(rshsdepot) Hohman Tower, Hammond, IN

["James Dent" <james.dent_@_itochu.com>]

-From the Chicago Times...

Historic railroad tower wins reprieve

Hohman Tower Alliance has until Sept. 15 to come up with plan to move
100-year-old tower.

BY SHARON PORTA Times Correspondent


HAMMOND -- The railroad tower at Hohman Avenue and Willow Court has been
given a reprieve from the wrecking ball, but that doesn't mean the fight is
over.
Although the tower, which has stood in Hammond for more than 100 years, was
slated for demolition on May 10, the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad has
granted a stay of execution. A group of railroad enthusiasts who call
themselves the Hohman Tower Alliance, have persevered and received an
extension until Sept. 15.

"Of course, this is a victory,'' said Brian Poland, city planner who also
serves on the Hammond Historic Preservation Commission and the Hammond
Historical Society. "And while we have won the battle, we're still waiting
for the war. But we are pleased the IHB has given us additional time.''

For more than 100 years, railroad personnel have manned the tower 24 hours a
day. But recently, a computer has taken over and the tower was scheduled for
demolition. However, city officials spoke with railroad personnel to receive
the extension to preserve the last interlocking railroad tower in Hammond.

At one time, more than 5,000 towers stood guard at railroad crossings
throughout the country, housing personnel who flipped the switches for
north-south and east-west trains. However, through the use of computers,
that function is now done miles away. Today, fewer than 175 towers are still
operating.

Members of the alliance believe the tower can serve as an important focal
point and information center for education on railroad history and its
connection with Hammond. But with the cost of moving the tower and placing
it on a new foundation estimated at $60,000, there is still much work to be
done.

"The group still has a lot of questions to resolve before saying the tower
can actually be moved,'' Poland said. "We have to think about where it will
go, how it will get there and what will be done with it once it is in
place.''

The Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad recently completed a signal installation
process that is the last in a series of projects designed to speed the flow
of rail traffic through the Gary-Hammond-East Chicago rail corridor.

As part of the project, the railroad's signal department began the process
of retiring the Hohman Avenue Tower. Built by the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad
around 1900, the tower had been in continuous operation until just a few
weeks ago.

When the computerized changeover is completed, the tower, which is operated
by CSX Transportation and maintained by IHB, will be replaced by a
state-of-the-art microprocessor-based control system linked by data radio to
the railroad's dispatcher in Calumet City. The total project cost is about
$750,000.

To continue their fight, Alliance members are meeting every two weeks, and
are looking for a nonprofit partner to join them.

"To accomplish this thing, we still need the community's assistance,''
Poland said. "Now is when our real work begins."

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