Not to Be Missed This Afternoon

Two toll houses still stand on either end of Route 23--both listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Known as East Gate (Hillsdale) and West Gate (Greenport), they marked the beginning and end of Columbia County's first turnpike, established in 1799 by the New York State Assembly.

This afternoon, Peter Cipkowski will present a lecture entitled "All Roads to the River: The 1799 Columbia Turnpike and Historic Toll Houses." In his lecture, Cipkowski will explore the Columbia Turnpike and its part in demonstrating the Hudson River's importance as an artery of inland commerce and its place in Columbia County's history. Several historic districts, historic places, and landmark buildings line the route from the Massachusetts border to the Hudson River, and Cipkowski will also describe efforts underway to preserve the existing toll houses and to designate Route 23 as a scenic byway with historic importance.

The lecture, which is sponsored by Historic Hudson and the Columbia County Historical Society, begins at 4 p.m. at the Kinderhook Village Hall, 6 Chatham Street, in Kinderhook. Advance tickets can be purchased online at the website of Historic Hudson or the Columbia County Historical Society. Tickets may also be purchased at the door.
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