The Mills Tower Historic District encompasses the eastern
portion of the Illinois Central railroad yard, on the eastern edge of Iowa
Falls. The small district consists of six structures, only three of which
are contributing and still standing, which date to the last two periods of
Iowa railroad history. Most alterations to the district have been to Mills
Tower, the oldest of the group.
Mills Tower is a good example of the second generation utilitarian
support structures the Illinois Central built between the
1880s and 1930s to control traffic along their lines. Mills Tower is the only
interlocking tower left in Iowa, out of nearly seventy in operation at various
times and places.
Mills Tower probably replaced the original Iowa Falls junction
in 1909, when the IC-RI built a new river crossing and the new line made the
older junction obsolete. The actual date of construction is unknown. Unlike
the first tower, which "was doubtless of the 'Armstrong' variety"(having manually
operated levers) Mills Tower employed electrically-operated levers. Mills
governed the switches in the IC yard west of the tower as well as the older
Rock Island (BCRN) crossing with the IC. In 1985 The Chicago Central & Pacific
Railroad (CCP) purchased the IC and its employees refer to the tower as a
"relic" and a "fossil."
The first floor was once used for offices and the second floor
is the control room, as its many windows attest. The key feature of the tower
has always been the original electric control board sitting in the middle
of the room. A large train order signal stands right next to the building,
on the north side. Next to the tracks and just west of the crossing diamond
is a smaller metal pole with two slender metal hoops. Train orders for the
next segment of track were tied loosely to the hoops so the engineer could
grasp the papers with his hand while the train slowed for the crossing.
The Mills Tower Historic District is located on East Rocksylvania,
approximately 1/3 mile east of old freight house and Illinois Central Depot.
The Mills Tower and two contributing buildings are undergoing a restoration;
as is a caboose, restored to Illinois Central colors, now located on the property.
For info or tour call Iowa Falls Historical Society (515) 648- 4603
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