Roebling workshop in Saxonburg to be saved
SAXONBURG — Borough council members on Tuesday, March 21, night demonstrated their commitment to Saxonburg’s rich and unique history.
The council voted unanimously to move forward with a project to repair the workshop in Roebling Park, where the borough’s founder, John Roebling, perfected the wire rope that would soon suspend huge bridges over waterways all across the United States.
Fred Caesar, Saxonburg Museum’s volunteer curator, gave a presentation at Tuesday’s council meeting on the dire condition of the 1838 building due to the deterioration of its foundation.
“Steps must be taken to preserve this historic structure and prevent it from collapse,” he said.
Caesar displayed several photographs that demonstrated his point that the building is tilting backward, and the tilt is getting worse every day.
Steven May, borough secretary, revealed that a study by Etzel Engineer and Build, of Saxonburg, determined the repair project would cost an estimated $234,000 to $254,500.
Caesar, who also is the president of the nonprofit group Friends of the Saxonburg Museum, said the group will initiate a major campaign to raise funds for the project in the near future.
He has donation pledges from local businesses and individuals, as well as from wire rope manufacturers and bridge-building companies across the country.
Some larger donors were holding off on signing their checks until borough council approved moving forward with the project, Caesar said.
He also has researched state, federal and other grants that could help with the project.
He added that Friends of Saxonburg Museum raised the $28,000 to conduct the Etzel study.
Caesar said no borough offices, equipment or personnel will be involved in the construction-project fundraising, which will be totally conducted by Friends of the Saxonburg Museum.
He appreciated the support and confidence of the borough council in voting to move ahead with the project.
“To have now an important vote to lead to possibly saving an important part of history is historic in itself,” Caesar said.
He said now that the vote has taken place, the building will likely be braced to prevent any further damage or twisting until construction can start.
Caesar said if fundraising goes well, construction could begin next spring.
The Brooklyn Bridge replica attached to the workshop must be removed and not reattached, as the National Register does not allow anything to be attached to structures holding its designation.
The replica was used as a float in many parades of the past in Saxonburg.
The wire rope shop’s original location was at the corner of Water and Rebecca streets in Saxonburg. It was moved to the park in the mid-1970s.
The borough council at that time had voted to raze the aging building and sell its boards as souvenirs, but a group of citizens disagreed with the decision and the building was saved and moved to the park.
The shop was refurbished and subsequently placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The workshop is included in tours of the museum, but Caesar said it is now too unstable and visitors can only look in the door.
“This is an important part of the history of the borough, the state, and America,” Caesar said of Roebling’s workshop.
