The historic Roebling Wire Rope Workshop in Saxonburg's Roebling Park is tilting and its foundation crumbling. The Friends of the Saxonburg Museum have raised $50,000 toward the $250,000 needed to save it. Submitted Photo

SAXONBURG — Time is running out to save John Roebling’s historic wire rope workshop in Saxonburg, the foundation of which has been slowly sinking into the ground since 2017. The Friends of the Saxonburg Museum have spent the past eight months trying to raise the necessary $250,000 to save the historic landmark.

While fundraising has been slow, it has received a boost from some donors, who have more than doubled the workshop donation account in just four months.

The account sits at more than $52,000, just over a fifth of the goal. In mid-August, the account held $25,000. Saxonburg Museum curator Fred Caesar detailed the situation during borough council’s monthly meeting Tuesday, Dec. 19.

Caesar credits the boost to some “significant dollar donations” from those who wished not to have their names or donation amounts made public. Included were some donations which were matched during a donation-doubling campaign that recently ended.

Caesar is hoping to fill the remaining hole in the account with money from state or federal grants, and that the boost in donations provides more incentive for governments to provide grants.

“Since some upcoming grants call for matching funds, the fact that we now have $50,000 and possibly more during the first quarter of 2024 will be very, very helpful to gain significant grant money amounts,” Caesar said.

However, Caesar added that some state grants which the museum is seeking may not be available until after July 1 or even later. Still, he said he believes that there is some outside interest in saving Roebling’s historic wire rope workshop.

“While I can’t go into details, I can assure you that there is an interest in helping preserve the wire rope workshop,” Caesar said. “I’m looking forward to some fruition during 2024.”