Mill’s Tower

The Mills Tower Historic District encompasses the eastern portion of the Illinois Central railroad yard, on the eastern edge of Iowa Falls. The small district consists of six structures, only three of which are contributing and still standing, which date to the last two periods of Iowa railroad history. Most alterations to the district have been to Mills Tower, the oldest of the group.

Mills Tower is a good example of the second generation utilitarian support structures the Illinois Central built between the 1880s and 1930s to control traffic along their lines. Mills Tower is the only interlocking tower left in Iowa, out of nearly seventy in operation at various times and places.

The B, CR & N came to Iowa Falls in 1880 and was absorbed by the Rock Island in 1903.  The Des Moines, Iowa Falls and Northern was completed to Des Moines in December, 1902 and was absorbed by the Rock Island 1913.  The Rock Island Railroad bridge in Iowa Falls was completed in 1909.  Passenger service over the Rock Island Railroad was stopped July 25, 1969.

Mills Tower probably replaced the original Iowa Falls junction in 1909, when the IC-RI built a new river crossing and the new line made the older junction obsolete. The actual date of construction is unknown. Unlike the first tower, which "was doubtless of the 'Armstrong' variety"(having manually operated levers) Mills Tower employed electrically-operated levers. Mills governed the switches in the IC yard west of the tower as well as the older Rock Island (BCRN) crossing with the IC. In 1985 The Chicago Central & Pacific Railroad (CCP) purchased the IC and its employees refer to the tower as a "relic" and a "fossil."

The first floor was once used for offices and the second floor is the control room, as its many windows attest. The key feature of the tower has always been the original electric control board sitting in the middle of the room. A large train order signal stands right next to the building, on the north side. Next to the tracks and just west of the crossing diamond is a smaller metal pole with two slender metal hoops. Train orders for the next segment of track were tied loosely to the hoops so the engineer could grasp the papers with his hand while the train slowed for the crossing.

The Mills Tower Historic District is located on East Rocksylvania, approximately 1/3 mile east of old freight house and Illinois Central Depot. The Mills Tower and two contributing buildings are undergoing a restoration; as is a caboose, restored to Illinois Central colors, now located on the property.

The last 25 years have seen many changes.  The Rock Island Railroad was dissolved, the Chicago and Northwestern bought the short line, many of the B, CR & N branch line were abandoned, but Iow Falls still has two major railroads in town.  One north/south (Union Pacific Railroad) and one east/west (Canadian National Railroad).

On October 3, 2021 a fundraiser was held at the Illinois Central Depot.  The Iowa Chapter of the National Railroad Historical Society was raising funds through a go fund me page to install four radio scanners and a railcam.  We were to provide internet connectivity.  The equipment was installed in November of that year.  We have internet at the tower and at the depot through CNS Internet of Ackley,IA.  Their antennas are located on the grain elevator.  The radios monitor the ATCS signals of both railroads.  The railcam  views the crossing (diamond).  Night time vision is provided by a LED spotlight on a timer.

If you have a ATCS access the tower is monitored on the UP Mason City subdivision or the Waterloo subdivision.  The railcam is accessed on YouTube as the Mills Tower.  It’s also accessed on Steel Highways. The live stream is shown below.

As always we are in need of volunteers.  We can show both properties by appointment, or we’re open over the 4th of July period. Please contact Jerry Lehtola - (641) 425-4728