Michigan Road Tollhouse Indiana Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology

Early roads helped establish trade and governmental activities in Indianapolis. The Michigan Road Tollhouse is one of very few survivors of this early period in local history. The New Augusta Gravel Road Company built this small frame house to house the toll keeper and his family. A roadside marker placed in front of the house by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Indiana commemorates the “Toll House” “Operated by the Augusta Gravel Road Company circa 1866-1892” and Michigan Road as the “first major state road, built in the 1830’s from the Ohio River to Lake Michigan.”

Before Michigan Road was a toll road, it was a public road, built with state backing. The road was completed in 1834, connecting Madison, a major Ohio River port, with Lake Michigan at Michigan City, Indiana. After the advent of railroads, many of these early routes were turned over to private toll road companies. A common practice was to let private companies collect tolls on roads they had improved, as was the case for the New Augusta Gravel Road Company, which had put gravel on parts of the Michigan Road north of Indianapolis.

Samuel Howard was the toll keeper here for twenty-five years in the late 19th century. He and his wife served as toll collector, storekeeper, postmaster, and notary public for travelers and nearby farmers.