Saxonburg Borough is nearing the end of a restoration of the wooden workshop associated with John Roebling’s wire-rope work, with Grossman Construction of Slippery Rock targeting a December finish. The project is addressing a sinking floor and walls tilting over a crumbling foundation, rebuilding the foundation with wood and mixing plaster from straw, horsehair and white clay to match the building’s historic materials.
The restoration effort raised roughly $325,000 from borough officials, council members and residents in 2022. Saxonburg is seeking another $150,000 through Pennsylvania’s Local Share Account to help cover the work. A shortage of historically accurate materials has also posed a challenge; a local farmer offered the white clay needed for the plaster mix.
Saxonburg's German-Settler Roots
Saxonburg has German-settler roots, according to Experience Butler County PA.
A Workshop Invention That Reshaped American Engineering
The workshop is associated with Roebling’s wire-rope work, according to Experience Butler County.
Roebling's wire-rope work is also associated with the Brooklyn Bridge.
What the Historical Record Shows
The National Park Service says Roebling’s wire rope was first tested on Incline 3 of the Allegheny Portage Railroad in 1842 and soon replaced the railroad’s hemp rope. That history provides a documented example of the technology associated with his Saxonburg workshop being put to use. The National Park Service describes another, distinct Roebling project: the Delaware Aqueduct on the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River was begun in 1847 as one of four suspension aqueducts on the Delaware and Hudson Canal. Unlike the Saxonburg workshop, it served a canal function. The National Park Service’s account documents that history.
Clearing the Site and Racing the Deadline
Clearing the site was a necessary step before crews could begin foundation work. In April, workers dismantled the Brooklyn Bridge replica attached to the workshop in Roebling Park. Local firm CID Buildings donated the removal labor, the Butler Eagle reported.
Looking Ahead to a Celebratory Unveiling
Saxonburg officials plan a celebratory unveiling after the restoration and intend to rebuild a Brooklyn Bridge replica beside the workshop. They also hope the completed site will bring young residents and students to the museum and workshop, connecting a Butler County landmark with the bridge whose construction is associated with Roebling’s wire-rope work.
