Chambersburg and Bedford Turnpike Road Company Toll House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Chambersburg and Bedford Turnpike Road Company Toll House
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Chambersburg and Bedford Turnpike Road Company Toll House, April 2011
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | West of St. Thomas on U.S. Route 30, St. Thomas Township, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | c. 1818 |
| Built by | Chambersburg & Bedford Turnpike Co. |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002404 |
| Added to NRHP | January 3, 1978 |
The Chambersburg and Bedford Turnpike Road Company Toll House is a very old building in St. Thomas Township, Pennsylvania. It was built around 1818 and used to collect money from travelers. Imagine a time before modern highways, when people had to pay to use certain roads! This building was where that payment happened.
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What is a Toll House?
A toll house is a special building where people collected "tolls" or fees from travelers. These fees helped pay for the building and upkeep of roads, especially private ones called turnpikes. The Chambersburg and Bedford Turnpike Road Company owned this specific toll house.
Life at the Toll House
This toll house is a two-story building made of strong limestone. It has three main sections across its front. People who lived and worked here would have seen many travelers passing by. They would collect money from wagons, carriages, and people on horseback who wanted to use the turnpike. This road was important for connecting towns and moving goods.
The Turnpike System
In the early 1800s, many roads were just dirt paths that became muddy and hard to use. To make travel better, companies built "turnpikes." These were private roads that were usually better maintained. To use them, you had to pay a small fee at places like the Chambersburg and Bedford Turnpike Road Company Toll House. This money helped the company keep the road in good condition.
Becoming a Historic Landmark
The Chambersburg and Bedford Turnpike Road Company Toll House was eventually sold for $60.00. Even though it no longer collects tolls, it's still an important part of history. In 1977, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of buildings, sites, and objects that are important to American history and should be preserved.
