Editing Boston Post Road (section)

==Middle Post Road==
The '''Middle Post Road''' was the shortest, fastest, and youngest portion of the route. From Hartford, it ran into the Eastern Upper Highlands, an area with large native Indian populations. During King Philip's War of 1675, travel in these areas was often dangerous for settlers. It was not until the end of the war and establishment of the Colonial post system that the area began to become populated, and the middle post road was established as the fastest route. This area of the state continues to remain underpopulated in contrast to other portions of Connecticut, and accordingly, portions of the original post road have been preserved due to various circumstances. It split from the Upper Post Road in Hartford, and initially ran roughly along current [[U.S. Route 44]] through Bolton Notch and towards Mansfield Four Corners. From Mansfield, it went through Ashford, Pomfret, and headed into Massachusetts via the town of [[Thompson, Connecticut|Thompson]], along Thompson Road. In Massachusetts, the Middle Post Road runs along sections of modern [[Route 16 (Massachusetts)|Route 16]] to [[Mendon, Massachusetts|Mendon]], then through [[Bellingham, Massachusetts|Bellingham]], and then via [[Route 109 (Massachusetts)|Route 109]] from [[Medway, Massachusetts|Medway]] to [[Dedham, Massachusetts|Dedham]] where it meets with the Lower Post Road (old U.S. Route 1) heading into Boston.

===Connecticut===
;[[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]]
Starting at the Old State House, the road crossed the [[Connecticut River]] over the area that is now occupied by the [[Founders Bridge]], initially by ferry and later by bridge. It is notable that until 1783, Hartford's eastern boundaries included present-day East Hartford and Manchester.

;[[East Hartford, Connecticut|East Hartford]]
Although the road crossed via the route of the Founders Bridge from Hartford, this area was later developed into an enormous highway interchange, and thus much of the historic road was destroyed. In the early years of Connecticut's history, East Hartford was privately owned. What remains of the route is the path of Interstate 84 / Route 6, which connects to Manchester's Middle Turnpike East.

;[[Manchester, Connecticut|Manchester]]
Since Manchester was a part of Hartford until 1783, the area was made up of settlements and present-day boroughs. The post road can be traced along present-day Middle Turnpike East through central Manchester. It later passed through Manchester Green, where the post road became reconnected with Route 6, and, for the first time, [[U.S. Route 44]]. Just before leaving Manchester and entering Bolton, the post road breaks off Route 44 onto Middle Turnpike East (the portion of Route 44 between Manchester and Bolton is known as "New Bolton Road")

;[[Bolton, Connecticut|Bolton]]
Bolton serves a unique role in the post road, as it was the border between the flat and tranquil Connecticut River Valley, and the hilly and turbulent Eastern Upper Highlands. Entering Bolton on Middle Turnpike East, the traveler encountered a fork and could choose to head southeast on Bolton Center Street (later Center Street) to the settlement of Bolton, or stay on Middle Turnpike East to reconnect with Route 44 and head east on the original Mohegan Indian Trail through Bolton Notch, a natural depression in the ridge that dramatically sped up transit and served as a demarcation between the two geologic landscapes. Within the Bolton settlement was White's Tavern, notable for having housed the staff of [[Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau|General Rochambeau]], whose unit camped in the settlement during the revolutionary war. To exit Bolton, one heads north on Notch Road until reaching Route 44, just outside Bolton Notch. Route 44 then connects to Coventry.

;[[Coventry, Connecticut|Coventry]]
Between Bolton and Mansfield, the road passed through the borough of North Coventry, entirely along present-day [[U.S. Route 44]], known locally as the Boston Turnpike. Along the [[Willimantic River]] (and border of Mansfield) stands the Brigham Tavern, which holds the distinction of having housed George Washington around the period of the Revolutionary War. This plaque can be seen in front of the Brigham Tavern; it is currently a private residence.

;[[Mansfield, Connecticut|Mansfield]]
Like Coventry, the post road follows the path of present-day U.S. Route 44. After crossing the Willimantic River from Coventry, the road crosses through Mansfield Four Corners, and towards Ashford.

;[[Ashford, Connecticut|Ashford]]
The road connects on Route 44 from Mansfield, and runs directly through the borough of Ashford. It stops, however, at [[Phoenixville, Connecticut|Phoenixville]], which then heads north towards Eastford on Route 198. Before reaching Eastford, however, it takes a right onto Route 244 ("Brayman Hollow Road") which headed directly to Pomfret.

;[[Pomfret, Connecticut|Pomfret]]
At the center of Pomfret, Route 244 headed east turns into U.S. Route 44. The post road turns left shortly after the intersection with Route 169 onto Allen Road which quickly merges into Freedley Road. The road then heads northeast into Woodstock.

