Pere Marquette octagonal crossing gate tower

摘要

The crossing gate tower shown in the drawings is based on original drawings of the Pere Marquette Railroad dated for November 1903. The structure is labeled on the originals as a "standard balloon tower for gate crossings" with reference to its octagonal design on the upper story. The wood frame structure has an enclosed stairway leading up to a trap door in the floor of the upper story. Evidently, the placement of the smoke stack varied, as it is shown on one side in the drawings and about at center in the May, 1947 photograph of the tower at Benton Harbour, Michigan. My thanks to the Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society, Inc., for having the original material available for this article.