Existing comment:
Farm Road Bed
Like much of the Riley-Bolten House, the landscape was reinforced as part of the 1930s renovation. This macadam style road, uncovered during museum construction, replaced the earlier dirt farm road. While dirt roads were common in the nineteenth century, they were often impassable due to wet conditions and poor upkeep. Scottish engineer, John McAdam, developed a more sustainable road design in the 1800s that layered gravel over a base of large rocks to create a stable surface for carts and horses.
[Captions:]
A farm road once connected Old Georgetown Road (on the right) with Tilden Lane (at the top), passing north of the log kitchen before winding its way through the farm and outbuildings.
Farm roads were vital to connect the core of the plantation with the outer fields, and were often placed adjacent to buildings for ease of access. In 1900, 95% of roads in Montgomery County were dirt. |