Photo courtesy of Warren County Visitors Bureau Retired boilermakers and out-of-town visitors celebrated Arch Builders Day Friday at the Baby Arch at Warren County Visitors Bureau.

Retired Warren County boilermakers got together last week to commemorate the completion of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis.

The Committee of Retired Boilermakers held the annual Arch Builders’ Day Friday at the Warren County Visitors’ Bureau.

The stainless steel exterior of the arch was constructed at Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel Company (PDM) in Warren by local boilermakers and opened in 1965.

McDonald Construction Company of St. Louis won the bid for the construction and sub-contracted the exterior construction to PDM.

Project leaders checked other PDM facilities before deciding on Warren, committee member and boilermaker Ed Atwood said.

In 2012, 2015, and 2018, PDM workers went to St. Louis for reunion events.

Atwood said the reunions in St. Louis and in Warren County have enabled the Warren PDM boilermakers to meet and connect with others who worked on the Arch.

A handful of boilermakers who recall their efforts in the construction of the arch, as well as some out-of-town visitors, were on hand for Friday’s reunion.

“Everybody had a great time,” Atwood said. “It turned out to be a good one because the tourists got in there and got involved.”

Atwood said the reunions have enabled the Warren PDM boilermakers to meet and connect with others who worked on the Arch.