New Jersey - Newark Traffic Tower - Revision history

Signal-in-the-box at 00:30, 13 July 2016

2016-07-13T00:30:15Z

Larryc39 at 18:39, 2 January 2014

2014-01-02T18:39:22Z

Larryc39: /* References */

2014-01-02T18:27:51Z

‎References

Larryc39 at 18:27, 2 January 2014

2014-01-02T18:27:31Z

Larryc39: Larryc39 moved page Newark Traffic Tower to New Jersey - Newark Traffic Tower

2014-01-02T18:12:50Z

Larryc39 moved page Newark Traffic Tower to New Jersey - Newark Traffic Tower

Pyth: Created page with "The Newark Traffic Tower (sometimes referred to as the Four Corners [http://www.ci.newark.nj.us/Guide_To_Newark/Landmarks/Landmarks.htm] Traffic Tower') was erected at the int..."

2013-12-16T16:13:34Z

Created page with "The Newark Traffic Tower (sometimes referred to as the Four Corners [http://www.ci.newark.nj.us/Guide_To_Newark/Landmarks/Landmarks.htm] Traffic Tower') was erected at the int..."

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The Newark Traffic Tower (sometimes referred to as the Four Corners [http://www.ci.newark.nj.us/Guide_To_Newark/Landmarks/Landmarks.htm] Traffic Tower') was erected at the intersection of Market & Broad Streets in Newark NJ in 1925. It remained in service for fifteen years until it was dismantled in 1939. It was designed by Nathan Harris and built to control the (at that time) World's busiest intersection. ''In 1915, Public Service counted over 280,000 pedestrian crossings in one thirteen-hour period. Eleven years later, on October 26, 1926, a State Motor Vehicle Department check at the Four Corners counted 2,644 trolleys, 4,098 buses, 2657 taxis, 3474 commercial vehicles, and 23,571 automobiles.'' - [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newark,_New_Jersey]

An excellent recounting of its history can be read here: VirtualNewark[http://www.virtualnewarknj.com/memories/downtown/bodian4corners.htm].

There seems to be some controversy over which municipality was the first to install a traffic tower with both New York City[http://web.archive.org/web/20051026075855/http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/nypd/html/transportation/newpage5.html] and Detroit[http://www.go-explore-trans.org/2007/may-jun/history_dept.cfm] laying claim to being the first (1916 & 1917 respectively). Here's a photo of the NYC tower on Fifth Ave. and 42nd St. [http://americanhistory.si.edu/onthemove/collection/object_473.html]

While it's unlikely the Newark tower was the first, it did last 15 years before being replaced with a more conventional traffic signal system. Oddly enough, as Newark dismantled their traffic tower in 1939, Meriden, CT just got around to electrifying theirs a year later[http://www.sjs-meriden.org/traffic.htm].

GoogleMapView[http://www.google.com/maps?q=Broad+St+%26+Market+St,+Newark,+NJ+07102,+USA&ie=UTF8&ll=40.735616,-74.172134&spn=0.001553,0.003326&t=h&z=19&om=1]

Fortunately, in 1939 when the city of Newark decided to replace the tower, Samuel Kessler (a Newark attorney) was able to convince the city to allow him to move the tower to a property of his by paying for all the related expenses ($2000 in 1939 which translates to almost $28,000 in 2006 dollars[http://www.westegg.com/inflation/]). Mr. Kessler's property was actually a park (Crest Haven Memorial Park in Clifton) which later became Crest Haven cemetery. The tower remains preserved there today (on shorter legs).

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	== Tower History ==		== Tower History ==

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 == Tower History ==
+[[File:Newark_1stplace_LC.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Winning Design for Newark's First Traffic Tower]]
 An idea initiated in 1923, the traffic towers of Newark were brought to fruition in 1925.  Unhappy with the tower designs of other cities, they too hosted their own competition for a design of a traffic tower, awarding first place to Nathan Harris.  Also on Aprio 10, 1924 second prize was awarded to George W. Backoff and W. Pierre Aquin.

