Guerber Engineering
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Civil engineering, Steel fabrication |
| Founded | 1901 |
| Founder | Paul A. E. Guerber |
| Fate | Renamed Bethlehem Fabricators, Inc. in early 1930s; acquired by Lewis Industries, Inc. in 1981; facility closed in 1984 |
| Headquarters | Allentown, Pennsylvania (original), later West Bethlehem, Pennsylvania , United States |
Key people | William B. M. Hutchinson (President and Chairman from 1913), Morris J. Dimmick (Vice President, 1930s–1960) |
| Products | Structural steel elements, gas-fired heaters, metal goods (after early 1930s) |
The Guerber Engineering Co. was a civil engineering enterprise that operated extensively throughout the Lehigh Valley during the early 1900s, specializing in the production of steel elements for numerous significant structures within the area.
History
Established in 1901 by Paul A. E. Guerber, a mechanical engineer and alumnus of Stevens Institute of Technology, the firm began its operations in Allentown, Pennsylvania before moving to West Bethlehem. In 1913, leadership transitioned to William B. M. Hutchinson, who assumed the roles of president and chairman. Under his guidance, the company underwent a major transformation in the early 1930s, adopting the name Bethlehem Fabricators, Inc. At this point, the business discontinued its structural engineering and steel fabrication activities to concentrate on producing gas-fired heaters and various metal goods. Hutchinson, a graduate of Lehigh University, maintained close connections with his alma mater by actively hiring many of its graduates during the early decades of the 20th century. Morris J. Dimmick held the position of vice president from the 1930s until his retirement in 1960.
In 1981, Lewis Industries, Inc., a regional industrial conglomerate expanding into steel fabrication, acquired Bethlehem Fabricators. Nevertheless, due to the widespread industrial decline affecting the Rust Belt, the Bethlehem Fabricators facility was shuttered in 1984, leading to the elimination of 335 jobs.
Notable projects
- Structural steel for Lehigh University's Fritz Lab was installed in 1909; this laboratory later served as home to the civil engineering department and commemorated Guerber's contributions with a dedicated plaque.
- The Glendon Hill Road Canal Bridge (1910), an historic structure crossing the Lehigh Canal in Easton, Pennsylvania.
- The Allentown National Bank building (1905), recognized as a National Historic Landmark.