The Susquehanna and Tioga Turnpike; also called the Berwick and Tioga Turnpike,[1] and Susquehanna & Tioga Turnpike connecting via the high ground[a] of tributary valleys Berwick and upstream, Tioga—chartered & incorporated in 1806, the toll road, like many Middle Ages toll roads in Europe was opened initially as an animal power (foot traffic) turnpike in Northeastern Pennsylvania connecting early Central and Northern Eastern Pennsylvania along the Main Branch Susquehanna River to Lower New York State.
Established in the early American canal age, and undercapitalized,[b] it took several years to gradually extend improved trails in stages 100 miles (160 km) to Elmira, New York[3] from its southern terminus at Berwick, Pennsylvania opposite Nescopeck across the Susquehanna River—in this manner it initially also sufficed as a bridle trail as well.
Where demand existed from sources of natural resources or farmers seeking to ship farm goods to markets, it was systematically widened and improved into a wagon road.
Built south to north, the path was opened initially along Amerindian trails, which were widened and improved to enable local farm commerce.
When first completed, several northern ascents were far too steep for conversion into a wagon road so required later expensive engineering works by building shoulders into slope traversing roadbeds.
Inspired by the earlier Lehigh & Susquehanna Turnpike, the two toll roads connected Philadelphia and New Jersey (Delaware & Lehigh Valley communities) to Lake Erie at Buffalo, New York via the toll bridge across the Susquehanna River between Berwick and Nescopeck—the northern terminus of the Lausanne-Nescopeck Turnpike.
[c] After the War of 1812, much of Berwick's post war growth and industrial development was because it was one of the first towns with foundries, mills and smithies that could be regularly supplied by the new wonder fuel, Anthracite coming from across the river via the Nescopeck river port from the modest mines at Jeddo, Pennsylvania.
Between Nescopeck and Lausanne Landing, the Lehigh & Susquehanna Turnpike passed through the future Beaver Meadows settlement[5] near the Jeddo works (& lands)[d] that were the predecessor to, and inspiration of the industrial pioneers of the Beaver Meadow Railroad and Coal Company.
Traffic along it mostly ceased in 1907,[7] during the era when auto-clubs had pressed state and local governments to connect American cities and towns by a system of paved roads, in response to the explosion of interest in owning and driving "horseless carriages"—early automobiles and motor trucks (Lorries).
The turnpike was commonly used for lime, iron, salt, and plaster (gypsum) mineral transportation by pack mule trains, and, later, wagons.
From there, the turnpike followed a meandering and difficult route up Red Rock Mountain along PA 487, and passed along the west side of Ganoga Lake.
It then went through Sullivan County in a dead straight track to the community of Mildred along modern day State Game Road, Old Berwick Turnpike, Hayes Road, and jeep trails connecting the three; modern day PA 487 bypasses this route to the communities of Lopez and Ricketts.
An area of the road in Sullivan County was referred to as the "Devil's mile" due to its poor condition.
A common remedy to this was to create a corduroy road consisting of logs laid perpendicularly to the rails below them.
Additionally, at least initially, some parts of the turnpike were too steep for horses to travel up,[7] though the turnpikes of the day often had multiple paths some of which shortened the road traveled for foot traffic, and those with longer ascents and descents along a slanted traverse for horse and pack animal traffic—with still others, widened and improved to allow wagon traffic enabling raw materials and produce deliveries to trail heads.