorougf1fare, of great service to Norwich and the the towns in the rear of this. for aI4SAuS SdttAc dnO LISltlSpOTIlHE pro duce. to New London for authorization.
 In 1906, the turnpike was extended to the Landing-now the city proper --by as new road that began at the wharf bridge, and fell into the old road south of Trading Cove bridge. In 1912, another new piece of road was annexed to it, which was laid out in a direct line from the courthouse to the old Mohegan road.
 The company was dissolved and the toll abolished July 1sk. 1852.
 The Norwich and Providence post road was made a turnpike in II94
 The Norwich and Woodstock road extending from Norwich to the Mas sachusetts line. was made turnpike in 1901, and discontinued in 1s46. the company not having realized any divi- dends for six years a. rather droil fact. when one considers the immense volume of traff1c from this point up into Windham County under pr Iesent day conditions.
 The turnpike from Norwich throueF. Salem to Essex on the Connecticut River, commonly called the Essex turnpike. was established in 1927, and about 1860. The Shetucket Turnpike Company, to maintain a road through Preston, Griswold. voluntown, and Sterling. to the east boundary, was incorporated In 1929.
 This company continued in opera lion more than thirty years. paying yearly on its capital of $11 ,000 a small 9