Rail History Preserved
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
One of three aerial watchtowers that provided protection for Warsaw railroad crossings from 1920 to 1952 has been installed at the Old Jail Museum in Warsaw.
The towers gave a bird's-eye view of the railroad tracks that crisscrossed the town before automatic gates and lights were installed, according to Laurie Smith, president of the Kosciusko County Historical Society.
As a train approached, the watchman in the tower house would open a window, ring the bell affixed to the outside of the tower house and proceed to vigorously pump down the crossing gates with a manually operated hydraulic pump. Ê
The job consisted of interminable periods of boredom broken by seconds of rigorous activity when a train was spotted. Ê
Some watchmen protected as many as three crossings.ÊThis aerial watchtower was on the east side of Washington Street, north of the Pennsylvania tracks.
The tower was originally 19 feet above the ground.ÊIt contained a small wood-burning stove, which is on display in the Old Jail Museum, a hydraulic pump mechanism, a small bucket of coal and a wooden chair. Ê
The reconstructed tower house is back on the original tower arms. Made from bent railroad iron, the tower has been shortened to about 12 feetÊso that it will fit in the back yard of the Old Jail Museum.
The tower construction has been a project of the Kosciusko County Historical Society for more than three years.
It was donated to the society by the Wilbur Baker family of Pierceton.
Doug Reinhold of the Northeast Indiana Carpenter Apprentices JATC did the reconstruction work. Materials were furnished by the society, with notable donations by the Millwood Window Store, Everett Sowers and Mrs. Joann Robinson of Syracuse. Ê
Tom Groninger helped get the house and tower moved from Pierceton to the Carpenters School and then to the Old Jail Museum.
Greg Smith, Historical Society secretary, was the watchtower committee chairman.
Others involved in the project were Forrest Bouse and Jerry Deeter, both members of the Historical Society's board of directors. [[In-content Ad]]
One of three aerial watchtowers that provided protection for Warsaw railroad crossings from 1920 to 1952 has been installed at the Old Jail Museum in Warsaw.
The towers gave a bird's-eye view of the railroad tracks that crisscrossed the town before automatic gates and lights were installed, according to Laurie Smith, president of the Kosciusko County Historical Society.
As a train approached, the watchman in the tower house would open a window, ring the bell affixed to the outside of the tower house and proceed to vigorously pump down the crossing gates with a manually operated hydraulic pump. Ê
The job consisted of interminable periods of boredom broken by seconds of rigorous activity when a train was spotted. Ê
Some watchmen protected as many as three crossings.ÊThis aerial watchtower was on the east side of Washington Street, north of the Pennsylvania tracks.
The tower was originally 19 feet above the ground.ÊIt contained a small wood-burning stove, which is on display in the Old Jail Museum, a hydraulic pump mechanism, a small bucket of coal and a wooden chair. Ê
The reconstructed tower house is back on the original tower arms. Made from bent railroad iron, the tower has been shortened to about 12 feetÊso that it will fit in the back yard of the Old Jail Museum.
The tower construction has been a project of the Kosciusko County Historical Society for more than three years.
It was donated to the society by the Wilbur Baker family of Pierceton.
Doug Reinhold of the Northeast Indiana Carpenter Apprentices JATC did the reconstruction work. Materials were furnished by the society, with notable donations by the Millwood Window Store, Everett Sowers and Mrs. Joann Robinson of Syracuse. Ê
Tom Groninger helped get the house and tower moved from Pierceton to the Carpenters School and then to the Old Jail Museum.
Greg Smith, Historical Society secretary, was the watchtower committee chairman.
Others involved in the project were Forrest Bouse and Jerry Deeter, both members of the Historical Society's board of directors. [[In-content Ad]]