About the
Friends of East Gate

The East Gate Toll House is an architecturally and historically significant building and one of the last remaining toll gate houses in New York State. Built around 1820, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

The Friends of East Gate (FoEG) was established in 2016 to stabilize, preserve, and ultimately restore the historic 1799 East Gate Toll House. We are local residents, civic leaders, and historic preservationists united by a shared purpose: to return this landmark to active community life as a small historic center and exhibit space that tells the story of early American toll roads—and how the Columbia Turnpike helped shape a growing national economy.

FoEG raises funds through grants and private donations. Early support allowed us to purchase and stabilize the structure and to construct a new foundation safely set back from NY State Route 23.

We are now entering the most exciting stage of the project:

• Reconstructing the Toll House on its new foundation

• Restoring the exterior and interior to reflect its history and prepare it for future use as a small residence, community hub, or local business

• Rebuilding the original toll gate, bringing back a defining feature of the site

Your contribution today helps us realize the long-held dream of transforming East Gate into a self-sustaining, active destination—one that educates, inspires, and welcomes residents, visitors, and the public for generations to come.

Exterior

Interior