Gruber Wagon Works, 19th-century wagon manufacturing facility in Bern Township, Pennsylvania, United States
Gruber Wagon Works is a two-and-a-half-story wooden building built in the 1800s that originally stood in Bern Township but was later moved five miles away. Inside are three specialized work areas: a wood shop, a blacksmith shop, and a paint shop, each still holding its original equipment and hand tools.
Franklin H. Gruber founded this business in 1882 and produced horse-drawn wagons and wooden implements there until 1971. The building was rescued in 1976 to prevent it from being flooded by Blue Marsh Lake construction.
The workshop displays how craftspeople and workers labored side by side to build wagons throughout the 1800s. The machinery and tools positioned throughout the spaces tell the story of daily manufacturing life.
This site is maintained by a heritage center and visitors can explore it with guided tours that explain the wagon-making craft. The grounds are accessible, and you should allow time to walk through all three workshop areas and examine the equipment at your own pace.
The entire 86-ton structure was relocated five miles in a remarkable preservation effort to save it from flooding. The building retained all its original machinery and internal layout during this ambitious move.
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