Little Creek Hundred in Delmar in Sussex County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Highball Signal
Photographed by Nate Davidson, January 17, 2011
1. Highball Signal Marker
Erected by Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs. (Marker Number S-69.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Delaware Public Archives, and the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series lists.
Location. 38° 27.369′ N, 75° 34.687′ W. Marker is in Delmar, Delaware, in Sussex County. It is in Little Creek Hundred. It is on North Pennsylvania Avenue near East State Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Delmar DE 19940, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American Mid-Atlantic and on the Delmarva Peninsula. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: St. Stephens United Methodist Church (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); American Legion Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away in Maryland); Maryland Champions (approx. 0.3 miles away in Maryland); World War II Memorial
this page online
Also see . . .
1. Hayman John C (1979). Rails Along The Chesapeake (Marvadel Publishers). (Submitted on May 20, 2014, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
2. Tufts, A. (1957). Rails Along The Chesapeake (Henry Holt And Company, New York). (Submitted on May 27, 2014, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland.)
3. Highball Signal - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form.
The highball signal at Delmar is one of the last survivors of a type of traffic, control that was in use before the advent of modern semaphore signals. The origin of the highball is unknown, but it probably was invented during the railroad expansion period of the 1840's. As a signal, it is quite primitive, since it can convey only one piece of information: whether the track is clear or not.(Submitted on April 24, 2025, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware.)
Photographed by Nate Davidson, January 17, 2011
2. Highball Signal
Photographed by Tom Fuchs, May 17, 2014
3. Highball Signal
Photographed by Tom Fuchs, May 17, 2014
4. Delmarva Secondary Looking North
Photographed by Tom Fuchs, May 17, 2014
5. Delmarva Secondary Looking South
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, May 5, 2024
6. The Highball Signal
This highball signal was originally used for the New Castle & Frenchtown Railroad.
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, May 5, 2024
7. Crossing Guard Shack
This historic crossing guard shack is also in Railroad Park.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 17, 2011, by Nathan Davidson of Salisbury, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,557 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 17, 2011, by Nathan Davidson of Salisbury, Maryland. 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 20, 2014, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. 6, 7. submitted on March 19, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
