Roebling

Roebling Bridge at Riegelsville (Wikipedia Photo)

In December 2012 I traveled to Roebling to meet with George Lengel, whose family settled there in the early 20th century, in connection with his father's work at Roebling Mill.  George is a key figure in the Roebling Museum that now operates on the site where the mill once stood.

The Roebling works have an interesting history.  Roebling was a noted bridge builder, whose projects included design and engineering of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, and design and manufacture of the cables for the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.  In fact, Roebling bridges can be seen in many places around the country, and range from the iconic grandeur of the Brooklyn Bridge, to the more humble but characteristic structure that spans the Delaware River between New Jersey and Pennsylvania at Riegelsville, as pictured here.  Another Roebling bridge and aqueduct is located further upstream on the Delaware, at Minisink Ford, New York, where a small museum provides information for visitors.


The Roebling's Sons Company was founded by John A. Roebling in the 19th century, and had located in Trenton by 1848.  The company was known for its steel rope cables, and of course for its bridges.  At its peak, the company employed as many as 8,000 workers.  John A. Roebling died in 1869 while overseeing construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, but his sons carried on with the business following their father's death.  Now a part of Florence Township, the village was a private community in Roebling's day.  In order to maintain that status, the village was roped off for one day each year by stringing chains from small obelisks located at the ends of the streets, forming a symbolic barrier against entry to the village.  Some of the obelisks used for this purpose are still standing on street corners in Roebling.

Obelisk indicating the once-private nature of Roebling village

The company ceased operations in 1974, rather suddenly and without warning, according to residents and former millworkers.  But the village that was built to house company employees has persisted, with the sturdily-built Roebling housing increasingly attracting newcomers to the village today.  These days, however, the houses built by the Roebling company are owner-occupied, and of course none of the houses in the village are company-owned.  

Don Jones, Artist's Conception of Roebling Museum

Once the Roebling company ceased operations, the industrial infrastructure of the site was gradually dismantled, so that none of the original buildings remain except for a portion of the original guardhouse, which stood at the entrance to the mill site.  Several years ago, village residents and former employees of the mill formed a committee to raise funds to establish a museum, which has adapted the old guardhouse into office and exhibit spaces.  

Don Jones, a local artist whose father had been employed at the Roebling company, became part of the museum development process.  He contributed his own special skills to the effort, by painting an image of the museum as he imagined it might look once it had been re-purposed.  His artist's rendering provided additional motivation and inspiration for the planning committee, and played an important role in the fundraising process.  The museum, now open, is operated by local people, many of whom had some connection to the company -- if not a direct connection, then through a family member.  Information about company history and about programs and exhibits at the museum can be found at the Roebling Museum website.