History of the Roadway Between New London and Hartford

-- David Wordell, December 30, 2002 --

The first road was an old Indian trail. After 1645, it led from the north to the new settlement at New London and was used for trading purposes. In 1706 this country path was called "New London New Road".

In 1707, the Governors would normally travel to the Capitol in Hartford by boat along the Connecticut River, but during the winter they would travel overland through Salem on this path. By 1708 the path was known as "The Governor's Road".

In 1724, Captain Samuel Gilbert applied to the County Court to have it improved. The Court appointed a committee to "inquire into the conveniency and necessity thereof".  Nothing was done for seven years, and in 1731 the inhabitants complained to the Court of "the difficulty of passing in ye Country Road". In November 1733, a highway committee was again appointed with the same result. In October 1739, Colonel Samuel Browne was visiting the influential Winthrops in New London. Something was said about the deplorable condition of the Governor's Road; …within a month the road was improved to a highway.

The road was again straightened in 1800 and became known as the "Hartford and New London Turnpike". It was a toll road with stage coach service until 1895. It remained a dirt road until 1919, when it was paved with concrete. The State of Connecticut renamed the road "Route 85"…. And now, history is repeating itself!