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The Boston Post Road was a system of post roads from New York City to Boston, Massachusetts, containing some of the first major highways in the United States. A post road is a road designated for the transportation of Postal mail. The City of New York The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Upper Post Road was originally called the Pequot Path and had been in use by Indians long before the colonists had arrived. [1] Some of these important Indian trails had been pounded by moccasined feet for so many years that they were two feet below the surrounding woodland.

The colonists first used this trail to deliver the post using post riders. Post riders or postriders describes a Horse and rider Postal delivery system that existed at various times and various places throughout history The first ride to lay out the Upper Post Road started January 22, 1673. Events 565 - Eutychius is deposed as Patriarch of Constantinople by John Scholasticus. Later they developed it into a wagon, or stage road. For other meanings see Stagecoach (disambiguation. A stagecoach (also called diligence) is a type of four-wheeled enclosed A road is an identifiable route, way or path between two or more places. During the 19th century, turnpike companies took over and improved pieces of the road. A toll road, (also known as a tollway, turnpike, pike, or toll highway, especially if it is constructed to Freeway standards Large sections of the various routes are still given the name Boston Post Road; much of it is now U.S. Route 1, U.S. Route 5, and U.S. Route 20. US Route 1 (US 1 is a major north-south US Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. US Route 5 is a north-south United States highway running through the New England states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont US Route 20 is an east-west United States highway. As the "0" in its route number implies U

Mileposts were measured from the intersection of Broadway and Wall Street in New York (one block west of Federal Hall) and from the old Boston border on Washington Street near the Massachusetts Turnpike. Broadway, as the name implies is a wide avenue in New York City. Wall Street is a street in lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. Federal Hall, located at 26 Wall Street in New York City, was the first capitol of the United States of America and the site of George Washington Washington Street is a street in Boston Massachusetts and its extension southwest to the Massachusetts / Rhode Island border The Massachusetts Turnpike (commonly shortened to the MassPike or The Pike) is the easternmost 138-mile (222 km stretch of Interstate 90.

The three major alignments were the Lower Post Road (now U.S. Route 1 along the shore and through Providence, Rhode Island), the Upper Post Road (now US 5 and US 20 from New Haven, Connecticut via Springfield, Massachusetts), and the Middle Post Road (which split from the Upper Road in Hartford, Connecticut, and ran diagonally to Boston via Pomfret, Connecticut). US Route 1 (US 1 is a major north-south US Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. US Route 5 is a north-south United States highway running through the New England states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont US Route 20 is an east-west United States highway. As the "0" in its route number implies U Springfield is a City in and the County seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Pomfret is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States.

In some towns, the area near the Boston Post Road has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places, since it was often the first road in the area, and buildings sprang up along it. The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP is the United States government's official list of districts sites buildings structures and objects deemed worthy of The Boston Post Road Historic District, including part of the road in Rye, New York has been designated a National Historic Landmark. Boston Post Road Historic District is a Historic district including 3 mansions and grounds a cemetery and a nature preserve

Milestone 8 on the Upper Post Road in Harvard Square
Milestone 8 on the Upper Post Road in Harvard Square

The Post Road is also famous for its milestones from the 18th century, some installed at the time of Benjamin Franklin and many remaining to this day. Harvard Square is a large triangular area in the center of Cambridge, Massachusetts, at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue, Brattle Street and John Benjamin Franklin ( April 17 1790 was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America.

Contents

New York

The Post Road in New York
The Post Road in New York

Manhattan

Much of the route in Manhattan, where it was known as Eastern Post Road, was abandoned between 1839 and 1844, when the current street grid was laid out as part of the Commissioners' Plan of 1811. Manhattan Island, in New York Harbor, is much the largest part of the Borough of Manhattan, one of the Five Boroughs which form the City of New York The grid plan or gridiron plan is a type of City plan in which Streets run at right angles to each other forming a grid. The Commissioners' Plan of 1811 was a proposal by the New York State Legislature adopted in 1811 for the orderly development and sale of the land of Manhattan between [2]The following sections of the road still exist:

These milestones were once present in Manhattan:

