Because it was Built 216 years ago by soldiers. One of the first roads
in the country planned for military purposes by the Federal Government
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| Military Road, The long Arching Line From Lewiston to Black Rock |
Military Road was laid out originally by United States soldiers, under the direction of General James Wilkinson, who was called upon by Alexander Hamilton, then inspector-general of the army, to make recommendations for the protection of the frontiers along the Great Lakes. Writing to Hamilton, on February 12, 1799, General Wilkinson thus referred to the need of a roadway between Lakes Ontario and Erie. "The want of a road within our own limits, and a place, of deposit near Lake Erie, obliges us to carry our stores and merchandise, public and private, through the British dominions from Newark to Chippewa Creek by land, and from the last place to Fort Erie, in bateaux, which involves much delay and expense, and 'exposes our citizens to undue constraints and, impositions." The Military Highway would replace the old Portage Road which followed too closely the winding course of the Niagara River.
General Wilkinson arrived upon the Niagara Frontier in May 1801, with a commission to open the much needed roadway. His headquarters were at Black Rock, with a corps of surveyors and soldiers for laborers. In locating the new road he had the valued help of Joseph Ellicott, surveyor and agent of the Holland Land Co. Major M. Porter and soldiers from Fort Niagara opened the road during 1801 and 1802 from the fort to the brow of the ridge at Lewiston, and from there to a mile west of Tonawanda Creek the timber was cut down, but not removed. Bridges were built across the Tonawanda and Cayuga creeks. In 1809 the state appropriated $1,500 for improvement of the road, this amount to be collected from purchasers of land upon the "Mile Strip," which ran the length of the Niagara River. A passable wagon road was made from Black Rock to Niagara Falls.
General Wilkinson's plan for Niagara Frontier protection included a fort at Black Rock, but the state legislature and national government differed as to payment for the land and the fort was never built. Although a small one was built in Black Rock in 1807 and enlarged into Fort Tompkins in August of 1812. The road served a useful purpose to many settlers, as well as to soldiers. However, by 182o Military Road was overgrown with weeds and bushes, and only sections of it were used by local farmers. Wet weather made the roadway almost impassable at times between the Tonawanda and Scajaquada creeks, which prompted an appeal to the Black Rock highway commissioners to spend money for its improvement. It was not until 1832 that the surface of the road was cleared and repaired. On September 18, 1848, Black Rock authorities declared Military Road a public highway. Few modern motorists speeding over its smooth surface, know that it was originally hewed out of the forests by soldiers axes, and for specific military purposes. Jerry M. Malloy - Buffalo History Gazette
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| On center Median, Sheridan Drive at Military Road. |
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| 1010 Niagara Street |
