Blueprints for John Roebling's wire rope spinner. Submitted photo

SAXONBURG — If there are any Scouts in the area looking for a project to complete their Eagle Scout requirements, borough manager Steven May has one ready.

At a meeting of the Saxonburg Area Business Association Tuesday morning, Aug. 11, May announced the borough was looking for an Eagle Scout hopeful to construct a replica of the original wire-twisting machine belonging to borough founder and wire rope pioneer John Roebling.

“This would be for their Eagle Scout merit badge,” May said. “It hits off everything: fundraising, community support, representing history, craftsmanship, the works. It’s everything the Scouts are looking for today.”

This will go hand-in-hand with the borough’s ongoing project to restore Roebling’s original wire rope workshop on Rebecca Street near the Saxonburg Museum at Roebling Park.

Donations from members of the Roebling family, who recently visited Saxonburg, will pay for the construction of the wire-twisting machine replica, according to May.

“The Roebling family was here in town for a couple days, and they donated $2,500 toward building it,” May said.

May said he hopes to display the machine replica inside the renovated workshop once both projects are finished.

“It’ll be cool to have in there as a museum showpiece,” May said. “We’ll be able to demonstrate how it was done.”