;[[Woodstock, Connecticut|Woodstock]]
The post road briefly passes through the Harrisville section of town on Tripp Road before entering Putnam.

;[[Putnam, Connecticut|Putnam]]
Soon after entering Putnam, the road crosses over Route 171 onto West Thompson Road headed into Thompson.

;[[Thompson, Connecticut|Thompson]]
The post road soon follows over West Thompson Dam. The road once passed through the village of West Thompson, which was flooded purposely to control the Quinebaug River. The original post road can be seen from the Dam when water levels in West Thompson Lake are low enough. Once over the Dam the road turns into Route 193 and travels through historic Thompson Hill. Continuing northeast, the road bears right at a fork onto East Thompson Road and follows all the way to the Massachusetts state line.

===Massachusetts===
;[[Douglas, Massachusetts|Douglas]]
Crosses the Massachusetts state line into the town of Douglas as Southwest Main Street. This section passes through Douglas State Forest and is one of the most remote parts of the route that is still used as a public road. A {{convert|1|mi|km|adj=on}} section here was still unpaved until 2002. At the center of Douglas, the Post Road follows [[Route 16 (Massachusetts)|Massachusetts Route 16]] eastward to East Douglas. Where Route 16 turns south, the Post Road continues east as Northeast Main Street, which leads to the Uxbridge town line. French General Lafayette traveled this road to join forces with Washington, and stopped in Douglas during the Revolutionary War.
[[Image:Stone Arch Bridge on Hartford Ave, 2013, Uxbridge MA.jpg|thumb|right|{{center|The Stone Arch Bridge in [[Uxbridge, Massachusetts]]}}]]

;[[Uxbridge, Massachusetts|Uxbridge]]
Entering Uxbridge, the name of the road changes to Hartford Avenue. Hartford Avenue is a major cross-town road and follows the route of the Post Road for its entire length. From the Douglas town line to the intersection of [[Route 122 (Massachusetts)|Massachusetts Route 122]], it is known as Hartford Avenue West; from Route 122 to the Mendon town line, it is known as Hartford Avenue East. The original stone arch bridge over the [[Blackstone Canal]] is still in use today. There was a [[American Civil War|Civil War]] encampment near the stone-arch bridge, and the road was used by troops during the [[French and Indian Wars]] and as a supply route during the [[War of 1812]]. [[George Washington]] stopped here a number of times when traveling this road, including when he took command of the [[Continental Army]] at [[Boston]] in 1775, and on his post-[[Inaugural]] tour of [[New England]] in 1789.

;[[Mendon, Massachusetts|Mendon]]
The Post Road enters the town from Uxbridge as Hartford Avenue West. It follows that road to Route 16, which follows the route of the Post Road for approximately one-half-mile eastward to Maple Street, which follows the route into Mendon town center. From there, the Post Road followed a Providence-Worcester post road south out of the village. This section is now part of Providence Street. About {{convert|1|mi|km|adj=on}} south of the town center the roads diverged. The Post Road heads east, now known as Hartford Avenue East. This road follows the original Post Road route to the Bellingham town line. Historic milestone 37 is still located along the route.[http://www.preserveamerica.gov/6-25-04PAcommunity-mendonMA.html]

;[[Bellingham, Massachusetts|Bellingham]]
The Post Road enters from Mendon as Hartford Avenue. [[Route 126 (Massachusetts)|Massachusetts Route 126]] joins the road shortly before crossing over [[Interstate 495 (Massachusetts)|Interstate 495]]. Route 126 follows the Post Road route the remainder of the way to the Medway town line.

;[[Medway, Massachusetts|Medway]]
The original Post Road from Mendon followed Village Street through Medway to the Tavern and Inn in Medway Village near the Charles River. The post road followed (present day) Village Street through Millis (part of Medway until 1885). In the early 19th century, the Hartford and Dedham Turnpike was built (now Rt 109), a straight route built through the Great Black Swamp, and up a large hill in the center of town.

;[[Millis, Massachusetts|Millis]]
The original Post Road in Millis followed Village St from Medway, crossing current Massachusetts Rt 109, and then following the current Dover Road to the location of a series of Bridges over the Charles River leading into Medfield. In the period from 1806 to 1810, the Hartford and Dedham Turnpike was built (now Route 109), nearly going broke in attempting to build a causeway over the Charles River at the Medfield town line and through the Great Black Swamp.

;[[Medfield, Massachusetts|Medfield]]
;[[Dedham, Massachusetts|Dedham]]

The upper post road (US 20) also runs through Weston, and links directly to [[The Gifford School]]