Paterson, NJ: Ingenuity’s Ruins Rising Up

Paterson is a singular city in the New Jersey landscape. Once the roaring engine of American industrial production, it eventually yielded that role as mechanization and the need for expansive space drove industries out of urban centers. Yet, at the heart of the city lies one of the most spectacular natural wonders on the East Coast: the Paterson Great Falls. Standing 77 feet tall, it is the second-largest waterfall by volume east of the Mississippi River. More than just a scenic marvel, it was the spark for the nation’s early economic independence—a potential first recognized by Alexander Hamilton. Today, after years of industrial decline, the site has been reborn as the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, the first urban National Park in the United States.

---

Alexander Hamilton’s Industrial Vision

Following the Revolutionary War, a fierce debate erupted over the future of the American economy. While Thomas Jefferson championed an agrarian society of small farmers, Alexander Hamilton envisioned an industrial superpower. He believed the United States must produce its own goods to provide jobs and break its reliance on European imports.

In 1791, Hamilton helped form the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures (S.U.M.). This private corporation aimed to create an entire “planned city” devoted to manufacturing everything from paper to beer. Hamilton chose New Jersey for its proximity to the financial hubs of New York and Philadelphia and its untapped water power.

• The Charter: In November 1791, the New Jersey Legislature granted the S.U.M. a liberal charter, exempting them from local taxes and giving them the power to build canals and charge tolls.
• The Site: In May 1792, the S.U.M. purchased 700 acres adjacent to the Great Falls for $8,233.53. At the time, the land was a pastoral landscape owned by Dutch families.

---

The Raceways: Harnessing the Passaic

The S.U.M.’s first challenge was engineering. Their initial ambitious canal plans were too costly, leading to the development of a sophisticated “raceway” system. This tiered system of channels diverted water from above the falls, through the mills to turn their waterwheels, and back into the river below.

The first mill, a frame structure known as the “Bull Mill,” was actually powered by an ox until the water raceways were completed in 1794. While the S.U.M. eventually stopped direct manufacturing in 1796 to focus on leasing land and water rights, their infrastructure laid the groundwork for a century of explosive growth.

---

The Three Pillars of Paterson Industry

By the mid-19th century, Paterson had become a global industrial leader, defined by three primary sectors:

1. Firearms: The Colt Legacy In 1836, Samuel Colt established his first factory here, the Patent Arms Manufacturing Company. Though he produced approximately 5,000 innovative revolving firearms, the venture closed in 1842 due to a lack of government contracts. However, the “Colt Gun Mill” remains one of the most iconic ruins in the district.

2. Locomotives: Iron Horses for a Nation Paterson became a titan of transportation. Firms like Rogers Locomotive Works, Danforth & Cooke, and Grant Locomotive built thousands of the steam engines that pushed the American frontier westward. By the late 19th century, Paterson was the primary locomotive manufacturing center in the country.

3. “Silk City”: A Global Textile Hub The most enduring nickname for the city is “Silk City.” At its peak in the late 1800s, Paterson’s mills produced nearly 50% of all silk manufactured in the United States.

• The Workforce: The industry employed thousands of immigrants—dyers, weavers, and twisters—from Italy, Ireland, and Eastern Europe.
• The Decline: The industry thrived through World War I, but the rise of synthetic fibers like nylon and rayon in the 1930s eventually brought the silk era to a close.

---

A New Chapter: The National Park

The late 20th century was difficult for Paterson. As massive industries left for the suburbs or overseas, the historic mills fell into disrepair. A series of arson fires in the 1980s destroyed over 30 historic structures, leaving the Colt Gun Mill as a haunting ruin.

However, local advocates fought to preserve the site’s unique legacy:

• 1970: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• 1976: Designated a National Historic Landmark by President Gerald Ford.
• 2011: Officially established as the 397th unit of the National Park System.

If You Visit

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park is an “outdoor museum” where nature and industry coexist.

• Location: 72 McBride Ave, Paterson, NJ 07501.
• The View: Cross the footbridge over the chasm for an up-close look at the falls.
• The Ruins: Explore the Allied Textile Printing (ATP) site to see the ruins of the Colt Gun Mill and the historic raceways.
• The Paterson Museum: Located in the restored Thomas Rogers Locomotive Shop, this museum houses Samuel Colt’s early firearms, Holland submarines (also tested in Paterson!), and giant silk looms.

---

For More Information:

• Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (www.nps.gov/pagf)