If you live in New Jersey, you can’t but help falling over history. Since the early days of the founding of our country, Paterson, New Jersey has been in the discussion. After winning our independence, America was forced to break ties with Great Britain, a global powerhouse in the international trade. Paterson became the birthplace of the new revolution, the Industrial Revolution. Mr. Local History looks back at some of the stories of Paterson’s awesome history.
The Name
After the war for American independence ended, Alexander Hamilton began promoting his views on the economic needs of the new nation, serving as the first Secretary of the Treasury from 1789 to 1795. Concerned by the lack of manufacturing in the United States, he believed a strong industrial system was the best way to help the new nation gain financial independence and become a world presence.
Paterson was one of the first planned industrial cities in the United States. The enterprise was chartered by the New Jersey legislature in 1791 as the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures (SUM); the city was named for Governor William Paterson, one of the framers and signers (1787) of the U.S. Constitution. William Paterson was an Irish-born American jurist, U.S. senator (1789–90), and governor of New Jersey (1790–93). He also served as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1793 to 1806. The city was named in his honor as at the time he was the state’s Governor. Paterson would become the national hub of manufacturing and was one of the first planned industrial cities in the United States.
The New Jersey legislature chartered the enterprise in 1791 as the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures (SUM). In the nation’s first planned industrial city, it was here that the Industrial Revolution got a foothold by integrating the natural beauty of Paterson’s greatest wonder, the Passaic Falls. From the falls came manufacturing, and the S.U.M. – Thanks to Alexander Hamilton.
Silk, Locomotives, Colt Firearms, Automotives, Diners, Submarines, and Comedy were ALL manufactured in Paterson. We visited the Paterson Museum to take in some of the best stories of Paterson’s past. There was even a diner display at the end of 2023 highlighting the history of diner manufacturing and those iconic Art Deco stainless steel diners that everyone remembers.
Paterson Diner Culture & Manufacturing
We recently wrote a story about the Seven Wonders of New Jersey; diners have played an important part in our collective culture. We think diners are England’s version of the Pubs of New Jersey where we gather and share stories while enjoying our favorite American culture food. Paterson played an important part in our diner history as the world’s manufacturing capital for stainless steel diner cars.
Everett Abbott Cooper and his Paterson Vehicle Company started building Silk City Diner cars in 1927. Silk City Diners were unique as they offered a four-year payment plan, at a time when such financing was the exception and not the norm. While other diner manufacturers came and went, some lasting just a year or two – the Paterson Vehicle Company continued to manufacture diners until 1964 (or 1966, depending upon the source), ultimately assembling around 1,500 of the gleaming monuments to culinary diversity.
Across town, Arthur E. Seiber, who left Silk City, launched the Paramount Dining Car Company across the Passaic River at 450-500 Broadway in Haledon, NJ. The two would be built and deliver thousands of diners that are still around today across the world. They’ve become a “collectible” given their portability. A stainless diner has actually made it to Euro Disney. It is the former Westfield, NJ Excellent Diner made by the Jerry O’Mahony Diner Company of Elizabeth, New Jersey, which was another Jersey manufacturer of roadside diners from 1917 to 1952. In Jersey, both the White Manna in Hackensack and the White Mana in Jersey City are both Paramount Dining Cars from Paterson, New Jersey
The Abyss
Paterson’s fortunes continued on an uneven course through the twentieth century. The Great Depression hit the city hard, as did the manufacturing slump that came after World War II. During periods of conflict, however, industries survived and thrived through military contracts and defense manufacturing, adapting peacetime products to support war efforts. After more recessions, bankruptcies, and manufacturing pullouts, Paterson has suffered. But in 2024 there seems to be a bit of a renaissance coming to Paterson.
The Renaissance
Every time we visit Paterson for another story, we find some project where the town looks to be fighting back. The latest we recall is the beautiful restoration of Hinchcliff Stadium to its original glory. The only thing they missed was the restoration of the racetrack inside the stadium (perhaps a future modification).
The falls area is now a beautiful park and it looks like the area down by the former Colt Manufacturing plant is ready for a beautiful springtime picnic. We also plan to visit the planned Great Falls Center across the street from Paterson Falls. The entire district seems always to be “next on the list.” Only time will tell.
Paterson Interactive History Map
On the left is a Paterson map from 1919. As you can see, not much has changed in the 100 years as the Passiac River still meanders the borders of Paterson. However, a lot of history has been lost. MLH has been working with Google, local library archives, and the public to find some of those lost stories, photos, and markers that bring Paterson’s history back to life. Take a look at the interactive map on the right and click to see what we’ve been finding from some of the key historic sites in Paterson.
We Leave You With….
Oh, and YES, Patsy’s Tavern is HISTORIC, and they still pump out incredible pizzas! Our research trips always include a stop at Patsy’s. Not only has Paty’s been making Italian comfort food for over 90 years (since 1931), but even El Presidente made a stop at Patsy’s (See below as he gets into the history!).
Related Mr. Local History Research
Silk City DIner operated out of a plant on East 27th Street as late as the early 1960s. I remember seeing new diners being wheeled out of the plant, like ships being launched. My grandfather, John Marchitti, owned a Silk City diner, the Highway on Rte. 4 in Fair Lawn.
Several years ago, I had an interesting conversation with a man here in Vermont — owner of a woodenware and kitchen supply company, J.K. Adams — who was a member of the family that owned Silk City. He told me about the company’s origins as a builder of horse-drawn wagons, and its evolution into the Paterson Vehicle Company. There are a number of them still around — the Birdseye Diner in Castleton, Vermont is one, as is another VT diner, the Country Girl (#48211/1948) in Chester.VT.