 The path, known as the East and West Indian Trail, was initially just wide; however, it was gradually widened into a dirt road in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.One of the first areas to be improved was a section leading west from the Genesee River, which was widened by 1800.The trail was made passable from the Genesee River west to Lewiston in 1812; however, it was still a narrow, crude path with no bridges.