Fred Ceaser and local residences watching the first airing of the Brooklyn Bridge documentary at the South Butler Community Library. Laura Welsh/Special to the Butler Eagle
L. Welsh Photography
SAXONBURG — The only things missing were a red carpet and paparazzi on Wednesday night, May 24, as a standing room only crowd inside the South Butler Community Library viewed “Brooklyn Bridge: An Engineering Masterpiece.”
The German producers of the film about the life of John Roebling, who created wire rope in Saxonburg after emigrating from Muelhausen, Germany, allowed the initial viewing of their documentary to be held for free in the small hamlet Roebling created in the 1830s.
Fred Caesar, volunteer curator at the Saxonburg Museum and tireless champion of Roebling’s legacy in the borough, introduced the film before a crowd of more than 125 at the library.
John Roebling was a German immigrant who founded Saxonburg in 1832 with his brother, Frederick, and designed the Brooklyn Bridge.
“We are pleased to present, for the very first time anywhere in the world, ‘Brooklyn Bridge: An Engineering Masterpiece,’” he said triumphantly.
The 90-minute professional documentary featured a handful of authors who had written books about John Roebling, his son, Washington, or the Brooklyn Bridge.
Related Article: Library packed for premier of Brooklyn Bridge film
Fred Ceaser speaking to the first group to see the airing of the Brooklyn Bridge documentary at the South Butler Community Library. Laura Welsh/Special to the Butler Eagle
L. Welsh Photography
Fred Ceaser speaking to the first, of two, group to see the airing of the Brooklyn Bridge documentary at the South Butler Community Library. Laura Welsh/Special to the Butler Eagle
L. Welsh Photography
Fred Ceaser speaking in the Brooklyn Bridge documentary at the South Butler Community Library after being interviewed in October of 2021. Laura Welsh/Special to the Butler Eagle
L. Welsh Photography
Fred Ceaser speaking to the first group to see the airing of the Brooklyn Bridge documentary at the South Butler Community Library. Laura Welsh/Special to the Butler Eagle
L. Welsh Photography
