J.O. Tower
J.O. Tower was located in downtown Akron,Ohio on the Southwest corner of E. Market St. and College St..
JO controlled the movable-point crossing of the Erie mainline, and B&O/PRR shared mainline.
The adjacent buildings were added later by non-railroad tenants.
The tower's odd shape on its north (TT east) side was the result of to it being shortened in 1939
due to the widening of Market St. At that time a US&S Model 14, Type F ("flip-flop") lever machine was installed,
replacing the earlier mechanical machine.
The Erie (Conrail) was abandoned through here in 1983.
The tower remained open until 1989 or 1990.
(under CR control, as they still came to Akron from Hudson.)
It was razed on April 5, 2001 by the University of Akron, which has owned the property since the 1990s.
I went competely around the structure, inside and out at various stages of demolition and got photos and video.
Please do not use these photos without the permission of the owner.
'JO' Tower
'JO' Tower still open in 1982 under Conrail control.
Photo: Don Narris
'JO' Tower
The Southwest side of JO Tower.
Photo: Don Narris
'JO' Tower
The west side of JO Tower.
'JO' Tower
Northwest side of JO.
'JO' Tower
Northeast side of JO.
'JO' Tower
The west side of JO Tower after the adjacent buildings were demolished.
'JO' Tower
The norhteast side of JO standing alone.
'JO' Tower
The southeast side of JO standing alone.
'JO' Tower
The west side of JO during demolition.
'JO' Tower
The west side of JO with whats left of the bay window on the ground.
'JO' Tower US&S Machine
What was left of the US&S machine.
Construction Plaques
These plaques were put on the "new" Market St. bridge in 1939.
The new 2001 Market St. bridge has no plaques, but the 1939 ones were saved by
the construction foreman who collects old plaques.
A "video tour" of JO (and other misc. items) is available for $24 from
Revelation Audio-Visuals
P.O. Box 129
Tallmadge, Ohio 44278
Order #: RVQ #26.
