Allendale Toll Gate House

During the first half of the 19th century, our area was known as “The Turnpike, ‘’ taking its name from the newly chartered toll road running through the settlement - Franklin Turnpike. It was chartered as a toll road in 1806 and was once part of the Albany Post Road. A toll gatehouse once stood on the southwest corner of the intersection of Franklin Turnpike and Crescent Avenue (It’s well house still stands today.) After two fires in June and September of 1933, the old toll gate house was condemned and razed late that same year. In 1949, Mrs. Fred Koster, who lived nearby on Franklin Turnpike, retold a tale she had heard from her grandmother, Mrs. Gary Storm. Mrs. Storm, who lived in the toll gatehouse from the late 1800s until her death about 1930, heard the story from older residents. Sometime during the 19th century, according to the tale, the toll gate house became known as “the house the elephant kicked over.” The elephant, part of a circus traveling along the turnpike, became entangled in the toll chain attached to the building. As a result, the elephant pulled down a section of the building. The damage must have been soon repaired, for the house continued in use for many years. Amazing as the story seems, it appears that such an event could indeed have actually happened, for such circuses and animal shows were not unknown in this area. On November 1st, 1833, Martha Ann Zabriskie of Saddle River wrote in her diary, “A great show of animals has been at New Prospect.”