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6 Friday, February 24, 2023 brooklintowncrier.com 5959 Anderson St. 905.655.6200 brooklineyecare.ca Although traveling the roads of Brooklin today may seem like a challenge, think about the settlers in the 1840s whose main thoroughfare was just a blazed trail. When Brooklin, then known as Winchester, was first being settled, the only way to transport goods to Whitby harbour was along a trail that was little more than a dirt track. It was not maintained and often difficult to navigate, especially in the early spring or after a heavy rainfall, when it turned into a deep muddy mess. It wasn't uncommon to see horses and wagons mired in the muck. With the growth of new farms in the area, the number of travelers increased and it became clear a better road was needed. In 1846, Peter Perry, who represented the third riding of York in Parliament, campaigned for a plank road to be built from Whitby harbour to Lake Simcoe. Land survey Government engineers surveyed land about a half kilometre west of the former trail, assuming responsibility for the build and its The muddy trail that became a paved highway By Jennifer Hudgins Francis Bailey, a Winchester ginger beer maker, knew a farmer who rode his horse to Port Whitby to buy something for his wife. The night before, a violent storm hit the community and the dirt trail the farmer had to take was knee deep in mud. However, the farmer thought he could get to the Port without any trouble, so off he went. That afternoon, Francis was walking in the bush when he noticed the farmer's hat resting on the muddy surface of the trail. Thinking he could save the farmer's hat, he took a stick and when he lifted it off the mud, the farmer's head appeared. Francis offered to help the farmer out of the mud. But the farmer was more concerned about his horse, which he was still sitting on! A Bailey family story By Jennifer Hudgins upkeep. This road, known as the Centre Road, crossed Concession 6 and was constructed of raised pine planks that were 14 feet long and 6 inches thick. In 1852, the plank road was purchased from the government by the Whitby, Lake Scugog, Simcoe and Huron Company, which erected toll gates along the route. According to the Brooklin Women's Institute Tweedsmuir History, one of these gates was located at the south end of the village, at the junction of what is now Highways 12 and 7. In the winter some farming families refused to pay the toll and chose to take their loaded sleighs across fields instead. The 74 kilometre (46 mile) plank road cost approximately $23,000 to build and was considered one of the best in the province. Types of tolls The toll stations charged fees based on the type of vehicle and its load. The road was divided into two parts: one side was made of sills (runners) and planks for loaded wagons while the other side was dirt for empty wagons and single horses to pass on. Maintenance crews were necessary to make repairs, as the road took a toll on horseshoes and iron-hooped wagon wheels. In 1863, businessmen J. Gould and C. Draper bought the road and used a portion of the tolls to pay for maintenance. But by 1871, the collection of tolls had come to an end. Ontario County purchased the road in 1876 and resurfaced it with compacted crushed stone macadam. Then in 1924, it was paved for the first time. This road is Highway 12.