Posted on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 - 9:33 am:

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Quote:

After the Morris Turnpike, other turnpikes were chartered and the system of roads for which New Jersey is now famous became established. The Newark?Springfield Turnpike was cut through in 1806 and Millburn Avenue was extended to meet it. For other toll payments, easier access could be had to Newark and adjacent towns. A toll gate was located at the present junction of Millburn and Springfield Avenues. Before Springfield Avenue was laid out, the quickest way to Newark was down Millburn Avenue (then called Vauxhall Road) to "the road through the valley" (Ridgewood Road), and then across that road to South Orange Avenue where a small hamlet known as South Orange was located. South Orange Avenue ran from Ridgewood Road to Newark, and was the third road built by the Newark settlers to the mountains; the first being the present West Market Street and Main Street to Orange, and the second, the road across to South Orange Avenue from Main Street, Orange, now known as "Valley Street" in West Orange, and "Ridgewood Road" in South Orange.

The home of Joseph Riggs at the northwest corner of Ridgewood Road and South Orange Avenue was the terminus for several of these roads. Ridgewood Road and also Valley Street (Maplewood) eventually connected Millburn with South Orange Avenue.

Later on, but before Millburn Avenue was cut through to Springfield Avenue, another way to Newark was favored. Travelers followed the path down Millburn Avenue to the present Valley Street, turned left on Valley Street to the present Tuscan Road, then right on Tuscan Road to the present apex of Maplecrest Park, where a small settlement known at various times as "North Farms", "The Harbor", "Middleville" and "Hilton" was located. There the travelers continued east to Newark. When toll was charged for the Springfield Avenue Pike, Valley Street to South Orange became the shunpike of that section, and was so known for many years.

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