Program

NYS Historic

Subject

Transportation

Location

7632 US-20, Cherry Valley, NY 13320, USA

Lat/Long

42.808, -74.685

Grant Recipient

Route 20 Association of New York State

The early 19^th century saw a marked increase in the creation of turnpikes, or privately owned and managed roads that required a toll to travel on. Turnpikes were meant to solve the issue of road maintenance, which both hindered westward expansion and general travel inland.

One such turnpike, chartered as the Great Western Turnpike Company in 1799, was created to connect Albany to Cherry Valley, an important front during the American Revolution. When chartered in 1799, the Great West Turnpike Company was responsible for building a navigable passageway that would allow for improved travel between “the house of John Weaver in Watervliet to Cherry Valley.” The 1799 Charter also required that the company, “shall continue their operations by making and repairing such part or parts of the said road as they may judge will be most conducive to the convenience of travelers and so from time to time,” and allowed the company to, “erect a gate or gates as aforesaid be granted, the president and directors may appoint toll gatherers to collect and receive of and from all and every person or persons using the said road the tolls and duties.”

The 1799 Great Western Turnpike, when completed, extended to Cherry Valley. However the success of Turnpike led to subsequent charters, including one in 1803, the Third Great Western Turnpike Charter, which extended the route to Cazenovia and which was completed in 1811. The Great Western Turnpikes would come to be known as the Cherry Valley Turnpike, named for the location where the two routes connected.

Despite improvements in travel and other turnpikes closing throughout the early and mid-19^th century, the Cherry Valley Turnpike held on remarkably long, and tolls on the turnpike continued to be collected until 1857. In 1926 the former turnpike became part of Route 20, which spanned from Boston, MA to Newport, OR. Later, the Cherry Valley Turnpike was designated as a scenic byway. This marker commemorates the important route throughout the various stages of its existence. Visitors to the site can appreciate not only the history of the early turnpike, but also magnificent views of the Mohawk Valley and Southern Adirondacks.