In 1782, a wagon road was extended westward from Warm Springs (VA) to Lewisburg as a convenience for the importation of salt and the exportation of hemp.  The “Old State Road” from Lewisburg to the lower falls of the Kanawha was constructed in 1786.  This road was known by various names including “The Greenbrier Road” and “The James River Kanawha Turnpike” and followed much the same path at the present-day Route 60, or The Midland Trail. 

 

Tolls were authorized on February 1, 1809 and Greenbrier County was authorized to erect two tollgates on the state road with net proceeds of all tolls to be applied to the maintenance of the road.  Tolls were fixed on an equitable basis according to damage done to the road.  The following rates were established:

 

 

 

 

The toll for this coach and team would have been 25 cents. 

Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress, American Memory Collection