Slippery Rock construction firm wins bid for Saxonburg wire rope workshop
SAXONBURG — After years of fundraising efforts, the borough is finally on track to restore one of the county’s historic landmarks, the original wire rope workshop of borough founder John Roebling.
At its monthly meeting on Tuesday night, July 21, the board of supervisors awarded the bid for the long-awaited restoration of the workshop to Slippery Rock based contractor Grossman Construction for $314,150.
Grossman was the lowest of three bidders, outbidding Saxonburg’s own Etzel Engineer & Build, who bid $335,717; as well as Arch Masonry & Restoration, which bid $318,500.
Aside from the low bid, Grossman was chosen due to its experience on other projects involving restoration of historic structures. These include the replacement of roofing on the Old Stone House in Slippery Rock, as well as some work on the Alumni House at Slippery Rock University.
“It’s an absolute relief to have a well-known contractor engaged in the project that has had significant historical structures renovated within Butler County,” said borough manager Steven May.
According to May, Saxonburg has received more than enough money in both grants and donations from the public — an estimated $325,000 — to afford the workshop’s reconstruction. Grants the borough has received over the past 12 months include a $150,000 Local Share Account grant it received in late 2025, and a $75,000 grant from the Allegheny Foundation. Local Share Account funds are generated from statewide gaming revenue.
“We have enough left for a $10,000 change order,” May said. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
The workshop, originally located at the corner of North Rebecca and Water streets, is where Roebling perfected the wire rope that made the Brooklyn Bridge and other Roebling-designed suspension bridges possible.
Now located at Roebling Park on Rebecca Street, the workshop’s foundation has been slowly sinking into the ground for nearly a decade.
May said he expects work on the workshop reconstruction to start by next month, although he doesn’t have a timetable on when it will finish.
“I’d like to see it completed before the end of the construction season,” May said. “The sooner the better.”
