Bergen Point Plank Road facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bergen Point Plank Road |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Route information | |
| Existed | 1850–present |
| Major junctions | |
| South end | Bergen Point, Bayonne, NJ |
| North end | Paulus Hook, Jersey City, NJ |
| Highway system | |
| New Jersey State Highway Routes Interstate and US |
|
The Jersey City and Bergen Point Plank Road was a special kind of road built in the 1800s. It connected two important places in Hudson County, New Jersey: Paulus Hook (which is now part of Jersey City) and Bergen Point (which is now part of Bayonne).
This road was built by a company that got permission on March 6, 1850. They wanted to make an older road from the 1700s much better. Today, parts of this old road are known as Grand Street and Garfield Avenue in Jersey City. In Bayonne, it's now called Broadway.
What Was a Plank Road?
Plank roads were common in the 1800s. They were often built by private companies. These companies would charge a fee, called a toll, to use the road. The Jersey City and Bergen Point Plank Road had a tollgate at a place called Communipaw Junction.
The name "plank road" tells you how it was built. Wooden boards, or planks, were laid down on the road. This was done to stop horse-drawn carriages and wagons from getting stuck. It helped them travel smoothly over soft or muddy ground.
The Road's Journey
The road started near the water at Paulus Hook, close to the Hudson River. From there, it went to Communipaw Junction, where people paid the toll.
After the tollgate, the road ran next to the Morris Canal. It passed through an area called Greenville and then to Curries Woods. It also went by the Bayview – New York Bay Cemetery.
The road crossed the canal at a spot called Pamrapo. Then, it continued south through Saltersville and Centerville. Finally, it ended at Bergen Point. From Bergen Point, travelers could catch ferries. These ferries could take them to Elizabethport across Newark Bay. They could also go to Staten Island by crossing the Kill Van Kull.
