76 SHELTON : 



ably as standing at that date on the then roads. This map 

 helps much in identifying and locating these old stones. 



It is interesting to note — and I think that it is without 

 exception — that in eveiy case in Delaware County the stones 

 that yet remain are on the right hand side of the road, as one 

 goes away from the city. Not one stands on the left hand 

 side. Whether this was merely custom, or for a definite 

 reason, I have neither found nor attempted to guess. 



The starting point from which the distances were meas- 

 ured differed on different roads. The earliest counted from 

 the old Court House that stood at Second and Market Streets, 

 Philadelphia. The stones on "the road to Newcastle," the 

 old Haverford road, the old Lancaster road and the Gulph 

 road, all start from there. The present Lancaster pike stones 

 start from where that pike first began, viz.: the "Middle 

 Bridge," now Market Street bridge. This is why the No. 6 

 stone is more or less abreast of but No. 4 on the old Lancaster 

 road, there being two miles distance between the bridge and 

 the Court House; and why, a couple of miles beyond No. 8 

 on the pike, where the Gulph road leads off. No. 12 is found 

 instead of No. 10. West Chester pike, that branches off 

 Lancaster at Thirty-second Street, starts the count of distance 

 from that point. 



EARLY COLONIAL STONKS. 



There are in our County stones on the old Providence 

 road, from Chester to Providence Meeting House, near the 

 place called Providence on Dr. Ash's map, now Media, that 

 may antedate all the turnpike stones and even the earlier 

 insurance stones. Then again they may not. So far the suf- 

 ficient facts and evidence have not been dug up to settle the 

 question. What we know about them is as follows, and it 

 leaves a pretty question to be perhaps happily solved by some 

 later milestone lover. 



The Providence road was laid out in 1684. It is exactly 

 five miles Ions: from the old Chester Court House to the meet- 



