The National Forge manufactured 37 MM guns like this one for the allied forces during World War II. The Wilder Museum of Warren County History will celebrate the National Forge with free admission on Wednesday, September 24 from 6-8 PM.

The Wilder Museum of Warren County History will host its annual National Forge Night next week.

Many know about Ellwood National Forge – but they may not know the role National Forge played during World War II, long before Ellwood acquired National Forge in 2003, when the company rebranded as Ellwood National Forge. After the merger Ellwood National Forge is one of the primary employers in Warren County.

Clinton Wilder founded the National Forge and Tool Company in 1915 in Erie, Pa. The business soon outgrew its facilities, prompting the purchase of the Irvine Steel Forge Company and the relocation of the company headquarters to Irvine, PA, in 1917. The company became a leading manufacturer for crankshaft, pipe mold and defense markets. Acquired by Ellwood in 2003, the company rebranded as Ellwood National Forge and remains one of the primary employers in the county.

Following Robert Wilder’s death in 1995, the museum passed to the Warren County Historical Society, which maintains the building and artifacts. It has grown to 15 exhibit rooms, but one of the largest remains the National Forge Room, a section dedicated to the history of the National Forge with displays such as a World War II-era 37 MM anti-tank gun, a torpedo, and Robert Wilder’s 1963 Mercedes Benz.

A 2015 story in the Times Observer recounted some of the contributions National Forge made to the World War II effort. There were 4,283 production facilities across the country that received the Army-Navy “E” Award, given by the U.S. government for excellence in war production service. Eight had six stars, 206 had five. National Forge was among the 206 companies receiving five stars.

According to an article in a 2002 edition of the Pennsylvania magazine, National Forge & Ordinance primarily produced propeller and rotator shafts for ships, periscope tubes, torpedoes and “all manner of military ordinance.”

Complete ordinance products were produced at National Forge. Parts were made, assembled and test-fired on site.

At one point during the war, every Navy submarine had a National Forge periscope tube, which led to worries that National Forge would be a top target of an enemy bombing of American war-effort factories.. That didn’t happen, and production didn’t cease.

National Forge received its award before World War II started, with the first award coming Oct. 24, 1931. Each White Star was received six months later, up through October 24, 1943. When the fifth star was received, a notice published by the company in the Times Mirror proudly announced that “The management of National Forge therefore feels it can announce the receipt of the 5th White Star award with pardonable and understandable pride… a pride which fully recognizes that it is National Forge workers who have established this unsurpassed record as award winners… and also as a symbol, we are sure, (that) where will be no abatement of National Forge efforts in war production as long as the Army and Navy have need of our services.”

The awards were given out as the “Distinguished Service Cross of the Production Front,” according to a display at the museum. Early in the war, the forge was the only entity to receive the award “outside of the confines of Allegheny County, the world renowned center for steel production.”

Two other companies received the Army-Navy “E” award as well Struthers-Wells Company in Warren and the O’Connor Machine Company in Sheffield.

The Pennsylvania magazine said that 1,200 were employed at the Forge during war time. According to a Times Observer article from 1995, 200 men working for the company entered military service. Additionally, 200 women worked at the Forge during the war years.

Next week’s National Forge Night provides an opportunity to see experience the role National Forge played both in Warren County and world history.

National Forge Night will be held Wednesday, Sept. 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Wilder Museum of Warren County History, 51 Erie Ave., Irvine. Admission is free. Donations are welcome and all proceeds will benefit the museum.

To schedule a museum tour for an organization, call 814-723-1795.

The Wilder Museum’s 2025 season will conclude on Saturday, October 11. Fall hours are Friday and Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. For more information, call 814-723-1795, visit www.warrenhistory.org, or like the Wilder Museum’s Facebook page.