Pelham Grows Up: Installation of "Silent Cop" Traffic Lights and Traffic Semaphores in the 1920s

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Pelham was growing up.  

By about the time of World War I, traffic was becoming so heavy on Boston Post Road and accidents were becoming so frequent that a traffic cop was assigned to direct traffic at Red Church Corner, known today as Four Corners (the intersection of Boston Post Road and Pelhamdale Avenue).  Pelham Manor posted John McCormack to handle the duties.  He became known as "Mack," the "Smiling Cop," who became famous and even played himself in a movie.  See Mon., Feb. 24, 2014:  Mack, the Movie Star Traffic Cop of Pelham Manor, 1916-1928.  

During the Roaring Twenties, however, traffic in Pelham exploded.  Two things quickly became clear.  First, traffic was an issue around the clock -- not just during the workday.  Second, intersections throughout all three villages were experiencing a rise in traffic and, in numerous instances, increases in the number of intersection accidents.  It was time to harness the power of "Silent Cops" as early traffic signals were known.

As early as 1922, one such "Silent Cop" was installed at the intersection of Highbrook Avenue and East First Street not far from where the tiny traffic island sits along the Highbrook Avenue railroad overpass.  Apparently, however, the Silent Cop was not always obeyed.  A brief news item published in The Pelham Sun on May 12, 1922 complained as follows:

"When you are in that neighborhood [Highbrook and First Street at the railroad overpass] pause a minute and observe the effect of that handsome silent cop that was erected there recently.  Some people obey the instructions and keep to the right, but alas, so far as many drivers are concerned it might as well not be there.  My observation is that the negligent ones are mostly women and chauffeurs.  They seem to think that traffic rules were not made for such as they.  It might not be a bad notion to put a live policeman at that point until folks get used to the new regulation.  One conscientious soul came down First Street and detoured around the post before continuing up the grade. . . ."

Early traffic signals in Pelham often were placed on some form of pedestal -- often concrete -- in the center of the intersection.  This, of course, could create a traffic hazard as was the case at the intersection of Pelhamdale Avenue and Boulevard in 1925.  The Pelham Sun reported:

"The flash light at the corner of Pelhamdale avenue and the Boulevard was hit at moved three feet Sunday night at 5:30 o'clock by a Dort car [manufactured by the Dort Motor Company] driven by William Locklair of 335 Main Street, New Rochelle.  The flash light was not seriously damaged and is now in position again."

The same year (1925), traffic at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Fourth Street (today's Lincoln Avenue) grew so dangerous that the Village of North Pelham arranged for the installation of a sophisticated new "automatic traffic signal" manufactured by the Horni Signal Manufacturing Company.  Although installation of the light had to be delayed due to a patent infringement suit brought against the manufacturer, the need for the light was so great that the Village of North Pelham had an attorney work to arrange a letter of indemnification from the manufacturer to allow installation of the signal without risk that the village might have to pay a judgment in any subsequent patent infringement action.

1925 Horni Signal Manufacturing Company Traffic Light. 

Residents of the three villages began petitioning for installation of traffic semaphores, traffic signals, and blinking caution lights at numerous intersections during the 1920s.  As is wont in our little Town, controversies soon arose.  There were battles over whether to place lights at intersections.  There were battles over whether such lights should be full-blown traffic signals or blinking caution lights.  

One issue that arose repeatedly was the fact that on busy streets such as Boston Post Road and Boulevard, traffic lights forced heavy trucks to stop and start all night long.  The consequent noise including grinding gears disturbed the sleep of local residents who made their displeasure known to the Village Boards of Pelham (today's Pelham Heights) and Pelham Manor.  The boards studied the issue and handled it in different ways based, principally, on the nature of the intersection involved.

Yes, the little Town of Pelham was growing up in the 1920s.  

Early Traffic Semaphore.

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"Reveries of An Old Resident
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It's about time now for the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company to dump a lot of loose blue stone on the corrugated, lumpy, holey and generally disreputable road under the Highbrook Avenue arch and leading up to the Westbound station.  It will lie there until it is pushed into the gutters by passing automobiles and washed into the sewers.  If their practice in this respect is typical of the management of the rest of their property it is not at all strange that they cannot pay dividends.  Why in the world don't they save themselves a lot of expense and bring on their heads the blessings of a long suffering Pelham public by putting that road in first class condition?
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When you are in that neighborhood pause a minute and observe the effect of that handsome silent cop that was erected there recently.  Some people obey the instructions and keep to the right, but alas, so far as many drivers are concerned it might as well not be there.  My observation is that the negligent ones are mostly women and chauffeurs.  They seem to think that traffic rules were not made for such as they.  It might not be a bad notion to put a live policeman at that point until folks get used to the new regulation.  One conscientious soul came down First Street and detoured around the post before continuing up the grade. . . ."

Source:  Reveries of An Old Resident, The Pelham Sun, May 12, 1922, Vol. 13, No. 11, p. 2, col. 2.

