What Is It Named After? The Death Of The Pony Express

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — What's in a name anyway? Alternately known in the Hudson Valley as Route One, Main Street, Boston Post Road and even Broadway in Manhattan, the origins of one of the country's first major modern highways becomes more fascinating the more your learn about the name Boston Post Road.

In 1753, Deputy Postmaster Benjamin Franklin traveled the Boston Post Road to standardize postal rates based on distance, according to the Federal Highway Administration. Stone markers were later placed at mile points along the route to help set those postal rates. Many of these stone mile markers can still be seen today in the Hudson Valley along what is known as US Rte 1.

According to the USDOT, the Boston Post Road was the first postal route between Boston and New York. Three different routes or alignments were used, including the Upper Post Road, Lower Post Road and Middle Post Road. Portions of these postal roads were eventually incorporated into more substantial trails and pathways, eventually leading to portions of several U.S. and interstate routes, including the New England Thruway.

Although Boston Post Road earned its name from its early days as a key colonial mail route, the road, along with the arrival of the telegraph may have helped spell the end of the Pony Express style of lone rider delivery.

In 1783, the Boston Post Road carried the first long-distance stagecoach service from New York to Boston. Improvements to Boston Post Road led to faster and safer travel. The success of this stagecoach service convinced lawmakers to send mail by stagecoach instead of by lone rider, according to the USDOT.

See Also:

• Who Is It Named After? The Rip Van Winkle Bridge Awakes
• What Is It Named After? The Zebra House At The Jay Estate
• What Is It Named After: The Old Sawmill In 'Donckers'
• Who Is It Named After? Ruby Dee Park And Ossie Davis Theatre
• Who Is It Named After? Herman W. Merkel Memorial Garden
• What Is It Named After? Hudson Valley's 'Fictional' Village
• Who Is It Named After? The Hutchinson Massacre
• Who Is It Named After? The Lost Village Of Kensico
• Who Is It Named After? Eddie Foy Park
• What Is It Named After? The Leatherstocking Trail
• Who Is It Named After? Arthur DeMatte Memorial Park