The Kokomo Railway Watch Tower is a two-story-tall remnant from an often overlooked time in American history. Before automated traffic lights were widespread, small towns like Kokomo implemented around a dozen of these physically manned towers. Inside, a railway worker could manually change the traffic lights, lower and raise guard rails, and report incidents to local police. The tower was built around the 1930s, but its official end of use is unknown. Kokomo itself did not have automated traffic lights until the 1970s, but the railroad industry left town long…
