New York State Route 373
Encyclopedia
New York State Route 373 (NY 373) is a short state highway in Essex County, New York
, within Adirondack State Park
. It begins at U.S. Route 9 (US 9) and proceeds eastward, ending at a ferry landing on Lake Champlain
. It intersects two county routes, several local roads, and a reference route—NY 912T—which connects it with US 9. NY 373 is the only connector between US 9 and the hamlet of Port Kent
and the ferry that serves it.
The hamlet of Port Kent and the connecting road were originally built in 1823. The village was planned to act as a source of labor for iron manufacturing and to provide for the industrial needs of Essex County. The hamlet grew and eventually became connected to Burlington, Vermont
, via an hour-long ferry across Lake Champlain. The road that accessed Port Kent originally began in Keeseville, but became part of the longer Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike
in the 1830s. The highway that is now NY 373 was also designated as part of the Theodore Roosevelt International Highway
in 1919.
When NY 373 was assigned in 1930, a small portion of it was maintained by the town of Chesterfield
. This section was turned over to the State of New York
during a maintenance swap with Essex County in 1985.
NY 373, located entirely within Adirondack State Park, begins at US 9 at the Ausable Chasm, a deep, wooded canyon in the town of Chesterfield
. The route intersects with NY 912T, its southern connector to US 9, about 0.1 mile (0.160934 km) in. Route 373 continues farther along and intersects with County Route 71 (CR 71) before heading east-southeast just north of the Ausable River. The highway then intersects CR 17 and several local roads, and then turns east-northeast.
The route then passes south of a golf course and enters Port Kent
, where it intersects with more local streets, most of which serve homes and businesses. The highway turns northward soon afterward, crosses a pair of train tracks, makes a U-turn and comes to an end at the Burlington-Port Kent Ferry landing.
The Burlington – Port Kent Ferry connects NY 373 and the hamlet of Port Kent to the city of Burlington, Vermont
. This, one of three ferries to cross Lake Champlain
, is the longest as it crosses the widest part of the lake. It is maintained by the Lake Champlain Transportation Company
, and is open all seasons except winter
.
on Lake Champlain
in order to assist in the growth of iron factories and to supply dormant energy to the Essex County area. The newly-founded company chose the name "Port Kent" and located the new hamlet on a site north of Trembleau Point. The original alignment of what is now Route 373 began as a wide road that was built to access Port Kent from the nearby village of Keeseville
.
Route 373 exists entirely within the boundaries of Adirondack Park, a protected area maintained by the State of New York. Adirondack Park was created in the 1880s after concerns arose about logging trees in the area. The logging was a substantial part of New York's economy, but protests were lodged by The New York Times
and others against the clearing of entire mountains and wilderness areas of trees. Public opinion turned firmly against the loggers by the 1880s, and the park was created in 1885. It was the first State Forest Preserve in America. The park was further protected in 1894 when a clause was added to the New York State constitution which banned the selling of timber from state parks.
On April 16, 1827, a team of three surveyors were commissioned to determine a routing for a new highway leading from Hopkinton
, a town in northeastern St. Lawrence County, to Lake Champlain
. The task took 26 days, after which it was determined that the highway would meet Lake Champlain at Fort Kent. An act authorizing the construction of the highway was passed by the New York State Legislature on April 18, 1829. A total of approximately $38,500 (equivalent to $ in ) was devoted to the project by the state of New York
through the same act.
The 75 miles (121 km) highway opened in 1833 as a toll road
named the Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike. The turnpike had only one toll gate, located near the center of the route. Two years later, the turnpike commissioners petitioned to the state of New York, asking for permission to replace the single gate with two gates at opposite ends of the turnpike that would collect half of the toll amount. The commissioners believed that the change in the toll gate locations would result in higher revenue, allowing them to continue maintaining the highway. The change was approved; however, the toll road was dissolved anyway three years later on March 30, 1838. At that time, maintenance of the Port Kent – Hopkinton highway was transferred to the towns it ran through.
The Theodore Roosevelt International Highway
, a transcontinental auto trail
extending from Portland, Oregon
, to Portland, Maine
, was established in 1919. In eastern New York, the highway went through Keeseville
, Ausable Chasm
, and Fort Kent along what used to be the Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike before entering Vermont
by way of the Burlington – Port Kent Ferry across Lake Champlain.
