Highball Signal
National Register of Historic Places

Highball Signal

Delmar, Sussex County, Delaware
Listed
July 1, 1973
Type
Object
Period
Modern
Ref No.
73000553

About this property

Highball Signal is a historic railroad signal located in Delmar, Delaware, United States. The signal can be described as a white sphere mounted onto a pole, located next to railroad tracks, intended to signal permission for a train to proceed at full speed; as long as the ball is at the top of the pole. The term "highball" came synonymous with a clear right-of-way and for trains to proceed at full speed. It was originally in service at New Castle, Delaware, and then at Hurlock, Maryland. The highball signal was moved to Delmar for display during the town's centennial in 1959, and is no longer used to direct railroad traffic, but is maintained as a public exhibition in a park near the railroad. The Highball was placed on the US National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

Location

Delmar, Sussex County, Delaware
38.45650, -75.57854

Categories

TRANSPORTATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Highball Signal

This page lists Highball Signal. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Highball Signal report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

West Potato House
Industrial
1.7 mi
Stanley Potato House
Industrial
4.7 mi
Collins Potato House
Industrial
5 mi
Wright Potato House
Industrial
5.5 mi
Moore Potato House
Industrial
6.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Highball Signal listed on the National Register?

Highball Signal was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 1, 1973.

What type of historic resource is Highball Signal?

Highball Signal is classified as a object in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Highball Signal?

The period of significance for Highball Signal is recorded as the modern era, specifically around 1959.

Can I research the history near Highball Signal?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Highball Signal will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Sussex County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Sussex County.

Explore SussexCounty ›

More historic places in Delaware

Browse all historic places in Delaware.

View Delawarehistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Delaware history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Delawarehistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Highball Signal will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report