The stories of the Wilder Museum of Warren County History and the National Forge Company have a rich history with one another. To honor this relationship and to recognize the history of the National Forge, the Wilder Museum, 51 Erie Avenue, Irvine, PA 16329, will host an open house highlighting the spacious National Forge Exhibit Room on Thursday, September 29, 2022 from 6-8PM.

Founded in 1915 by Clinton E. Wilder, the National Forge Company began as the National Forge and Tool Company in Erie. The company quickly purchased the Irvine Steel Forge Company as an additional facility and eventually moved the entire operation to Irvine in 1917. The company became a major producer of large, precision machined steel forgings with many employees contributing to the company’s success throughout history.

Seventy-five years later, Robert O. Wilder, chairman of the company’s board of directors and president of the National Forge Company, initiated the establishment of a museum to honor his father, hold archives relevant to the National Forge Company, and display artifacts from the Brokenstraw Valley area. In 1991, the Clinton E. Wilder Historical Museum opened in the former Irvine school building which was built in 1940 on land that had appropriately been donated by Clinton E. Wilder.

In 1996, the Warren County Historical Society was gifted the museum (now known as the Wilder Museum of Warren County History) which is home to almost 4,000 artifacts in 17 exhibit rooms dedicated to Warren County history. One such room is the National Forge Exhibit Room which contains various machinery, equipment, photos, a 1963 Mercedes Benz once owned by Robert Wilder, large weapons, such as a 37 mm anti-tank gun and a torpedo, and extensive additional artifacts.

This event is free and open to the public. Donations are welcome. For more information, please call (814)723-1795, visit www.warrenhistory.org, or like the Wilder Museum on Facebook.