THE   FERRY  ROAD

ON

LONG ISLAND

BY

EUGENE L. ARMBRUSTER


THE  BROOKLYN, JAMAICA & FLATBUSH TURNPIKE  ROAD 


	The Brooklyn, Jamaica and Flatbush Turnpike Company was incorporated on March 17th, 1809, 
and laid its turnpike upon the two main branches of the Kings Highway. Both were old Dutch roads,
having originally been constructed by the Dutch authorities along the Indian trails. The company 
abandoned in 1827 that portion of its road which lay within the village limits, viz., below 
Red Hook Lane. This consisted of the two branches leading to the Old Ferry and the New Ferry
and became now public highways of the village of Brooklyn. 
As late as 1840 all public highways were dirt roads; the first exception was the Jamaica and 
Brooklyn Plank Road, of which, however, only a small fraction was within the city limits. 

	The Ferry Road forked at a point which is now the centre of the area bounded by Atlantic 
Avenue, Pacific Street, Fifth and Sixth Avenues. One arm of the turnpike road led to Jamaica 
and was later extended to Hempstead, 21 miles from the ferry, and still later to Babylon, 
39 miles in all, by other companies. 

	The other branch led through present Prospect Park, over Flatbush Hill, through the Valley 
Grove into and through the town of Flatbush, on to Flatlands, where it ended on what is still 
known as Kings Highway. 

	A stage line, running to Flatbush, was established in 1830, and the Turnpike Company 
commenced running stages to Jamaica in 1832.


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