Back in the days before our mail moved by plane and truck, even back before the Pony Express was officially established, the U.S. government relied on horse-drawn coaches and wagons that crisscrossed the Rensselaer Plateau.
[private]The plateau was an important link between New York and New England, and a significant amount of mail going between New York State and the rest of the country (what there was of it) had to go over the plateau on its way to or from Boston and points east.
Come hear how some of the very first roads in the plateau—the original “post roads”—were established and developed by the post office in the late 18th century and the first half of the 19th century, and how they went in and out of favor.
On Thursday, February 11, Diane DeBlois and Robert Dalton Harris, owners of the West Sand Lake-based historic document business called aGatherin’, will offer an enlightening and engaging look at the local roads that were first used as mail routes.Their presentation begins at 7 pm at Sand Lake Town Hall, and there’s no cost to attend.[/private]