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I happened to notice this symbol:
enter image description here
on a utility pole in a photograph from 1906.

What's the meaning of that symbol?

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I don't even see the original photo, can you note more distinctly where it is in the link? – MichaelF Jan 19 '12 at 13:20
@MichaelF It's at Shorpy. Didn't the shorpy.com/node/11562 work for you? – Jonas Elfström Jan 23 '12 at 10:27
Sorry, originally no, all I saw the was list of stories on the site. It did not occur to me to click on the Witch House link and see the larger image. Since I live near Salem I should check out near there and see it for real. – MichaelF Jan 23 '12 at 12:54
That would be very cool! Maybe you even could decipher what's written under the triangle. – Jonas Elfström Jan 23 '12 at 13:15

1 Answer

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In surveying and mapping a triangle is generally a marker for a reference point.
But I haven't seen one like that on a telegraph pole - which in itself would make a poor survey marker since you can't stand at that point!

It may simply be the maker of the pole

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