This Portland Intersection Used to Be Run by Human-Powered Traffic Signal

This major intersection at Congress and High Streets in Portland used to be run by human-powered traffic signal and a prominent structure that once stood on the corner was demolished to build the State Theatre.

You can see the Baxter Building that once housed the Portland Public Library on the far left of the image. The large building at the corner is The Libby Mansion or Charles Libby Mansion, not to be confused with the Morse-Libby Mansion AKA The Victoria Mansion.

In the late 1800s, the intersection was active enough to require a human-powered traffic signal.

The human-powered signal was eventually replaced by a more modern version in the center of the street by the 1920s. The Libby Mansion was demolished to build the State Theatre around 1928. In the photo below, the roof is already torn off the building.

Here's how the Congress and High Street intersection looks today with State Theatre on the corner.

You can see this exhibit and others at MaineMemory.net.