Saxonburg Museum aiming to install separate donation box for bridge improvements
SAXONBURG — The Friends of Saxonburg Museum are hoping to resolve confusion for residents who are interested in making cash donations directly to the museum to help them restore the borough’s miniature-scale replica of the Brooklyn Bridge.
The group’s vice president, Brooke Wamsley, requested that the nonprofit which currently manages the museum set up a separate donation box solely for bridge repair funds. The museum does have a donation box, but funds from there are currently directed toward the borough’s park fund.
“They think they’re donating to the bridge, but all of that money comes right here,” Wamsley said.
Wamsley brought the issue up during a borough council meeting on Tuesday night, Oct. 15. According to Wamsley, the museum received over $100 dollars in donations the previous week, mainly from people who thought they were contributing to the bridge renovation.
“I want to raise money for the bridge, and I want to get it done sooner rather than later,” Wamsley said.
The bridge replica, which was moved to its current location in 2001, is suffering from water damage and structural damage.
The bridge replica was originally built as part of a float for the city of Butler’s bicentennial parade in 1985, and is currently standing attached to the original wire rope workshop of borough founder John Roebling. Like the bridge, the workshop is itself in need of repair, as its foundation has been sinking into the ground since 2017.
A GoFundMe has also been set up to raise funds for the mini-bridge’s face-lift. As of Thursday, the GoFundMe is currently sitting at $1,410 raised out of a goal of $80,000.