The state of New York assumed maintenance of most of the Ausable Chasm – Port Kent roadway at some point after 1920. In the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York, the entirety of the highway from Ausable Chasm to the Port Kent ferry landing was designated as NY 373, despite the fact that the small portion of the route east of Lake Street in Port Kent was not maintained by the state at the time. On April 1, 1985, ownership and maintenance of NY 373 east of Lake Street was transferred from the town of Chesterfield
to the state of New York as part of a highway maintenance swap between the state and Essex County
.
Essex County, New York
Essex County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 39,370. Its name is from the English county of Essex. Its county seat is Elizabethtown...
, within Adirondack State Park
Adirondack State Park
The Adirondack Park is a publicly protected area in northeast New York. It is the largest park and the largest state-level protected area in the contiguous United States, and the largest National Historic Landmark....
. It begins at U.S. Route 9 (US 9) and proceeds eastward, ending at a ferry landing on Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
. It intersects two county routes, several local roads, and a reference route—NY 912T—which connects it with US 9. NY 373 is the only connector between US 9 and the hamlet of Port Kent
Port Kent, New York
Port Kent, New York is a community in Essex County, New York, on Lake Champlain. Ferry service to Vermont is provided by the Lake Champlain Transportation Company; the community also has an Amtrak railroad stop....
and the ferry that serves it.
The hamlet of Port Kent and the connecting road were originally built in 1823. The village was planned to act as a source of labor for iron manufacturing and to provide for the industrial needs of Essex County. The hamlet grew and eventually became connected to Burlington, Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
, via an hour-long ferry across Lake Champlain. The road that accessed Port Kent originally began in Keeseville, but became part of the longer Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike
Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike
The Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike was a 19th century toll road in the North Country of New York, United States. It began in the town of Hopkinton and ended at the hamlet of Port Kent, located on the western shore of Lake Champlain. The turnpike was constructed in the early 1830s and was...
in the 1830s. The highway that is now NY 373 was also designated as part of the Theodore Roosevelt International Highway
Theodore Roosevelt International Highway
The Theodore Roosevelt International Highway was a transcontinental North American highway through the United States and Canada that ran from Portland, Maine, to Portland, Oregon. Its length was about .-Route description:...
in 1919.
When NY 373 was assigned in 1930, a small portion of it was maintained by the town of Chesterfield
Chesterfield, New York
Chesterfield is a town in Essex County, New York, United States. The population was 2,409 at the 2000 census. The name possibly is from a location in New England....
. This section was turned over to the State of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
during a maintenance swap with Essex County in 1985.
Route description
Chesterfield, New York
Chesterfield is a town in Essex County, New York, United States. The population was 2,409 at the 2000 census. The name possibly is from a location in New England....
. The route intersects with NY 912T, its southern connector to US 9, about 0.1 mile (0.160934 km) in. Route 373 continues farther along and intersects with County Route 71 (CR 71) before heading east-southeast just north of the Ausable River. The highway then intersects CR 17 and several local roads, and then turns east-northeast.
The route then passes south of a golf course and enters Port Kent
Port Kent, New York
Port Kent, New York is a community in Essex County, New York, on Lake Champlain. Ferry service to Vermont is provided by the Lake Champlain Transportation Company; the community also has an Amtrak railroad stop....
, where it intersects with more local streets, most of which serve homes and businesses. The highway turns northward soon afterward, crosses a pair of train tracks, makes a U-turn and comes to an end at the Burlington-Port Kent Ferry landing.
The Burlington – Port Kent Ferry connects NY 373 and the hamlet of Port Kent to the city of Burlington, Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
. This, one of three ferries to cross Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
, is the longest as it crosses the widest part of the lake. It is maintained by the Lake Champlain Transportation Company
Lake Champlain Transportation Company
The Lake Champlain Transportation Company provides car and passenger ferry service at four points on Lake Champlain in the United States. From 1976 to 2003, it was owned by Burlington, Vermont, businessman Raymond C. Pecor, Jr. who is Chairman of the company's board...
, and is open all seasons except winter
Winter
Winter is the coldest season of the year in temperate climates, between autumn and spring. At the winter solstice, the days are shortest and the nights are longest, with days lengthening as the season progresses after the solstice.-Meteorology:...
.