The Bronx

In southwestern Westchester County, now The Bronx, the Boston Post Road came off the Kings Bridge and quickly turned east, with the Albany Post Road continuing north to Albany, New York. Broadway, as the name implies is a wide avenue in New York City. for the former elevated train station see Park Row (BMT station Park Row is a street located in the Financial District of the Bowery (ˈbaʊɚi or /ˈbaʊri/ is the name of a street and a small neighborhood in the southern portion of the New York City borough of Manhattan. Park Avenue (formerly Fourth Avenue) is a wide boulevard that carries north and southbound traffic in New York City Borough of Manhattan Wall Street is a street in lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. Madison Square is formed by the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway at 23rd Street in the New York City borough of Manhattan See also Manhattan Midtown Manhattan, or simply Midtown, is an area of Manhattan, New York City home to world-famous commercial Saint Nicholas Avenue is a major New York City street It runs north-south between 193rd Street and 111th Streets in the New York City borough of Manhattan See also Geography and environment of New York City The Harlem River is a navigable tidal Strait in New York City, USA that Bowery (ˈbaʊɚi or /ˈbaʊri/ is the name of a street and a small neighborhood in the southern portion of the New York City borough of Manhattan. Canal Street is a major street in New York City, crossing lower Manhattan to join New Jersey in the west (via the Holland Tunnel Early Morning Alamo by David Shankbonejpg|thumb|right|200px|Tony Rosenthal's Alamo ]]The single block of Astor Place Park Avenue (formerly Fourth Avenue) is a wide boulevard that carries north and southbound traffic in New York City Borough of Manhattan This article covers streets in Manhattan, New York City, USA between and including 15th Street and 42nd Street. Third Avenue is a north-south thoroughfare on the East Side of the New York City borough of Manhattan, running from Cooper Square north for over Third Avenue is a north-south thoroughfare on the East Side of the New York City borough of Manhattan, running from Cooper Square north for over Central Park is a large public Urban park in New York City, with about twenty-five million visitors annually Saint Nicholas Avenue is a major New York City street It runs north-south between 193rd Street and 111th Streets in the New York City borough of Manhattan Saint Nicholas Avenue is a major New York City street It runs north-south between 193rd Street and 111th Streets in the New York City borough of Manhattan Saint Nicholas Avenue is a major New York City street It runs north-south between 193rd Street and 111th Streets in the New York City borough of Manhattan Broadway, as the name implies is a wide avenue in New York City. Broadway, as the name implies is a wide avenue in New York City. Broadway, as the name implies is a wide avenue in New York City. Broadway, as the name implies is a wide avenue in New York City. Spuyten Duyvil Creek is a channel connecting the Hudson River to the Harlem River Ship Canal, and on to the Harlem River in New York City, separating Kingsbridge is a working class residential neighborhood geographically located in the northwest Bronx New York. The Albany Post Road was a post road - a road used for Mail delivery - in the U Albany is the Capital of the State of New York and the County seat of Albany County. It passed over the Bronx River on the Williams Bridge, and left The Bronx on Bussing Avenue, becoming Kingsbridge Road in Westchester County. The Bronx River, approximately 24 miles (38 km long flows through southeast New York in the United States. Williamsbridge is a working class neighborhood geographically located in the northeast Bronx borough of New York City in the United States. Westchester County is a primarily Suburban county located in the U In more detail, it used the following roads:

Westchester County

The Boston Post Road entered the modern Westchester County on Kingsbridge Road, and turned north on Third Avenue-Columbus Avenue (Route 22), forking off onto Colonial Place. The Albany Post Road was a post road - a road used for Mail delivery - in the U The Jerome Park Reservoir is located in the North Bronx, New York City. Westchester County is a primarily Suburban county located in the U New York State Route 22 (NY 22 is New York State highway running north&ndashsouth parallel to the state's eastern edge from the outskirts of New York City It continued across Sandford Boulevard (Sixth Street) where there is no longer a road, and curved east and southeast around the hill, hitting Sandford Boulevard-Colonial Avenue at the Hutchinson River Parkway interchange. The Hutchinson River Parkway (also known as The Hutch) is an long Parkway in Downstate New York. It then continued east on Colonial Avenue-Kings Highway, merging with U.S. Route 1. US Route 1 (US 1 is a major north-south US Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. From there to the Connecticut border, the Post Road used US 1, except for several places, where Post Road used the following roads:

