Did you know that Roanoke County used to have tolls collected on certain roads? This Toll Tickets booklet is a piece of that history. This booklet cost $5 and contains several tickets valuing 5cents and 10cents.
During the early 1900s, automobiles were still a new and rare item, but they were quickly gaining popularity. The first automobiles were invented in the late 1800s, but they became more popular beginning in 1908 when Henry Ford introduced the Model T. Ford wanted automobiles to be more affordable, and his prices allowed more families to purchase Model Ts. As automobiles gained popularity, communities had to increase the quality of their roads by paving them. In 1914 the first toll gate was opened on South Road, an old road that connected Salem and Roanoke. This toll collected 25 cents per vehicle until its closure in 1919. These toll gates operated through the 1920s, costing varying amounts from 5 cents up, to pay for the maintenance and paving of roads in the area.
To learn more about the history of Salem and the Roanoke Valley visit the Salem Museum. The Salem Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and located at 801 E. Main St.
