The East Hartford Gazette

When the first tolls were collected it was a quaint sort of historic event. The champagne was inside the driver's, rather than cracked over the bow of the toll gate. But the eloquence, though informal, would rival any formal launching.

There was a sense of history about automobiles racing through to be the last to cross the bridge for nothing. And about others which dawdled outside the gate in the hopes of being the first to pay.

One, at 12:30 a.m., even asked to have his picture taken for being the first to make the toll collector change a $20 bill.

The comments ranged from exuberant "Happy New Years" to a slumped over husband, wife driving, who just muttered, "What thieves! What thieves!"

Old Tickets. Dimes.

In the first hour of operation, the "river cops," as one disgruntled customer called them, were offered clumps of old Charter Oak Tickets, dimes, and plenty of rhetoric.

"I'll give you a kiss if you'll put the quarter in for me," said one woman.

To which the collector, who is married, replied:

"The last girl I kissed I'm still paying for."

There was a certain amount of expected confusion. It was the first time the toll gates at the east end of the bridge had been operated. It was the first time the new fares had been charged anywhere. (They went on simultaneously at Bulkeley, Charter Oak, Founders and Windsor Bridges). And some of the Bulkeley crew had had no previous experience as toll collectors. About half were Charter Oak veterans.

Last Minute Instructions.

At 11:45 p.m. of Dec. 31 the toll administration building at Bulkeley was a scene of hectic preparation. From all sides there were instructions.

"You have to push a button each time car goes through."

"If a car is towing another car you have four axles."

"If you run into any other problems, just call the captain."

Bridge authority officials blew in and out, trying to get things started right on all bridges. So did officials of the Connecticut Bank & Trust Co., which was to audit the all collections.

Some of the new toll collectors didn't have their uniforms yet.

"How long have we got?" was the most often repeated phrase.

At 11:50 men began hooking up the push button systems in the booths. At 11:55 they began carrying sacks of change and new ticket books out to the booths. At 11:59 the collectors began taking their places.

"Happy New Year," said one, with a wry smile.

Another chuckled.

Last Ones Through.

Meanwhile, in the last five minutes of free passage, almost every car through slowed down, prepared to pay. There were big smiles on drivers when they realized they had one last free ride.

At midnight at the toll collectors were in place but many couldn't find the switches that lighted their booths. Some of the toll recorders weren't yet installed. It was deemed just to collect in those booths and audit later.

For a moment they couldn't find the switch to light the green and red overhead ads that say which lanes are open. And lanes had to be rearranged to funnel traffic through the open lanes.

A westbound sedan with two couples in it seriously was trying to be the first to pay.

He Was Disappointed.

When he saw the men in the booths, the driver pulled into a lane and stopped, prepared to pay. But at this time, just about midnight, the collectors were arranging cones.

They waved him on. Reluctantly he pulled on.

"You're the last one through," one of the collectors said.

"Yeah, and it's the last time I'm going through," said the driver.

At about 12:01 a.m. of Jan. 1 everything was ready. The captain stood in the middle of the plaza and blew a whistle. Honors for the first car to pay were a photo finish between four cars, two eastbound and two westbound.

A photographer concentrated on one of the cars, which held two young couples.

Almost Forgot to Pay.

"What paper is that?" the driver asked.

He was told the Gazette. (but because of the orange characteristic of the toll plaza lights, it didn't turn out.)

Then, in the excitement of being photographed, the driver started through without paying and collectors had to hail him back.

After that there was a fairly steady stream.

About a quarter of them previously had bought books, which had been on sale for several days at banks and stores and large industries. Most, in the hurry to get somewhere on New Years Eve, seemed to want to pay the 25c cash fare and buy books later.

Some changed their mind when helpful toll collectors asked them if they lived in the Hartford area and how often they would cross.

"Just Want to Go Through".

But this offer of saving backfired in one case.

The collector was showing a fancily dressed driver, whose eyes were about half open, a new book of 5c tickets.

"These things are good until Feb. 28," he explained patiently. "You have to the end of February to use the book."

"I just want to go through," he said plaintively. "I don't want that thing. I just want to go...(and he waved an arm toward Hartford). Do I get any change?"

One of the next cars had a woman driving, who was delighted to find she could buy a book in the middle of the night. It was her husband, slumped on her shoulder, who repeated the "What thieves!" line.

"What do you mean?' the toll collector asked cheerily. "I don't have a gun."

"You might as well have."

"Who's Got the Country?"

Another driver saw international complications.

"Whoever had this country they took it away from them," he declared with considerable firmness. I think the Russians instigated this.

Another blamed it on high officials "Drinking scotch across the river while I have to pay just to cross."

One station wagon carried things much too far. After slowing down as if to pay, it sped up and ripped through the toll plaza without paying. But the driver made the mistake of doing it past the booth of one of the experienced toll collectors. He promptly spotted the license plate and called it to headquarters.

But the great majority of these pioneers at Bulkeley toll paying were more philosophical.

Many wished cheerful "Happy New Year" to the collectors. Some of the young couples in back seats, observing the turn of the year in traditional fashion, hardly noticed their car was stopping.