Derby History Quiz

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Harry A. Haugh, Jr.

Once the automobile came into existence, traffic jams were not far behind. Until the invention of the traffic control signal, police officers provided that function at busy intersections. However, the first traffic signals could not adjust for the amount of traffic flowing through an intersection. That advance didn't come until 1927, and it was Derby native Harry A. Haugh, Jr. working at Yale University who installed the first "electromatic traffic signal" in New Haven in 1928. The invention revolutionized traffic control by vehicular activation and won him national acclaim. In later years, he was to say that the idea for the device came to him from his observations of traffic at the corner of Main and Elizabeth Streets in his hometown.

So you can thank this graduate of the Derby High School Class of 1915 for coming up with an innovative way of improving the flow of traffic.To read more about Mr. Haugh, click here to go to the Derby Historical Society web site.

Correct answers were received from: Randy Ritter, John R. Asp, Millie from Ansonia, Nick from Terryvile, John M. Rak, Margo Bondi, Ken Dupke, Ozzie (Neustaedter)Ben Ezra, Joe Pinto, Frank from St. Pete, Harry Bush, Don Sanderson, Jack O'Callaghan, Peggy Lucarelli, H. G. Jacobs, Howard Bradshaw,  Mary Suess, Jim Bartlett, Fred Grant, Bob Ahearn, Eileen Krugel, Jay ?, Stan Sroka, Jack Skelding, John Millea, Bonnie Berman, Jack Vagnini, Amy Avellino, Pat Shelton, Renee Mercede, David Petz, Jr., and Ann Searles.

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