MackLow Builders is not a Referral Service, but a fully licensed and insured General Contractor serving the Residential and Commercial needs of Passaic County New Jersey since 1986.

In the late19th century New Jersey utilized man-made water highways called canals to transport people and goods throughout the state. The Morris Canal, as it ran through northern New Jersey,  connected the Delaware River on NJ's western border with the Hudson River on its eastern border. The Morris Canal ran through the Passaic County towns of Clifton, Little Falls, Paterson and the Mountain View section of Wayne.

With a renewed interest in historic preservation in our state, many municipalities are utilizing their rich history and resources to provide recreational and public spaces for the community. A prime example of this is the resurrection of the Morris Canal in both Clifton and Little Falls, which were long neglected and forgotten resources, into unique public green spaces that provide new recreational opportunities to the community while making history come alive for all.

The Morris Canal Park and Preserve in Clifton, New Jersey.

The rebirth of Passaic County's Morris Canal can be attributed to volunteer effort, community support, and a variety of funding sources. Clifton's Morris Canal Park is supported entirely through donations and volunteer effort, if you are interested in supporting their efforts you can contact the "Friends of the Morris Canal Park, Inc." at (973) 473- 5176 for further information on how you can help. "Friends of the Morris Canal Park, Inc." also offer the the public the opportunity to plant a tree in the park with the appropriate marker in place.

The Clifton Arts Center Gallery and Studio are housed in two renovated barns of the former U.S. Animal Quarantine Station, now the grounds of Clifton Municipal Complex. The brick barns were built in the early twentieth century and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They have been joined together by a modern, airy atrium to create a unique venue for the exhibition of the visual arts.

The Clifton Municipal Complex is already host to a sculpture garden containing the works of more than 30 contemporary sculptures, and the opening of the Arts Center in January 2000 has given the City of Clifton the distinction of being one of the most arts friendly municipalities in the Northeast.

The Clifton Arts Center is located in the 26 acre Clifton Municipal complex, Clifton Avenue and Van Houten Avenue. On entering the complex go to the Well Road and go up the hill; the Arts Center is located next to the artesian well.

The Clifton Arts Center & Sculpture Park is a branch of the City of Clifton Health Department designated to serve the well-being of the citizen through various cultural arts and educational programs to the local community. Our events are supported, in part, by our operating budget combined with the financial and in-kind donations from the non-profit board, Clifton Arts Center, Inc. Without the combined efforts of the operating budget, Clifton Arts Center, Inc and supporters like you, we would not be able to provide quantity and quality of programming that we offer.

For more information call: 973-472-5499 or go to www.cliftonnj.org.

Great Falls State Park (Patterson Falls) - Clifton New Jersey

Paterson can be aptly called the “Cradle of American Industry”. It was near the Great Falls of the Passaic River that plans for an industrial metropolis were developed at the end of the eighteenth century.
In 1791, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton helped promote a private, state chartered corporation, the “Society for Establishing Useful Manufacture” (S.U.M.). It was through Hamilton’s influence that the directors of the S.U.M. located the town of Paterson at the Great Falls. The new town was named after William Paterson, the Governor of New Jersey, in appreciation for approving their business plans. The S.U.M. planned to utilize the Passaic River to supply waterpower by diverting its water through a three-tiered raceway system.

Although the S.U.M. failed to realize its manufacturing objectives, they did succeed as a real estate developer and supplier of power to the growing number of various industries that were building factories around the area of the Great Falls. The industries that ultimately emerged produced textile machinery, steam locomotives, silk weaving and dyeing, revolvers, aircraft engines, and various other products.

The S.U.M. continued its corporate existence well into the 20th century. In 1945, its property, assets, charter rights, raceway system and steam and hydroelectric power plants were sold to the City of Paterson. Twenty-six years later, the non-profit Great Falls Preservation and Development Corporation was established to restore and redevelop the historic mill buildings and raceways. On June 6, 1976, President Gerald R. Ford visited Paterson and officially designated the 119-acre Great Falls/S.U.M. historic district as a national historic landmark. A number of mill buildings have been rehabilitated for use as offices, living space, cultural facilities and schools. On Thursday, October 21, 2004 Governor James E. McGreevey designated the area as the Great Falls State Park.

The City of Paterson’s Great Falls Visitor Center, conveniently located across from the Great Falls at 65 McBride Avenue Extension, offers educational services that include historic interpretation and guided walks featuring an overview of the District, its significant industrial architecture, history, and current projects. For information about Visitor Center hours and services call 973-279-9587.

Lambert Castle - Passaic County, New Jersey.

Constructed in 1892 as the home and showplace of silk manufacturer Catholina Lambert, the 53-acre estate originally included the mansion, gatehouse, carriage-green house complex, and formal Italianate gardens. Four years later, Lambert added an art gallery and observation tower. The property is now owned by the County of Passaic and is an integral part of Garret Mountain Reservation.

The Story of Catholina Lambert is the stuff of what legends are made. Lambert was born to working class parents in England in 1834. At the age of 17, the future silk magnate and his younger brother immigrated to America. Lambert settled in the Boston area and was hired as a bookkeeper for the silk firm of Tilt and Dexter. Tilt withdrew from the firm, and Dexter loaned Lambert the necessary funds to buy into the partnership. The firm, now known as Dexter-Lambert, relocated its base of operations to Paterson. In 1867 Paterson was emerging as a world-class silk manufacturing center.

Lambert’s business thrived from 1875 to 1890. To accompany his rise in fortune, Lambert decided to build a new home befitting his station as one of Paterson’s leading industrialists. “Belle Vista” was constructed of sandstone, much of it quarried from Garret Mountain. Construction took a year to complete and is estimated to have cost between $200,000 - $500,000. The interior of the Castle was organized around a three-story open atrium called the court. It was here that Lambert displayed many of his prized European and American paintings. His collection included works by Rembrandt, Renior, Courbet, Monet, and Balkelock. The interior of the Castle reflected the eclectic styles of the Gilded Age.

In 1914, financial problems forced Lambert to mortgage his estate and art collection. Several hundred items were auctioned at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Lambert died in 1923, a few weeks shy of his 89th birthday. His son and heir, Walter, inherited the Castle and sold the furnishings and later the Castle itself for $125,000 to the City of Paterson.

The Castle, was purchased by the Passaic County Park Commission in 1928. It was renovated for park system use and the three-story atrium was closed. In 1934, the Passaic County Historical Society established its museum and library in the Castle. The building is listed on the state and national registers of historic places. Lambert Castle was extensively restored and rehabilitated over a five-year period by the Board of Chosen Freeholders, with the assistance of federal and state grants. The Castle was rededicated in September of 2000. It is open for visitation. For information on Lambert’s Castle, and the programs of the Historical Society, call 973-247-0085.

 Paterson History

• NJ Association of Counties- all county website links

• Passaic County Historical Society

• The New Jersey Page of the American Local History Network