Around and About New Jersey: Paterson's Great Falls Historic Park

The program begins at the Great Falls, where the Passaic River drops through a gap in the Watchung Mountains. The Great Falls is the reason for Paterson's location. Alexander Hamilton, who was secretary of the treasury when George Washington was president, encouraged a group of businessmen to build a factory center. They looked for a site near a city, where products could be sold, and near a river, where waterpower was available.
For many years, the factories in Paterson made a variety of things; but in the late nineteenth century silk became their most important product, and Paterson was known as Silk City. By that time the machines in most factories were powered by steam, not water.
Jack De Stefano, director of the Paterson Museum, demonstrates how a power loom works. He informs us that in the early days of the silk industry in Paterson children as young as ten worked in the factories.
Then we visit Lambert Castle, the mansion of a factory owner named Catholina Lambert, located in the mountains overlooking Paterson. Mr. Lambert wanted to impress people with his wealth and power.
In contrast, we visit the house of Pietro Botto in the streetcar suburb of Haledon. Mr. Botto was a skilled weaver from Italy. Bunny Kuiken, Mr. Botto's granddaughter, explains that her grandfather rented out apartments upstairs and took in boarders to make ends meet.
For a teachers guide go to:
www.state.nj.u...