Robeling Wire Rope Works
In 1848 John Roebling purchased 25 acres of land in what is now Trenton NJ for his wire rope business. Designing the buildings and machines, he directed the company until his death in 1869. By World War I the factory was the largest wire rope plant in the world. Shuddered in the 1970s, join me as I venture inside to see what remains.
John A. Roebling, the designer of the Brooklyn Bridge, founded his steel wire manufacturing company on the site in 1849. The location, on the western side of Chambersburg, now a neighborhood of Trenton, was chosen for its location alongside the Delaware and Raritan Canal. The location also had easy access to the rail and port connections of the growing city. Under Roebling's sons the business grew, with the Trenton complex ultimately becoming Trenton's largest and most famous employer. The steel wire manufactured in block 3 was used for many famous bridges and projects, from the North Sea Mine Barrage in World War I to the Golden Gate Bridge during the Great Depression. The Roebling works made the greatest contribution to Trenton's reputation as an industrial center, memorialized in the motto "Trenton Makes, the World Takes" on the Lower Trenton Bridge.
The portion of the Roebling complex immediately to the south of block 3 has been rehabilitated as offices, a market, and a museum. Block 3 is adjacent to the Hamilton Avenue station of the River Line light rail line. It is also quite close to the Trenton Transit Center on the Northeast Corridor. The CURE Insurance Arena, a 10,500-seat arena home to concerts and sporting events, is across the street. The Trenton Ferry Historic District lies to the west. Nearby landmarks include the Italian Peoples Bakery and the New Jersey State Prison.
Many of the buildings in block 3 are currently in disuse and have experienced significant decay. The block has been the subject of many redevelopment efforts and some redevelopment of the site has been completed as lofts, offices, commercial space, and a plazza for events. Funds have been raised to convert building 101 to the Wirerope lofts. It is expected that the renovation of the rest of the complex, including the construction of new buildings and a parking garage, will follow, only time will tell. Until next time explorers, stay safe.
