New Museum Display Site

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July 21, 2006

Dearborn Tower XN

Early in 2002, the Dearborn tower in Lawrenceburg was identified as having been abandoned by CSX Transportation in the mid 1980’s. As such it was one of the last manual interlocking towers in service in the state of Indiana. Records of the New York Central Railroad (circa 1955) indicate that the original crossing requiring signal protection was agreed to in 1885, though the incorporation of the Louisville, Cincinnati, & Dayton Railway who built the line was not filed until April 23, 1886. This company sold the completed right of way in Indiana to the Cincinnati & Southern Ohio River Railway Company on September 26, 1887, as it could not pay its contractors to finish the line into Ohio. At Lawrenceburg, this line crossed the Ohio & Mississippi Railway that was completed from Cincinnati to Seymour, Indiana in 1857. Because the new line crossed over the existing line, a crossing agreement was written up. According to the New York Central records, this agreement was modified in 1896. We believe that this new agreement was signed due to the increased traffic over this line then leased by the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, and St. Louis Railroad (known locally as the Big Four) a component of the New York Central System. Likely the new agreement outlined the interlocking design, maintenance, and staffing responsibility of the building we know as Dearborn Tower. Notations in the structure report filed in 1955 for insurance purposes describes the building as an all wood building with footprint dimensions of 12’ x 12’ and a height of 26’. For the record, the Big Four bought the Cincinnati & Southern Ohio River Railway on December 17, 1913.

Dearborn Tower’s line lost its mainline status and prestige when the route to Indianapolis and Chicago was rerouted to remove grades. The line became known as the New York Central’s Aurora branch, later to be owned by the Penn Central, later Conrail and the Indiana & Ohio Railroad. The tower still protected trains crossing here, but they were primarily freight moves from the Seagram’s distillery and other businesses. By that time the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad was owned by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, a predecessor of CSX Transportation. With the construction of the Argosy Casino and its hotel complex, the former Aurora Branch was removed along with the crossing that provided the last purpose for the tower.

When contacted, the representative of CSX Transportation indicated that they were in the progress of “removing” these types of buildings. He agreed that the Dearborn Tower was unused by the railroad and was on borrowed time. Demolition had not yet been scheduled and he believed he could slow the clock, but would likely be unable to do so much past the first quarter of 2003. CSX indicated that they would donate the tower to the Whitewater Valley Railroad if it could be removed without fouling their operations and if it could be done in a reasonable period of time.

The building was moved to Connersville in July 2003, and the railroad has started its plans to restore it as closely as possible to its appearance both inside and out to the early 1900’s. It will not be adapted in any way, but rather restored as a unique artifact with documentation of the project fully maintained as a historic record. It is also our intention to file a nomination for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places that will further promote Connersville. Eventually, it will be open to the public and will offer a vantage point of the south end of the railroad yard and the display area.

Whitewater Valley Railroad Connersville, Indiana New Museum Interpretive Center - Under Design & Construction