"SILENT COP HIT AGAIN

The flash light at the corner of Pelhamdale avenue and the Boulevard was hit at moved three feet Sunday night at 5:30 o'clock by a Dort car driven by William Locklair of 335 Main Street, New Rochelle.  The flash light was not seriously damaged and is now in position again."

Source:  SILENT COP HIT AGAIN, The Pelham Sun, Nov. 27, 1925, Vol. 16, No. 39, p. 3, col. 1.

"Installation of Traffic Signal Is Postponed
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Horni Co. Owners of Patent Involved in Law Suit Over Validity of Rights
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The new automatic traffic signal to be installed at Fifth avenue and Fourth street has arrived.  Its installation will be delayed as the Horni Company, manufacturers of the device are being sued by a Rochester individual who claims infringement of patent.  Attorney Lambert is seeking a letter of protection so that signal may be installed."

Source:  Installation of Traffic Signal Is Postponed -- Horni Co. Owners of Patent Involved in Law Suit Over Validity of Rights, The Pelham Sun, Nov. 27, 1925, Vol. 16, No. 39, p. 5, col. 4.  

"Blinking Lights To Replace Mack's Smile
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Pelham Manor Trustees Order Semaphore For Installation at Red Church Corner 

'Mack' is going. His successor has been ordered. In place of the smile of the Hibernian who has held down his post at the Red Church Corner for the last seven years, motorists will be greeted with the blinking of red and green lights of a traffic semaphore. The Pelham Manor village trustees, Monday night placed the order for the semaphore. 

Although removed from his fixed post at the center of the street intersection, 'Mack' will still reign supreme, for he will occupy the post at the controller of the semaphore, a few yards distant from his accustomed post. 

But one semaphore will be purchased at this time. After a sixty day trial at the Red Church Corner, the trustees will decide on locations for additional signal lights on the Boston Road. The new light will cost $424. No charge will be made for the installation. 

Village Engineer Edward F. Campbell recommended that a white line be painted on the center of the roadway on the Boston Road from Pelhamdale avenue to the New York City line. The board favored the suggestion." 

Source:  Blinking Lights To Replace Mack's Smile, The Pelham Sun, Oct. 15, 1926, p. 16, col. 4.

"All Night Traffic Semaphore Brings Protest In Manor
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Noisy Stopping and Starting of Trucks Disturbs Sleep of Tenants of Pelham Arms
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Following complaint of tenants of Pelham Arms apartment house who protested against the operation of the traffic semaphore at the Red Church corner all night long, the Pelham Manor police department will make a survey of traffic at that point.  If found practical operation of the traffic semaphore will be discontinued after midnight and resumed at 6 a.m.

Village Trustee Ralph C. Angell of Pelham Manor suggested the survey, Monday night, after a second request that the light be discontinued, had been received by the Village Board of Trustees.  The petitioners stated that the screeching brakes and noisy starting of motor trucks halted by the light was disturbing to sleep, and suggested that the light be set at 'caution' during the early morning hours.

President House stated that it had been deemed advisable to continue the operation of the light inasmuch as several serious accidents had occurred at the Red Church corner at night when traffic was heaviest.  He however approved of the suggestion and ordered Chief Gargan to make the survey."

Source:  All Night Traffic Semaphore Brings Protest In Manor -- Noisy Stopping and Starting of Trucks Disturbs Sleep of Tenants of Pelham Arms, The Pelham Sun, Jun. 3, 1927, p. 12, col. 3.  

"No Action Taken On Request For Signal Light At First Ave.
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Taxpayers Have Petitioned Board To Eliminate Traffic Danger.  Committee Still Investigating
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For the third time in as many months the proposal to install a traffic semaphore was discussed at the meeting of the North Pelham Village Board Tuesday night.  For the third time the matter was referred to committee without action.  Trustees Harder, Dillon and Shaw favored a white light that will not halt traffic.  Mayor Reilly favored a red and green semaphore but stated that it would be too costly.  Village Clerk George O'Sullivan read a petition which was received three months ago, signed by 26 taxpayers.  Trustees Harder announced that former Village Trustee Joseph Lawlor had suggested that the light be installed.  Meanwhile a committee will investigate further.

In their petition the taxpayers protested against the speeding automobiles which cross this intersection and suggested the installation of a traffic light with a view toward eliminating the danger of accident."

Source:  No Action Taken On Request For Signal Light At First Ave. -- Taxpayers Have Petitioned Board To Eliminate Traffic Danger.  Committee Still Investigating, The Pelham Sun, Dec. 9, 1927, p. 9, col. 5.  

"More Signal Lights For Dangerous Corners
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Increased Number of Accidents Prompts Trustees To Investigate Traffic Conditions
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The increasing number of automobile accidents in the village is responsible for an investigation of the traffic problem in Pelham Heights.  The Board of Trustees is considering installing additional traffic semaphores and flashers to warn motorists at dangerous intersections.  Tuesday night at the meeting of the Village Board it was proposed to install a semaphore, at the intersection of the Boulevard and Highbrook avenue.  After discussions the matter was laid over for future action.