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 == References ==
-American City Municipal Index and Atlas, May 1924, pg. 545, "Competitive Designs for Traffic Towers," Ogden H. Bowers - Exec. Mgr. Broad Street Association.
+*American City Municipal Index and Atlas, May 1924, pg. 545, "Competitive Designs for Traffic Towers," Ogden H. Bowers - Exec. Mgr. Broad Street Association.
-[Need to Add References from the Cleanup Section Above]
+*[Need to Add References from the Cleanup Section Above]

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:27, 2 January 2014
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		+	== Tower History ==
		+
		+	An idea initiated in 1923, the traffic towers of Newark were brought to fruition in 1925. Unhappy with the tower designs of other cities, they too hosted their own competition for a design of a traffic tower, awarding first place to Nathan Harris. Also on Aprio 10, 1924 second prize was awarded to George W. Backoff and W. Pierre Aquin.
		+
		+	While called a traffic tower this design was more of an ornamental traffic signal mounted on a traffic island. Unlike designs in NYC, Detroit, and elsewhere, there was no room inside for an officer to be stationed.
		+
		+
		+	== Random Writing to Cleanup ==
		+
	The Newark Traffic Tower (sometimes referred to as the Four Corners [http://www.ci.newark.nj.us/Guide_To_Newark/Landmarks/Landmarks.htm] Traffic Tower') was erected at the intersection of Market & Broad Streets in Newark NJ in 1925. It remained in service for fifteen years until it was dismantled in 1939. It was designed by Nathan Harris and built to control the (at that time) World's busiest intersection. ''In 1915, Public Service counted over 280,000 pedestrian crossings in one thirteen-hour period. Eleven years later, on October 26, 1926, a State Motor Vehicle Department check at the Four Corners counted 2,644 trolleys, 4,098 buses, 2657 taxis, 3474 commercial vehicles, and 23,571 automobiles.'' - [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newark,_New_Jersey]		The Newark Traffic Tower (sometimes referred to as the Four Corners [http://www.ci.newark.nj.us/Guide_To_Newark/Landmarks/Landmarks.htm] Traffic Tower') was erected at the intersection of Market & Broad Streets in Newark NJ in 1925. It remained in service for fifteen years until it was dismantled in 1939. It was designed by Nathan Harris and built to control the (at that time) World's busiest intersection. ''In 1915, Public Service counted over 280,000 pedestrian crossings in one thirteen-hour period. Eleven years later, on October 26, 1926, a State Motor Vehicle Department check at the Four Corners counted 2,644 trolleys, 4,098 buses, 2657 taxis, 3474 commercial vehicles, and 23,571 automobiles.'' - [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newark,_New_Jersey]

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	Fortunately, in 1939 when the city of Newark decided to replace the tower, Samuel Kessler (a Newark attorney) was able to convince the city to allow him to move the tower to a property of his by paying for all the related expenses ($2000 in 1939 which translates to almost $28,000 in 2006 dollars[http://www.westegg.com/inflation/]). Mr. Kessler's property was actually a park (Crest Haven Memorial Park in Clifton) which later became Crest Haven cemetery. The tower remains preserved there today (on shorter legs).		Fortunately, in 1939 when the city of Newark decided to replace the tower, Samuel Kessler (a Newark attorney) was able to convince the city to allow him to move the tower to a property of his by paying for all the related expenses ($2000 in 1939 which translates to almost $28,000 in 2006 dollars[http://www.westegg.com/inflation/]). Mr. Kessler's property was actually a park (Crest Haven Memorial Park in Clifton) which later became Crest Haven cemetery. The tower remains preserved there today (on shorter legs).
		+
		+
		+
		+	== References ==
		+	American City Municipal Index and Atlas, May 1924, pg. 545, "Competitive Designs for Traffic Towers," Ogden H. Bowers - Exec. Mgr. Broad Street Association.
		+	[Need to Add References from the Cleanup Section Above]

← Older revision	Revision as of 18:12, 2 January 2014
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