History of Franklin Turnpike

Thursday, October 13, 2011 Ramapo Reformed Church, 7:30 P.M. Presented by Carol Greene The route of present Franklin Turnpike, from Old Paramus Church to the NY-NJ line, was once part of the 1600s "Albany post road, west route" (west side of the Hudson River) from NYC to Albany. It was also part of a King's Highway of 1703 through Ramapough (Suffern/Mahwah area), Paramus, and Hackensack, connecting Albany and Goshen, NY to the Hoboken Ferry and NYC. At first a wilderness trail, this road soon became an important traveled way.   It was critical during the Revolutionary War.   George Washington and Aaron Burr used it during the Revolutionary War. In the 1790s, the U.S. Post Office began awarding mail contracts to stage lines, which helped to support passenger service . Twice weekly, a four-horse stage ran from Hoboken, NJ to Goshen and Albany. Still, the old road was full of holes, ruts, and deep mud when it rained. In 1806, Franklin Turnpike, funded by investor capital, was chartered from New Prospect (Waldwick) to the NY-NJ line, where it connected to NY's Orange Turnpike.   Traffic on the improved road included stage coaches, heavy freight wagons drawn by oxen, mounted riders, and dusty drovers with herds of goats and gaggles of geese.   Turnpike inns and taverns prospered.   However, competition from canals, steamers on the Hudson, and the railroad ended the colorful era of the U.S. turnpikes. The Franklin Turnpike Company was dissolved in 1853 and the road opened for public use.   Carol Greene will discuss historic Franklin Turnpike, built straight as a Roman road from Mahwah to Waldwick (the original seven miles of the charter), and one of the area's busiest roads today. (Unfortunately, it is still full of holes.)  Click here to reserve.