I just recently attended an OASIS (Older Adult Support and Information System) class about inns and taverns in the 1800's. The speaker, a historian, talked about the Cumberland trail, what we know now as Route 40, which extended from Cumberland, VA to Vandalia, IL. He said it acted as a spine with roads branching off in all directions, just as it does today, if you look at a map of Ohio and Indiana. Interstate 70, has now, of course, replaced Rte 40 as a main means of east/west travel. He showed some slides of old maps that look very much like a map of today, with Indianapolis as a hub and roads going to all four corners of the state. Of course, at that time, they were not paved, but cleared dirt roads. Also, travelers who came from Pennsylvania could use the Ohio river as a travel means into the midwest. He included some very interesting stories about the accommodations at the inns and taverns of the times. Jack, Indianapolis J4777EA@aol.com Researching: ALEXANDER (NH,NY), EATON (UK,MA,CT,NY), INGLEFIELD (UK, PA), LYMAN (UK, MA, CT), McCLURE (IRE, IN), STRYKEN (NJ,MA?,NY), TRUMBULL (UK/SC, IN) WILLIAMS (VA,KY,IN)