Roebling workshop’s mini-bridge in need of repair
SAXONBURG — The town of Saxonburg takes great pride in being both the hometown of the birthplace of wire rope, as well as the hometown of its inventor and town founder John Roebling, designer of the Brooklyn Bridge. Roebling’s original workshop, is still intact, located next door to the Saxonburg Museum, and has been designated as a National Historic Landmark.
Unfortunately, the workshop is not in the best of shape — the foundation is crumbling and causing the building to tilt. The Friends of Saxonburg Museum is currently seeking funding to have the historic building repaired.
But the workshop itself isn’t the only part of the property that needs saving. The miniature Brooklyn Bridge replica attached to the building is also in dire need of attention, as museum curator Fred Caesar attested at Tuesday night’s meeting of Saxonburg Borough Council.
“The condition of the bridge is not good,” Caesar said.
More specifically, the miniature towers of the bridge have started to crack and crumble, and the metal structure forming the bridge has become covered in rust and moss due to a lack of sealant. Caesar circulated photos of the bridge’s current state among the six members of the borough council.
“The facts are this: The bridge has to be permanently detached from the workshop,” Caesar said. “It never should have been attached to the workshop in the first place.”
The bridge replica was originally constructed for use in parade floats. Eventually, it was placed at Roebling Park to be attached to the workshop, which itself was moved from its original location at the corner of Rebecca and Water streets in 1975, shortly before its last major renovation.
Unfortunately, according to Caesar, removing the bridge replica will not be as easy as lifting it from the ground. Doing so would cause damage to the roof of the adjoining workshop and the park pavilion.
Another issue is that, according to Caesar, the bridge replica meets no criteria for historical preservation funding. The National Register of Historic Places does not allow anything to be attached to any structure marked as an official historic landmark.
However, funding may be available for the bridge renovation through municipal capital grants.
“The time is fast approaching for a final decision,” Caesar said. “There needs to be a decision made on where the bridge will be moved, and how.”
