220 The Story of The Bronx 



From very early times, a causeway and bridge stood across 

 Westchester Creek, connecting the village with Throgg's 

 Neck. In the town records of Westchester, we find under 

 date of July 9, 1678: "It is ordered that ye bridge betwixt 

 Frogges Necke and ye Towne be maintained and upheld by a 

 rate to be levied and assessed upon all persons and estates 

 that are putt in the county rate belonging to the Township 

 of Westchester, East Chester excepted." As there was a 

 number of farms on Throgg's Neck, there must have been a 

 road leading to Westchester, where were the church, the court- 

 house, and such shops as then existed. 



Another important road through the middle of the Borough 

 was that leading to White Plains, the county-seat after 1759. 

 It is still in existence, north from Bronxdale, passing through 

 Olinville, Wakefield, Mount Vernon, and beyond. From 

 Williamsbridge northward, this highway and the Boston Road 

 were one, until the latter swung off toward Eastchester at 

 the head of Black Dog Brook. The present White Plains 

 Avenue was laid out about 1863, a little to the west of the old 

 road in general, though passing over parts of it. The work of 

 widening White Plains Avenue to a boulevard one hundred 

 feet in width was begun in the autumn of 1902, after several 

 years of consideration ; it was finished in January, 1908. From 

 below Laconia Park at the southern end of Williamsbridge, 

 another old road leads to Westchester, passing to the eastward 

 of the former Morris Park race-track. 



As settlers took up farms along the shore of the Sound 

 beyond Westchester, a road was laid out connecting with 

 Pelham Manor. Eastchester Creek was crossed either by a 

 ford or a ferry, probably the latter, as the tide runs too strongly 

 at Pelham Bridge to make fording safe, except at slack water. 

 The wooden bridge was not constructed until 18 12. This 