Port Kent and the early highway to Keeseville
In 1823, a company was funded to establish a settlement and fishing wharf opposite the city of Burlington, VermontBurlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
on Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
in order to assist in the growth of iron factories and to supply dormant energy to the Essex County area. The newly-founded company chose the name "Port Kent" and located the new hamlet on a site north of Trembleau Point. The original alignment of what is now Route 373 began as a wide road that was built to access Port Kent from the nearby village of Keeseville
Keeseville, New York
Keeseville is a village in both Clinton County, New York and in Essex County, New York in the United States. The population was 1,815 at the 2010 census. The village is named after the Keese family....
.
Route 373 exists entirely within the boundaries of Adirondack Park, a protected area maintained by the State of New York. Adirondack Park was created in the 1880s after concerns arose about logging trees in the area. The logging was a substantial part of New York's economy, but protests were lodged by The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
and others against the clearing of entire mountains and wilderness areas of trees. Public opinion turned firmly against the loggers by the 1880s, and the park was created in 1885. It was the first State Forest Preserve in America. The park was further protected in 1894 when a clause was added to the New York State constitution which banned the selling of timber from state parks.
Old roads and designation
Hopkinton, New York
Hopkinton is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York in the United States. The population was 1,020 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from early settlers with the name Hopkins....
, a town in northeastern St. Lawrence County, to Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
. The task took 26 days, after which it was determined that the highway would meet Lake Champlain at Fort Kent. An act authorizing the construction of the highway was passed by the New York State Legislature on April 18, 1829. A total of approximately $38,500 (equivalent to $ in ) was devoted to the project by the state of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
through the same act.
The 75 miles (121 km) highway opened in 1833 as a toll road
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
named the Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike. The turnpike had only one toll gate, located near the center of the route. Two years later, the turnpike commissioners petitioned to the state of New York, asking for permission to replace the single gate with two gates at opposite ends of the turnpike that would collect half of the toll amount. The commissioners believed that the change in the toll gate locations would result in higher revenue, allowing them to continue maintaining the highway. The change was approved; however, the toll road was dissolved anyway three years later on March 30, 1838. At that time, maintenance of the Port Kent – Hopkinton highway was transferred to the towns it ran through.
The Theodore Roosevelt International Highway
Theodore Roosevelt International Highway
The Theodore Roosevelt International Highway was a transcontinental North American highway through the United States and Canada that ran from Portland, Maine, to Portland, Oregon. Its length was about .-Route description:...
, a transcontinental auto trail
Auto trail
The system of auto trails was an informal network of marked routes that existed in the United States and Canada in the early part of the 20th century. Marked with colored bands on telephone poles, the trails were intended to help travellers in the early days of the automobile.Auto trails were...
extending from Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, to Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
, was established in 1919. In eastern New York, the highway went through Keeseville
Keeseville, New York
Keeseville is a village in both Clinton County, New York and in Essex County, New York in the United States. The population was 1,815 at the 2010 census. The village is named after the Keese family....
, Ausable Chasm
Ausable Chasm
Ausable Chasm is a sandstone gorge tourist attraction located near Keeseville, New York. The Ausable River runs through it, which then empties into Lake Champlain....
, and Fort Kent along what used to be the Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike before entering Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
by way of the Burlington – Port Kent Ferry across Lake Champlain.
The state of New York assumed maintenance of most of the Ausable Chasm – Port Kent roadway at some point after 1920. In the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York, the entirety of the highway from Ausable Chasm to the Port Kent ferry landing was designated as NY 373, despite the fact that the small portion of the route east of Lake Street in Port Kent was not maintained by the state at the time. On April 1, 1985, ownership and maintenance of NY 373 east of Lake Street was transferred from the town of Chesterfield
Chesterfield, New York
Chesterfield is a town in Essex County, New York, United States. The population was 2,409 at the 2000 census. The name possibly is from a location in New England....
to the state of New York as part of a highway maintenance swap between the state and Essex County
Essex County, New York
Essex County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 39,370. Its name is from the English county of Essex. Its county seat is Elizabethtown...
.
Major intersections
See also
- State highways in Essex County, New York
- Lake Champlain Transportation CompanyLake Champlain Transportation CompanyThe Lake Champlain Transportation Company provides car and passenger ferry service at four points on Lake Champlain in the United States. From 1976 to 2003, it was owned by Burlington, Vermont, businessman Raymond C. Pecor, Jr. who is Chairman of the company's board...