Stagecoaches and Turnpikes; Traveling Through Connecticut
Setting the Scene
Before the groundbreaking invention of stage coaches and turnpikes, people had to travel in harsh road conditions in a private carriage or even by horseback, which was very costly and many people did not own these means of transportation. Turnpikes had first appeared in the 1700’s where businesses had privately funded these new roads. Running all across Connecticut, these Turnpikes became beneficial to many as they helped import/export good to far away locations. Private carriages and horseback were used for transport on turnpikes until a man by the name of Levi Pease brought the idea of stage coaches to New England. This unbeatable duo was the start of something extraordinary. Turnpikes and stage coaches improved the daily lives of many people in the community.
Where it Began
The evolution of turnpikes and stage coaches all started in the late eighteenth century where they appeared briefly in Farmington. A man named Levi Pease who established the business of stagecoaches here in the community made it what it is today. Having been interrupted by the war,
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When people first started traveling on Turnpikes and with stage coaches, it was considered one of the most groundbreaking inventions in history. Businesses revolved around turnpikes and stage coaches; jobs were made and that’s what people did for their daily life. Tolls and stage coach services used the money they collected to pay for the creation of more turnpikes and carriages. Whether it was from Levi Pease and bringing stage coaches to Farmington, or investments from businesses on the stock market of the roads, Turnpikes and stagecoaches are historically significant because they brought transportation to what it is today and benefited Farmington locally and helped the