Library packed for premier of Brooklyn Bridge film
SAXONBURG — The only things missing were a red carpet and paparazzi on Wednesday night, May 24, as a standing room only crowd inside the South Butler Community Library viewed “Brooklyn Bridge: An Engineering Masterpiece.”
The German producers of the film about the life of John Roebling, who created wire rope in Saxonburg after emigrating from Muelhausen, Germany, allowed the initial viewing of their documentary to be held for free in the small hamlet Roebling created in the 1830s.
Fred Caesar, volunteer curator at the Saxonburg Museum and tireless champion of Roebling’s legacy in the borough, introduced the film before a crowd of more than 125 at the library.
“We are pleased to present, for the very first time anywhere in the world, ‘Brooklyn Bridge: An Engineering Masterpiece,’” he said triumphantly.
The 90-minute professional documentary featured a handful of authors who had written books about John Roebling, his son, Washington, or the Brooklyn Bridge.
The authors and the narrator deftly told the story of John Roebling growing up in Muelhausen, sailing for 76 days to America, and founding — with his brother, Carl — the borough of Saxonburg.
“They built a beautiful town, which still stands today,” author Erica Wagner said of Saxonburg.
The next expert featured was none other than the silky-voiced Caesar, who shared details on John Roebling, his decision to name his town Saxonburg instead of Germania, his ineptitude at farming, and finally, his creation of a strong steel rope in a tiny building that is now being saved from the clutches of time.
“He started to change his farm in Saxonburg into a wire rope factory,” Caesar told the interviewer.
Caesar’s voice and image was included in much of the film, whether donning kid gloves to show a replica of Roebling’s wire rope, sharing facts about Roebling’s days in Saxonburg, or fussing with the American flag in front of the museum.
After covering the grand opening of the Brooklyn Bridge on May 24, 1883, following Roebling’s death and Washington’s assumption of construction, the film ended to raucous applause from the audience members.
Caesar was overcome with emotion in addressing the crowd after the library lights came up.
“I had no idea I’d be in the film so much,” he said. “I’m proud to represent all of you.”
During a question-and-answer session following the film, one viewer asked Caesar — who is a font of knowledge on the Roeblings — if he had learned anything from the documentary.
Caesar replied that he learned more about the two other bridges Roebling built in the region before the Brooklyn Bridge.
After the film, which will be shown in Germany and France beginning May 30, those in attendance were thrilled that Saxonburg’s legacy was recorded for posterity.
“I thought I knew a lot about Roebling, the Brooklyn Bridge, and Muelhausen,” said Joyce Hutterer, Saxonburg businessperson, “but I learned so much.”
Her husband, Jack, extolled the efforts of Caesar in his quest to keep the borough’s Roebling legacy alive.
“Fred is amazing. He is absolutely passionate about it,” he said. “I think he does 10 men’s work when it comes to that museum.”
Dave Johnston, a borough councilman, said the council is highly appreciative of Caesar’s work in preserving Saxonburg’s history.
He also was thrilled with the documentary and the many sites in Saxonburg it featured.
“I thought it was a great movie and it was also great to see all the people come out to watch it,” Johnston said.
The 90-minute documentary will be shown again at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 25, at the library on West Main Street.
Mark Gordon, the county’s chief of economic development and planning, attended the viewing with his wife, Kathy.
He has been in discussions with Caesar and the borough regarding potential grant funds that might be available for the project to repair Roebling’s wire rope workshop.
Gordon said the film was about Roebling, but it was really about the connections his invention of wire rope created, including Saxonburg, its sister city, Muelhausen, and other locations.
“In this case, it connects with out past and it will connect us with the future in so many different ways,” Gordon said of the documentary.
