Silk City
The city of Paterson in New Jersey was important in the growth of the industrial revolution in the late 19th century. Its major manufacturing concern at this time was the production of silk and this is reflected in the city's nickname of Silk City. Other industries included firearms manufacture started by Samuel Colt, railway locomotive manufacture and there were numerous mills involved in the textile industry. This burst of activity was largely caused by the presence of the Great Falls of the Passaic River, which supplied the necessary power. These 77 foot high falls are the second largest in volume throughout the Eastern seaboard and are a big tourist attraction.
This pioneering city of the modern age was also involved in the testing of early submarines. The Paterson Museum displays two models that took part in local trials. Industrial relations did not always run smoothly in Silk City. In 1913, silk workers went on strike in protest against their long hours and poor working conditions. The city was an important production center during World War II for aircraft engines.
The economic boom times came to an end in the 1970s and the area underwent a depression. In common with many other cities with traditional industries, manufacture went into decline and unemployment rose dramatically. Silk City managed to re-invent itself however and has a thriving economy today, based on successful small businesses, many of which are owned by immigrants. Migrants to the city have always had an economic impact, from the Irish, Dutch, Germans and Jews who arrived first to the Latin Americans and Mexicans coming today. The diverse mix in the population has resulted in a cosmopolitan variety of shops and restaurants.
There are many buildings from the Victorian and Georgian era and several of Italian or Dutch design. Some of this architecture is of historical importance. One of the more unusual buildings was commissioned by a wealthy silk mill owner in 1893 and the style was based on a British castle. After the building was sold to the city, it was converted to a museum and is known as Lambert Castle Museum. It contains artwork, artifacts and a public access research library.
The city is immortalized in the work of celebrated poet, William Carlos Williams. He wrote a tribute to Silk City, his hometown, in his poem, Paterson, which came out in parts and then was published as a whole in 1963.
