Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 23.

[p. 17] One of these was over the water works conduit,¹ and beside it was a turnstile of two-inch plank. On a pleasant Sunday afternoon the writer made his first visit to the Mystic dam, in company with several gentlemen, one of whom, rather portly, found it a ‘close squeeze,’ as he said, to get through.

But the real turnpike did not pass away when the toll or turnpike roads became free. It continues in use, very much in evidence, today. The first railroad chartered in Massachusetts had provision for toll-gates at intervals, evidently with the thought that private individuals might operate their own cars on its railed roadbed. It erected gates at its only grade crossing in Medford, at High street, and its station or ‘depot’ there was known as ‘Medford Gates.’ These were for public protection,² and not toll-gates. Instead of a number of ‘tollgath-erers’ along the line, there is but one, and he accompanies the train, comes around at intervals and collects our toll. He is called by the pleasanter sounding name of ‘conductor,’ but we pay the toll just the same. The railway terminals have sliding pike gates, through which patrons pass easily, but have been on some occasions obliged to show tickets before passing.

But reserved for later years and the Boston Elevated and Terminal service was and is the real genuine turnpike, elaborated in various forms. Unlike the old stile that turned both ways, one more like a turnstile moves inward. To enter, one has to ‘fit face to the party,’ walk up to the pagoda where sits enthroned the goddess of the gate, deposit a dime in her treasure chest, and wait her pleasure in pressing her dainty foot on the lever that unlocks the gate and allows your ingress. Even then your troubles are not over. Perchance you wait for a time, but you insinuate yourself into a crowded car, jammed in by the crowd behind you, or perhaps pushed in by the attending guard as the rubber shod push-pike (styled the door) closes behind you, and cautions you not to lean against it.