TOLLHOUSE

The Toll House was originally located on the southwest corner of Colts Neck Rd. (Rt. 537 East) and Old Burlington Road (across from East Freehold Road), on property that was owned by Dennis and Helen Perchalski.  It was erected in 1850 with the sole purpose to be refuge for the “toll collector”. 

Toll Houses were usually placed at intersections of major roads.  There were many in Freehold but this is the only one to have survived.  Others were located at the intersection of Rt. 537 and Wemrock Road, At Elk’s Point (Rt. 79 North) and Main St., Freehold,  Rt. 79 North and East Freehold Rd., etc. 

The farmers of these areas would form a Cooperative and would maintain the main road to keep it free of rocks, ruts, limbs, etc.  When you traveled with your wagon or even just on horseback the road would be clear.  The charge for using the “good” road was $.05 for a team/wagon and 2 ½ cents for 1 horse/rider.  If you chose not to use that road there was usually a road alongside that had not been maintained and you would have to take your chances of possibly breaking a wheel on the wagon or your horse stepping in a hole.

Toll Roads/Houses were used into the 1900’s until paved roads took their place.  Of course we say these were the precursor to the Garden State Parkway, etc. of today.

We know of only 1 other toll house still standing and that is near Lakehurst, N.J.