Bradford Junction Interlocking Tower
Why it's listed
Built in 1918, this two-story brick tower at 501 East Main Street in Bradford, Ohio, once controlled rail traffic through Bradford Junction on the Pennsylvania Railroad. The building measures about 22 by 18 feet and rises roughly 25 feet. It has Flemish bond brick walls, reinforced concrete floors, a slate hip roof and an unusual interior stairwell with steel pan steps. Inside, the operator's office on the second floor held a row of twenty switching levers and a lighted track diagram. Some original items remain, including an electric panel, glass batteries and steel lockers. The tower was part of a terminal expanded under the United States Railroad Administration during World War I, when nearly two thousand workers were employed there. Rail activity declined after the mid-1920s, and the tower closed in 1983. It is one of only two surviving towers in West Central Ohio and the last railroad structure in Bradford.
Significance in brief: The tower is significant under Criterion A for its link to Bradford Junction, a regionally important rail transfer center, and to the improvements made by the United States Railroad Administration during World War I. It is significant under Criterion C as a rare surviving example of a manually operated interlocking tower. It is the only railroad structure left in the town.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 95000497, listed April 20, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 501 E. Main St., Bradford |
|---|---|
| County | Miami County |
| Listed | April 20, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000497 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1918-1944 |
| Architect / builder | Pennsylvania Railroad |
| Architectural style | other: Railroad Tower |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Abandoned in 1985 and acquired in 1986; some window sashes were replaced in 1990 and a minor roof leak was patched. Function listed as work in progress. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 40.13108, -84.42459 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 95000497.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138589214
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.