High-ranking German official delighted by Saxonburg
SAXONBURG — The excitement was palpable on Thursday as the highest ranking German official ever to visit Saxonburg enjoyed a tour of the borough that was founded almost 200 years ago by his countryman.
German Consul General David Gill traveled from New York City to visit the borough purchased, founded and laid out by John Augustus Roebling 190 yeas ago.
Gill traveled from the Pittsburgh International Airport to the office of the Butler County Commissioners, who treated the consul to lunch before he was driven to the Hotel Saxonburg, where he stayed on Thursday night.
After getting set up at the accommodations where one of Roebling’s visitors may have stayed in the 1830s, Gill eagerly accepted the offer by Mayor Bill Gillespie to drive the golf cart to the Saxonburg Museum at Roebling Park.
There, under the protection of borough police chief Joe Beachem and another officer, Gill heard a presentation by Fred Caesar, museum coordinator, that detailed Roebling’s trip to America, his purchase of the land that became Saxonburg, how he settled the borough and his famous invention of the wire rope that revolutionized bridge building and other industries.
Caesar gave Gill a tour of the museum’s surprising number of artifacts, focusing on those related to Roebling and the beginnings of the borough.
Gill asked many questions and appeared interested in the historical items, many of which Caesar freed from behind the “do not touch” signs and handed to the esteemed visitor.
One Bible from the time of the town’s founding included a paragraph of script in Old German, which Gill happily translated for the delighted Caesar.
The paragraph stated that the Bible was given to a child for his eagerness to learn in Sunday school, according to Gill.
Gill also was interested in Saxonburg’s relationship with Muelhausen, Germany, which is the borough’s sister city.
“Have you been to Muelhausen?” Gill asked Gillespie, who accompanied the consul throughout his tour. “It’s a very beautiful town.”
State Rep. Marci Mustello, R-11th, also accompanied Gill during his tour of Saxonburg.
Mustello said Gill spoke on the House Floor in Harrisburg a few months ago, and she was motivated to invite him to Saxonburg after he mentioned John Roebling and Saxonburg in his speech.
“He said to me that he’s been wanting to come to Saxonburg,” Mustello said. “Saxonburg really pulled out all the stops for him.”
She said she contacted Gillespie about Gill potentially visiting the borough, and Gillespie sent a formal invitation to the consul’s office in New York City.
“It’s a great benefit to us,” said Gillespie, whose smile remained prominent during the entire tour. “He gets to see who we are and how we are.”
Caesar also showed Gill Roebling’s wire rope shop, where his office and drafting room were housed.
Gill asked many questions about the production of wire rope in Saxonburg, and heard Caesar explain that the building has suffered foundation damage and that repairs are currently being engineered.
“I’m really very impressed,” Gill said of Saxonburg. “I’m happy to be here because of the very interesting story of John Roebling.”
Gill said he often uses Roebling as a metaphor for the German-American connection that continues today.
“I love how well preserved his legacy is here, and how committed the people are to his memory,” he said.
Of all he learned at the museum, Gill was most impressed that the layout designed by Roebling 190 years ago remains the same today.
He said the Western Pennsylvania landscape is very similar to parts of Eastern Germany, which may have helped spur Roebling to purchase the land for the borough.
Gill also recalled his speech on the House floor, where he talked about Germany’s long relationship with Pennsylvania through Roebling and Saxonburg; the city of Bethlehem, Pa., which was founded by Germans; and the Pennsylvania Dutch.
“They all helped to shape Pennsylvania,” Gill said in his distinct accent.
The small group then walked to the white church erected on Roebling’s request, then to Main Street, where Gill walked the sidewalks during the borough’s monthly Mingle On Main event.
Gill talked with shopkeepers, residents, a representative of Penn United Technologies and others at the event before attending a welcome reception at the South Butler Community Library, where he received a key to the city, before enjoying dinner at Hotel Saxonburg.
Gill planned to visit II-VI on Friday before departing for New York City.
