The Vermont Legislature issued a charter to the Strafford Turnpike Company on this day in 1808.

Strafford wanted to build a road to improve transportation, using tolls to pay for its construction and maintenance.

This early route, rudimentary by today’s standards, was a tremendous boon for travel and commerce. Distances could be figured from Strafford to Montpelier and Montreal to the north or Concord and Boston to the south.

The company continued in operation for nearly 18 years, until the Legislature finally reassigned jurisdiction of the road to the state and eliminated the tolls.

Vermont Book Of Days photo