Thursday, September 12, 2024

U.S. 40 Cross Section of the United States of America (Chapter 25: Mileposts)

 
That was then (1953).  


Congress authorized the National Road in 1806, said Bill Flood, a past president of the Whitehall Historical Society, though construction did not begin until 1811 and did not reach the Ohio River until 1825, stretching into Columbus in 1833. 
Conceived as an "all-weather road" necessary for America's westward expansion, it was built using macadam, a surface named for its Scottish inventor, John McAdam, using several layers of crushed stone to create a solid, weather-resistant surface, according to "The National Historic Road in Ohio" by Glenn Harper and Doug Smith.


From chapter 25:
Where the National Road still follows its original course, the motorist passes many old mileposts still standing. 
{snip]  
The drivers of the Conestoga wagons, proceeding at their two or three miles per hour, would certainly have been mystified by the modern signpost appearing just east of the little town of Lafayette.  It must be admitted that the modern automobilist, expecially at night, is also sometimes mystified, and has been known to turn up the wrong lane and go in the wrong direction.
 
This is now.  
 

Google Maps



U.S. 40 and U.S. 42 intersection is located 22 miles west of Columbus.
 
Photo by Retiring Guy: 1952 Rand McNally Road Atlas (arrow added)



Related post:
Chapter 1:  Beginnings.  (7/19/2024)
Chapter 2:  Coastal Plain.  (7/20/2024)
Chapter 5.  Six-Lane Highway.  (8/4/2024)
Chapter 6.  Bush River.  (8/5/2024)
Chapter 7:  Baltimore rows.  (8/6/2024)
Chapter 8:  Ellicott City.  (8/7/2024)
Chapter 9.  Frederick.  (8/8/2024)
Chapter 11.  Horrible example.  (8/16/2024)
Chapter 12.  Mount Prospect.  (8/17/2024)
Chapter 13:  Ridge and Valley.  (8/18/2024)
Chapter 14:  The Narrows.  (8/19/2024)
Chapter 15:  From Little Savage Mountain.  (8/27/2024)
Chapter 16:  Mason-Dixon Line.  (8/28/2024)
Chapter 17:  Fort Necessity (8/29/2024)
Chapter 18:  Braddock's Grave, (8/30/2024)
Chapter 19:  Toll House.  (9/2/2024)
Chapter 20.  Coal Mine.  (9/5/2024)
Chapter 21:  Wheeling.  (9/6/2024)
Chapter 22:  Cambridge, Ohio.  (9/9/2024)
Chapter 23:  S-bridge.  (9/10/2024)
Chapter 24:  Highway and tree.  (9/11/2024)

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