 The roads of the southern half of modern VT 14 were improved at the beginning of the 19th century as various privately owned turnpikes. The oldest of these was the White River Turnpike, which was chartered on November 1, 1800. The road was to run 21 miles (34 km) from the mouth of the White River to the point where it was joined by the Second Branch of the White River, and connected the settlements of White River Junction, Sharon, and Royalton. The toll road was in operation for 52 years. By the end of this period, receipts from the road had become very small due to the recent opening in 1850, along the same path as the turnpike, of a new railway line of the Vermont Central Railroad.
