[xx(][xx(][:(] 3 times this past week Haley tower has been vandalised. All the windows on the trackside of the interlocking tower have been broken. Someone threw ballast through the windows on 2 different days this past week. One of the rocks broke some of the glass on the interlocking machine. Then last night someone stole the American Flag off our flag pole.
Haley Tower in Terre Haute Ind was moved off CSX’s property 5 years ago this month. The tower was moved 40 feet off the tracks. The inside of the tower looks just like it did 50 years ago.
We are going to replace the glass with Lexan
For more information about Haley tower please visit our website
It really is frustrating to hear about this! [V][B)][:0]
I hope this does not sound far fetched but it’s becoming more popular:
Have you and your group considered purchasing one or two spy cameras and hiding them in remote strategic areas? Cameras have gotten small enough where they can be stashed inside of trees, logs, utility poles, concrete barriers, etc. Tool usually required: Cordless drill. On the televised “Extreme Video” and similar shows it seems that many people have had great successes with this technology in catching child abusers and employees that steal. On the plus side of this is that small video spy camera prices have been dropping like boulders in the past 5 years. [swg][tup]
Another thing that may help also in conjunction with the cameras is posting a large sign: THIS PROPERTY UNDER VIDEO SURVEILLANCE! TRESPASSERS AND VANDALS WILL BE PROSECUTED. [4:-)]
More than likely these vandals are under 25 with nothing better to do. If caught, they or their parents/guardians should pay some of the cost of repairing the damage done. If they’re adults they should definitely pay and do some jail time instead of getting their wrists slap by a bleeding-heart-judge.[D)][D)][:-^][#wstupid]
I know many liberal minded people disagree with the following : Violaters under the age of 21 should be sent to BOOT CAMP!
So far, many are proving to be effective! Even if it were my own family members I’d say YES!!
Sorry for the tireade, but I just, for the life of me, can’t substitute caring discipline with polictical sensitivity and correctness!
I consider myself very liberal-minded, and I agree 100% with the boot camp idea.
We are (have) created a generation of monsters, that have grown up in a country with the mentality that kids are so innocent and do not need to be punished, merely “advised” or “councelled”. They have no respect for parental authority, knowing full well that the parents’ hands are tied with regards to the type of punishment they can administer.
In addition to boot camp, the brats should have to work some disgusting job (like shovelling $hit at the water treatment facility) at minimum wage to pay off the damages they caused. Once word got around about the level of punishment they would receive if caught, my guess is that quite a few would reconsider their actions.
No one can learn from their mistakes unless they are given the opportunity to realize the consequences of their actions and take responsibility for them.
Haley tower is part of the Wabash Valley RR Museum. We may be the only museum with (2) interlocking towers. Haley is the pride & main focus. The tower was moved about 40 feet off the CSX tacks. Haley controlled the NYC (Big Four) tracks (east/west) and the old Chicago & Eastern Illinos (north/south) line. The tower was in use until 5 years ago this month. Haley used pistol grips while Springhill Tower which guarded the southern approach to Terre Haute was an armstrong tower.
Haley tower is brick & looks like the tower operator just walked out the door. Springhill is wood & needs alot of work.
Our first priority is to reglass Haley which will take place 10/6/04. I am sure we will talk about increasing security at this months meeting. But $$$$ may be the decideing factor.
If you are ever in Terre Haute on the weekends please come and visit. About 40+ trains pass by the tower each day & we are completing a large veiwing platform from $$ donated by RR employees. Of course it is better to watch trains from the tower itself, like God & Nature intended.
Hey I like that even better Espee! (But the ACLU watch-hounds would probably cry foul!)
Hopefully the members of this group would be willing to chip in on a “mini-spy” camera system.
I could be mistaken, but I’ve seen government “Grants” available for all types of projects. Since this one is historically related, there may be some opportunities! If a grant is discovered, the paperwork process is slow but if thousands of dollars are available it would be worth the effort!
I like your thinking! Making them earn the repair $ by doing something disgusting might just keep them from doing it again.
More seriously, you hit on the two things seriously lacking in the slimeballs that do such things and society in general - consequences and responsibility. The bad thing is, too many parents teach their children the wrong way to act BY EXAMPLE.
Get a couple of these spy cameras and then get some of those fake cameras and put them in a completley different spots that way they can try and take them out but will only be taking out a decoy instead of the real thing.
The sign should read : TRESSPASSERS AND VANDALS WILL BE SHOT, SURVIVORS WILL BE SHOT AGAIN.