There have been several accidents at this intersection in the last few months, and it was with a view toward relieving the situation that the semaphore was proposed.  Mayor Maxwell B. Nesbitt announced that the light could be installed on the same control operating the light now in service at Pelhamdale avenue and the Boulevard.  Opinion was expressed, however, that as the dangerous intersection was at the foot of a long hill, householders on the Boulevard might be unnecessarily disturbed by the noise of cars, which would be forced to negotiate the hill in low gear after stopping at the light at the foot of the hill.  No action was taken."

Source:  More Signal Lights For Dangerous Corners -- Increased Number of Accidents Prompts Trustees To Investigate Traffic Conditions, The Pelham Sun, Aug. 23, 1928, Vol. 19, No. 26, p. 3, col. 4. 

"Caution Light Will Relieve Village of Motor Disturbance
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Suggestion of a traffic semaphore to eliminate danger at Highbrook avenue and the Boulevard has met with the approval of many residents of the village.  Among those to express their favor of the plan is Ernest G. Goodwin, of Irving Place, who forwarded a communication to Mayor Maxwell B. Nesbitt this week in which he offers the suggestion that this signal be set at 'caution' instead of showing the usual 'stop' and 'go' lights.  Such a method, in his opinion, will speed up traffic, and also spare the residents of the village from the disturbing noises of stopping and starting of automobiles at the foot of the steep grade at this point.

Mr. Goodwin's letter follows:

'Dear Mr. Nesbitt:

'I note from the column of a recent issue of the Pelham Sun that consideration is being given to the adoption of some means of eliminating, or at least reducing the number of accidents occurring at the intersection of Highbrook avenue and the Boulevard.

'In this connection the writer suggests that in view of the particular circumstances which make many of the standard traffic signals impractical here and slightly less so at Pelhamdale avenue that a standard semaphore similar to the one at Pelhamdale avenue, or better still, the duplex curb-post type, be installed and controlled by the same mechanism.  He further suggests that the control be set to flash the 'caution' light only and of course at both intersections.  The control might also be arranged so that if the volume of traffic becomes such as to warrant the use of the 'stop' and 'go' lights at periodic intervals, the control could be switched by the passing police officer or otherwise; or, changed permanently as conditions warrant.

'The above should provide normal safely at small cost to the Village, with minimum inconvenience and delay to the traveler and with no additional annoyance to the adjacent residents.  It can hardly be disputed that this is a traffic speed problem rather than a traffic volume problem.  In view of this fact, an effective warning signal should be more practical than a stop signal.

'The latter serves to unnecessarily delay traffic, increases the wear and tear on both vehicle and driver, and many residents by the noise of brakes and gears, particularly on grades.  Of course the stop signal is desirable and necessary or congested points where the volume of traffic is so great that some lines of traffic have to be stopped while the others pass in order to effect sufficient increase in the capacity of the streets to allow all to pass without serious delays and traffic tangles.

'The traffic is not excessive at either of the above intersections, especially for the major part of the day, and it is partly due to this fact that the motorist approaches at high speed.  If he approached at low or moderate speed and on the lookout, he would seldom need to stop if there were no technical reasons, such as violating traffic regulations.

'A flashing amber light is a very efficient warning, is in considerable use where traffic is not too heavy and where a motorist is likely to exceed a safe speed, particularly at the foot of grades.  This warning signal is generally heeded with the desired results, no accident, no appreciable delay, braking, shifting gears, undue noise, etc.

'As regards the type of semaphore, for obvious reasons, it is only natural that the motorists especially would favor a low mounting at the side of the street to one mounted high or on a support in the center of the street.

'The above suggestions are submitted with the hope that they may convey some useful thought for the betterment of the present conditions at these or other points.

'Copy of this letter is being forwarded to the Pelham Sun.

'Respectfully yours,

'E. G. Goodwin.'"

Source:  Caution Light Will Relieve Village of Motor Disturbance, The Pelham Sun, Sep. 27, 1928, Vol. 19, No. 28, p. 8, col. 4.

"Friday Unlucky.

Hot weather dizziness was responsible for the damaging of a traffic light at First street and Wolf's Lane, on Friday night.  A captain of a yacht named Bassy, failed to throw the helm to port hard enough, with the result that his craft, a Chrysler, ran on the rocks, wrecking the lighthouse.  The bow of the Chrysler was wrinkled, and the main deck almost fell overboard.  Bassey's craft was backed off the lighthouse and towed into port at Pelham Garage.  The damage will be repaired and Bassey (phonetic) will be billed for the cost, which the skipper has agreed to pay, as soon as the statement reaches him at the N. Y. A. C."

Source:  Friday Unlucky, The Pelham Sun, Jul. 12, 1929, Vol. 20, No. 15, p. 2, col. 2.  

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