Upper Post Road

Routes of the Boston Post Road
Routes of the Boston Post Road

The Upper Post Road was the most traveled of the three routes, being the furthest from the shore and thus having the fewest and shortest river crossings. Connecticut ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. New Rochelle ( French: Nouvelle-Rochelle) is a city in the south-east portion of the U Mamaroneck (muh-mar'-uh-nek) is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The Playland Parkway is a 15 mile four-lane undivided road in the New York State Parkway System in the United States and is assigned Westchester County Route 152 It was also considered to have the best taverns, which helped it remain the most popular. A tavern or pot-house is loosely a place of Business where people gather to drink Alcoholic beverages and more than likely also be served Food The Upper Post Road roughly corresponds to the alignment of U.S. Route 5 from New Haven, Connecticut, to Hartford; Connecticut Route 159 from Hartford to Springfield, Massachusetts; U.S. Route 20 from Springfield to Warren (via Route 67); Massachusetts Route 9 from Warren through Worcester to Shrewsbury; and U.S. Route 20 from Shrewsbury to Boston. US Route 5 is a north-south United States highway running through the New England states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont Route 159 is a state highway connecting the Hartford and Springfield areas in the U Springfield is a City in and the County seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. US Route 20 is an east-west United States highway. As the "0" in its route number implies U For the former town in Bristol County Massachusetts, see Warren Rhode Island. Route 67 is a south-north Highway in western and central Massachusetts. Route 9 is a major east-west State highway in Massachusetts. Along with US 20 to the south and Route 2 to the north this highway is one Worcester (ˈwʊstɚ is a City in the state of Massachusetts in the United States of America. Shrewsbury is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. US Route 20 is an east-west United States highway. As the "0" in its route number implies U

Connecticut

New Haven
Wallingford
Berlin
Wethersfield
Hartford
Windsor
Suffield

Massachusetts

Agawam
Springfield
Palmer
Warren
Brookfield
Leicester
Worcester
Shrewsbury
Marlborough
Sudbury
Waltham
Watertown
Wayland
Cambridge
Brookline
Roxbury
Boston

Lower Post Road

The Lower Post Road stayed near Long Island Sound into Rhode Island, and then turned north through Providence to Boston. Wallingford is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. Berlin is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. Another Wethersfield is in Wyoming County, New York. Wethersfield is a town in Hartford County, Windsor is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, and was the first English settlement in Suffield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The Town of Agawam is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield is a City in and the County seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Palmer is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. For the former town in Bristol County Massachusetts, see Warren Rhode Island. Brookfield is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Leicester (ˈlɛstɚ is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Worcester (ˈwʊstɚ is a City in the state of Massachusetts in the United States of America. Shrewsbury is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Marlborough is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. Sudbury is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. One of the early centers of the Industrial Revolution in northern America Waltham is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States The Town of Watertown is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. Wayland is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. Cambridge Massachusetts is a City in the Greater Boston area of Massachusetts, United States. Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, which borders on the cities of Boston and Newton. Roxbury is a neighborhood within Boston, Massachusetts USA It was one of the first towns founded in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630 and became a Long Island Sound is an Estuary of the Atlantic Ocean and various Rivers in the United States that lies between the coast of Connecticut Rhode Island ( officially named the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, is a state in the New England region of the United States This is now the best-known of the routes, though newer turnpike alignments are often known as the Boston Post Road. A toll road, (also known as a tollway, turnpike, pike, or toll highway, especially if it is constructed to Freeway standards The Lower Post Road roughly corresponds to the original alignment of U.S. Route 1 in eastern Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. US Route 1 (US 1 is a major north-south US Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States.

Connecticut

Stamford
Norwalk
Bridgeport
Stratford
Milford
New Haven
Old Saybrook
New London

Rhode Island

Kingston
Providence

Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, the Norfolk and Bristol Turnpike was established in 1803 to build a straighter route between Pawtucket and Roxbury, mostly west of the Post Road. Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. Stratford is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, located on Long Island Sound at the mouth of the Housatonic Milford is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. Old Saybrook is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. New London is a seaport city and a Port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States Kingston is an unincorporated village and National historic district in the town of South Kingstown Rhode Island in the United States. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. Washington Street is a street in Boston Massachusetts and its extension southwest to the Massachusetts / Rhode Island border Pawtucket (pronounced Pa-TUCK-et is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. Roxbury is a neighborhood within Boston, Massachusetts USA It was one of the first towns founded in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630 and became a It is known as Washington Street in many of the towns it passes through. [1] Due to its avoidance of built-up areas, the southern half of this road was little-used. In addition, another well-used route passed west of this turnpike along current Route 1A. Route 1A is a south-north State highway in Massachusetts. It is an alternate route to U

