Searights Tollhouse, National Road
Western side of the tollhouse
Searights Tollhouse, National Road is located in Pennsylvania
Searights Tollhouse, National Road
Searights Tollhouse, National Road is located in the United States
Searights Tollhouse, National Road
Nearest cityUniontown, Pennsylvania
Coordinates39°56′49.8″N 79°47′40.4″W / 39.947167°N 79.794556°W / 39.947167; -79.794556
Arealess than one acre
Built1835 (1835)
NRHP reference No.66000665
Significant dates
Added to NRHPOctober 15, 1966[2]
Designated NHLJanuary 29, 1964[3]
Designated PHMCn/a[1]

The Searights Tollhouse of the National Road is a historic toll house on United States Route 40, the former route of the historic National Road, north of Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Built in 1835, it is one of two surviving tollhouses (out of six) built by the state of Pennsylvania to collect tolls along the portion of the road that passed through that state. It has been restored by the state and is now maintained by the local historical society. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1964.[3][4]

Surviving family members of William Searight relocated into Pittsburgh. As of 2023, blood descendants include Lindley Searight, Ralph Searight Jr, Brian Searight, Kevin Searight, Jacob Searight, and Jason Searight.

Description and history

The Searights Tollhouse is located about 5 miles (8.0 km) northwest of Uniontown, and stands on the west side of US 40 north of its junction with Dearth Road. It is a brick building whose most prominent feature is a two-story octagonal tower about 20 feet (6.1 m) tall, capped by an octagonal roof and small octagonal cap. A single-story porch extends around about three-quarters of the tower, and there are two single-story single-room wings extending to the north and west. The building was designed so that the tollkeeper had good views of the road in both directions, and was originally fitted with a swinging gate that would block the road.[4]

The portion of the National Road that passes through Pennsylvania was built between 1811 and 1818, and was one of the first public works projects of the federal government. The road greatly improved travel times between the Cumberland, Maryland, and Wheeling, West Virginia, and the Pennsylvania stretch in particular benefited from economic development along its route. In 1835 the federal government turned control over the road to the state.[4] In order to maintain the roadway, the state instituted tolls, building six tollhouses along its route. This one was built near the tavern of William Searight, the state commissioner in charge of the roadway. Tolls were collected on the road until the 1870s, after which the tollhouse was abandoned. It was restored by the state, and now stands as a historic marker along the road.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ "PHMC Historical Markers". Historical Marker Database. Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  2. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  3. ^ a b "Searights Tollhouse, National Road". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved February 11, 2008.
  4. ^ a b c d Joseph S. Mendinghall and S. Sydney Bradford (May 8, 1975). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Searights Tollhouse, National Road" (pdf). National Park Service. ((cite journal)): Cite journal requires |journal= (help) and Accompanying 3 photos, exterior, from 1975. (32 KB)
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