Newtown Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Durham Road Toll House
| | Newtown Heritage Walk | |
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., January 28, 2010
1. Durham Road Toll House Marker
The Newtown and Wrightstown Turnpike (Durham) Toll House was in operation from approximately 1870 to 1920, when it was originally located at this site at the intersection of Sycamore Street (532) and Durham Road (413). The toll house served as the headquarters of the Wrightstown and Newtown Turnpike Company. The section of the turnpike that this gatekeeper controlled was from the intersection of the routes now known as 532 and 413 to Wrightstown-Taylorsville Road and 413. The turnpike ceased to function in 1920 and the house became a private dwelling.
Toll Houses were constructed for the purpose of collecting money for road maintenance and salary for toll keepers. The Toll House provided modest living quarters for the toll keeper (and family) on this part of the Durham Road turnpike, and it had a toll gate that could be raised and lowered as the tolls were paid. Upon payment of one cent, the gate was lifted and a pedestrian was allowed to pass through. Two cents opened the gate to a horse or ox. When automobiles came into use, the charge for a car and driver was five cents. The Toll House was twice saved from demolition. First, in 1955 by the Goodnoe family, when it was moved to its present location on Durham Road at Eagle Road to make way for the Goodnoe Dairy Bar. Second, in 1989 when the developer of the Village at Newtown
this page online
Erected 2007 by Newtown Historical Association and the J. W. McGrath Organization. (Marker Number 19a.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania, Newtown Heritage Walk series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.
Location. 40° 14.153′ N, 74° 56.259′ W. Marker is near Newtown, Pennsylvania, in Bucks County. It is in Newtown Township. It is at the intersection of Sycamore Street and Durham Road (Pennsylvania Route 532), on the left when traveling north on Sycamore Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 280 N Sycamore Street, Newtown PA 18940, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania and in Greater Philadelphia. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, New Netherland, and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Goodnoe Farm & Dairy Bar (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Boyd-Yardley House (about 600 feet away); Brooks House (about 800 feet away); a different marker also named Durham Road Toll House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Macedonia Baptist Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Saloon (approx. 0.2 miles away); Randall Double House
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., January 28, 2010
2. Durham Road Toll House Marker
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., January 28, 2010
3. Durham Road Toll House Photo on Marker
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., January 28, 2010
4. Durham Road Toll House Photo on Marker
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., January 28, 2010
5. Heritage Walk Map on Marker
Photographed by Pete Skillman, December 23, 2024
6. Durham Road Toll House Marker - Toll House in its current location
Credits. This page was last revised on December 24, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 3, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,057 times since then and 90 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 3, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 6. submitted on December 23, 2024, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware.