South Attleboro

The Post Road entered Massachusetts into the town of Attleboro along Newport Avenue (Route 1A) through the settlement of South Attleboro. South Attleboro is a neighborhood of Attleboro, a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. See also Attleborough, United Kingdom Attleboro is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States Route 1A is a south-north State highway in Massachusetts. It is an alternate route to U It continued northeast on Newport Avenue along Route 123, splitting to the north (staying with Newport Avenue) to cross into North Attleborough. Route 123 is a southwest-northeast State highway in Massachusetts that runs from the Massachusetts-Rhode Island state line in Attleboro northeastward to

North Attleborough

South of North Attleborough center, the old road is known as Old Post Road. North Attleborough, commonly written North Attleboro, is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The old road crossed the turnpike (now US 1) just south of the intersection with Route 120, forming a small curve before merging with the turnpike north of the intersection. US Route 1 (US 1 is a major north-south US Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. Route 120 is a short west-east State highway in Massachusetts which acts as an extension of Rhode Island Route 120. This curved alignment is now gone, so traffic must use US 1. Additionally, US 1 leaves the turnpike at the Route 120 intersection to bypass North Attleborough center on East Washington Street. Route 120 is a short west-east State highway in Massachusetts which acts as an extension of Rhode Island Route 120.

The Lower Post Road passed through North Attleborough Center on Washington Street, later used as part of the turnpike. Washington Street is a street in Boston Massachusetts and its extension southwest to the Massachusetts / Rhode Island border Another short curved alignment still exists to the west of Washington Street north of the center. Just north of this, the route crosses the Ten Mile River and then enters a complicated five-way intersection with US 1 and Route 1A. Ten Mile River directs here For the Boy Scout camp see here The Ten Mile River is a River within the U US Route 1 (US 1 is a major north-south US Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. Route 1A is a south-north State highway in Massachusetts. It is an alternate route to U US 1 straight ahead is the old turnpike, and US 1 to the right was built in the 1930s. The Post Road went to the right onto Elmwood Street. The fork to the left onto Route 1A through Plainville center was an alternate route to Boston. Plainville is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States.

Elmwood Street enters the town of Plainville, where it becomes Messenger Street. Plainville is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The road merges with Route 106 before crossing Route 152 at Wilkins Four Corners and entering Foxborough. Route 106 is a west-east State highway in Massachusetts. From Plainville, Route 106 runs east through the following towns Route 152 is a south-north State highway in Massachusetts. From the Rhode Island /Massachusetts border where the highway continues on the other side of Foxborough is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, approximately 22 miles (35 km southwest of Boston and 18 miles (29 km

There is a road passing from the town of Sharon into East Walpole which is known as Old Post Road, which continues north as Pleasant Street into Norwood. Sharon is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. This article is about the town of Walpole Massachusetts For geographic and demographic information on the Census-designated place Walpole please see the article Norwood is a town and Census-designated place in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. [2]

Sharon
East Walpole (part of Walpole)
Norwood
Islington (part of Westwood)
Dedham
Roxbury
Boston

Middle Post Road

The Middle Post Road was the shortest and fastest route, but was less populated and thus less traveled. Sharon is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. This article is about the town of Walpole Massachusetts For geographic and demographic information on the Census-designated place Walpole please see the article This article is about the town of Walpole Massachusetts For geographic and demographic information on the Census-designated place Walpole please see the article Norwood is a town and Census-designated place in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Westwood is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Westwood is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Roxbury is a neighborhood within Boston, Massachusetts USA It was one of the first towns founded in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630 and became a It split from the Upper Post Road in Hartford roughly along current U.S. Route 44 and Route 31 to Willimantic (this was the original alignment of U.S. Route 6). US Route 44 is an east-west United States highway that runs for 238 miles (383 km through four states in the Northeastern region of the United States Route 31 is an east-west State highway in Connecticut running for 14 For the town in Maine named after this one see Willimantic, Maine. Route 6 is the portion of the cross-country US Route 6 within the state of Connecticut. It continues northeast along Route 66 and U.S. Route 6, then along Route 198 and Route 244 to Pomfret. Route 66 is a Connecticut state highway running from Meriden to Windham, serving as an alternate east-west route to US 6 through east-central Route 6 is the portion of the cross-country US Route 6 within the state of Connecticut. Route 198 is a state highway in northeastern Connecticut, running from Chaplin to the Massachusetts state line in Woodstock. Route 244 is a secondary state highway in rural Northeastern Connecticut. Pomfret is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. From Pomfret, it headed into Massachusetts via the town of Thompson, along Thompson Road. Thompson is a rural town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. In Massachusetts, the Middle Post Road runs along sections of modern Route 16 to Mendon, then through Bellingham, and then via Route 109 from Medway to Dedham where it meets with the Lower Post Road (old U. Route 16 is an east-west State highway in Massachusetts. Much of Route 16 is a multi-lane Parkway, although it is not limited access for any significant Mendon is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Bellingham is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Route 109 is a west-east State highway in Massachusetts. Most of Route 109 runs along a portion of the Hartford and Dedham Turnpike. History Medway was first settled in 1657 and was officially incorporated in 1713 S. Route 1) heading into Boston.

