Toll House No. 5

History Spotlight by Doug Humes

There was once a border between Marple and Newtown where people were held up every day. The highwayman who made travelers “stand and deliver” there? Toll House No. 5. The structure, a small roadside house with a large pole that blocked the street, was part of the West Chester Turnpike, connecting West Philadelphia and Newtown Square. There was no state highway department back then, so the roads were not well maintained. In winter, they were impassable with mud and ruts; in summer, with dust and ruts.

In 1848, local businessmen decided to form a corporation to improve the road – initially using wooden planks. To pay for these improvements, a toll was charged, at five toll houses between Philadelphia and Newtown Square.

Postcard of Toll Gate 5, with pike open

Photo courtesy of the Marple Historical Society

An early history reported that in 1897, Toll House 5, near the 10th milestone, was being kept by William Edwards. When a traveler approached, he would stop at the “pike” that blocked his path. The toll keeper would come out, collect the toll, and then turn the pike, to allow the traveler to pass. The act gave rise to the name of this private road: a turnpike.

Shares in the Turnpike corporation were owned by local residents like Jane Pratt

Photo courtesy of the Newtown Square Historical Society

Longtime resident Jan Elston tells two stories of her mother Janice Edgar’s memories of Toll House 5. As a young girl living in Newtown in the early 1900s, Janice recalled that her mother would give her money for errands in nearby Marple, including money for the toll. She and a friend would ride there on horseback. On their return, if no one was minding the toll gate, Janice and her friend would rush past the gate on their horses and use the money saved to buy candy. Janice also recalled that the old milestone was still visible then, and so when they would ride into the city to go to market, when they passed the milestone that said “10 M to P,” they would look at each other and say “That’s a long time to hold it.”

Each toll road had its own design for milestones

Photo courtesy of the Marple Historical Society

After 70 years of tolls, some vocal locals began in 1906 to call for “the freeing of the West Chester Turnpike for tolls.” That meant buying out the interests of the Turnpike Company.

1918 headline announcing end of tolls

Photo courtesy of the Newtown Square Historical Society

After pestering the state for years, the locals won: In Media, on April 5, 1918, the State and the County each paid the Turnpike Company $37,500. The officials then drove to Newtown Square, and headed east, telling each toll keeper that their job was over.

For more on the history of Newtown Square, Delaware County and membership information, please visit our website: www.NSHistory.org.

March is Youth Art Month

Sponsored by Newtown Square Historical Society

Artwork by Local Youth Will Be on Display

Saturdays March 6, 13, 20 and 27

11am-4pm at the Square Tavern

For details, email Info@NSHistory.org .