World's Oldest Traffic Light

Ashville, Ohio, has laid claim to being the home of the world’s oldest working traffic light, although a few other towns are arguing that theirs is older.

The light, designed by Ashville resident Teddy Boor, was originally installed in 1932 at the corner of Main and Long Streets. It served until 1982, a total of 50 years when it was retired because color-blind people could not decide whether it was red or green. It has a unique, futuristic design, looking somewhat like a silver football.

Since it was retired, it has been directing foot traffic at the Small Town Museum in Ashville. Until 2005, it was taken outside every year during the town’s annual 4^th of July celebrations. But fears that it might be stolen ended that tradition and it has not left the Museum building since. It is still operating continuously in its Museum home, which also features the world’s largest scrap book.

The Museum’s director, Charlie Morrison, says that while other claimants have come forward to dispute Ashville’s claim for their traffic light as the world’s oldest continuously working example, they have not been able to prove their cases. So for now, at least, the Ashville traffic light is on record as the oldest working traffic light.