Connecticut

Hartford
Manchester
Bolton
Coventry
Mansfield Four Corners, Connecticut
Phoenixville
Pomfret
Putnam
Thompson

Massachusetts

Douglas

Crosses the MA state line into the town of Douglas as Southwest Main Street. Manchester is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. Bolton is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. Coventry is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. Mansfield is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. Eastford is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. Pomfret is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. Putnam is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. Thompson is a rural town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. Douglas is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. This section passes through Douglas State Forest and is one of the most remote sections of the route that is still open as a public road. A 1 mile section here was still unpaved until around 2002, when the last part was finally paved. At the center of Douglas, the Post Road follows MA Route 16 east to East Douglas. Route 16 is an east-west State highway in Massachusetts. Much of Route 16 is a multi-lane Parkway, although it is not limited access for any significant Where Route 16 turns south, the Post Road continues east as Northeast Main Street, which leads to the Uxbridge town line.

Uxbridge

Entering Uxbridge, the name of the road changes to Hartford Avenue. Uxbridge was settled in 1662 and incorporated in 1727 at Suffolk, then Worcester Co Hartford Avenue is a major cross-town road and follows the route of the Post Road for its entire length. From the Douglas town line to the intersection of MA Route 122 it is known as Hartford Avenue West, from Route 122 to the Mendon town line, it is known as Hartford Avenue East. Route 122 is a southeast-northwest State highway in Massachusetts. The original stone arch bridge over the Blackstone Canal is still in use today.

Mendon

Enters the town from Uxbridge as Hartford Avenue West. Mendon is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Follow that road to Route 16, which follows the route of the Post Road for approx 1/2 mile east to Maple Street, which follows the route into Mendon town center. From there the Post Road followed a Providence-Worcester post road south out of the village. This section is now part of Providence Street. About 1 mile south of the town center the roads split. The Post Road heads east, now known as Hartford Avenue East. This road follows the original Post Road route to the Bellingham town line. Historic milestone 37 is still located along the route. [3]

Bellingham

Enters from Mendon as Hartford Avenue. Bellingham is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. MA Route 126 joins the road shortly before crossing over Interstate 495. Route 126 is a north-south State highway in Massachusetts. It begins at the Rhode Island state line in Woonsocket, and proceeds 33 Interstate 495 (abbreviated I-495) is the designation of an Interstate highway half- Beltway in Massachusetts. Route 126 follows the Post Road route the remainder of the way to the Medway town line.

Medway
Millis
Medfield
Dedham

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ^ Bourne, p. History Medway was first settled in 1657 and was officially incorporated in 1713 Millis is a town in Norfolk County in the US state of Massachusetts. Medfield is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The 1767 Milestones are historic Milestones located along Boston Post Road between Boston Massachusetts and Springfield Massachusetts. The Albany Post Road was a post road - a road used for Mail delivery - in the U List of articles related to Roads and Highways around the world 13
  2. ^ Declassified 4-A: Fourth Avenue and Avenue A, accessed May 22, 2006
  3. ^ One Mile House, on the corner of Rivington Street, demolished in 1921, was a meeting-ground for Tammany Hall politicians. Events 334 BC - The Greek army of Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of the Granicus. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. "Bowery Landmark in $170,000 lease", The New York Times 1 April 1921; the painted sign for One Mile House, on the flank of a building on the east side of The Bowery, survived into the 1980s.

References

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