A Dummy Forever! By Carl Oechsner Edited by Gretchen Bock Visitors to Croton-on-Hudson often notice an unusual landmark at the intersection of Old Post Road South and Grand Street. This "dummy light" is a traffic signal standing on a pedestal in the middle of the intersection -- a rare surviving example of early traffic control infrastructure. During an era when single traffic signals controlled intersections, many were mounted on pedestals in the center rather than on corners. These replaced earlier beacons and "mushrooms" that marked intersection centers and separated opposing traffic flows. The same infrastructure that supported the beacons was adapted for the new "stop and go" signals. Croton-on-Hudson retains one of only three operating dummy lights remaining in New York State. The others function in Beacon and Canajoharie. Many communities across Westchester County once had them -- Chappaqua, White Plains, and Yonkers all operated dummy lights in their downtown areas, but all have since been removed. New York City used them extensively on major avenues with traffic officers positioned in enclosed booths at the top. The world's first traffic lights appeared near London's House of Commons in 1868, resembling railway signals with semaphore arms and gas lamps. Unfortunately, one exploded a year later, injuring the officer operating it. The earliest American traffic signals were patented in Chicago in 1910, using non-illuminated words "stop" and "proceed." Salt Lake City introduced electric red and green lights in 1912. Cleveland installed manually controlled signals in 1913, while San Francisco built the first automatic color-based system in 1917. Detroit's 1920 innovation introduced the yellow light, now standard nationwide. In 1926, a Village of Croton ordinance established traffic rules for the newly installed dummy light: vehicles could only enter an intersection when the signal showed green. The control box inside -- manufactured by the Marbelite Company of Brooklyn around 1970 -- contains twelve 15-watt LED lights. The structure stands approximately seven feet tall, with the brick base concealing a historic village cistern that once supplied water to upper Grand Street until 1929. The triangular brick addition pointing toward Old Post Road South was constructed later to protect the cistern from vehicle damage. Local lore suggests the structure earned its "dummy light" nickname because "it's not very intelligent to stand out in the middle of the road with traffic going by." The Marbelite Company, established in 1923, supplied most traffic control equipment for the expanding metropolitan area. The company created distinctive "tunnaway" visors -- cutaway shields with thick collars near the lens resembling a combination of tunnel and visor. Croton's light features "Crouse-Hinds" branding, one of the most popular traffic signal manufacturers. Crouse-Hinds began production in Syracuse, New York, in 1922 and continued until 1982. Their signals are now highly sought by collectors, with early models considered "art deco" designs. Over the years, Croton officials have proposed replacing the historic dummy light with modern overhead signals, but public resistance has been strong. The community recognizes its rarity and historic significance. The light was even featured on a "Village Tie" in the 1960s, demonstrating its status as a beloved local landmark. Other Dummy Lights Beacon's dummy light, purchased from the Essco Manufacturing Company of Peoria, Illinois, in 1926, used a different color scheme: yellow meant ready to go, green meant go, and red meant stop. Lights changed every forty seconds, and power was manually activated by police from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. to conserve electricity. In 2007, Beacon held a workshop titled "Dummy Light Traffic Light -- To Move or Not to Move?" to discuss downtown renewal. Citizens overwhelmingly opposed moving the light, viewing it as a historic treasure that contributed to community character. The City Council voted to keep it in place on Main Street. Canajoharie's dummy light, also installed in 1926, prompted local newspaper traffic instructions advising motorists to blow their horns when turning and suggesting residents "cut out the instructions and paste them in their hats." When New York State proposed removal, citizens protested so strongly that the state withdrew its plan. Several other American communities have preserved their dummy lights. Coleman, Texas, refurbished its pedestal-mounted signal after a truck knocked it down in 2010. In 2011, Arkansas's Smackover dummy light was nominated for the National Register of Historic Places through the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. Reading and Dedham, Massachusetts, took different approaches during downtown redevelopment. Dedham replaced its dummy light with overhead signals to reduce traffic delays. Reading initially planned removal of its 1937 "Old Yellow" dummy, but residents organized a protest movement highlighting the light's historical importance. In June 2008, the community held a "Dummy Bash Demolition Day" where residents paid $25 to strike the structure with sledgehammers, with proceeds supporting downtown reconstruction. As traffic increases and downtown redevelopment continues, communities nationwide face decisions about preserving these rare fixtures. Their