Paterson Factory - May 2002

Kon: 6th Nov 2005 - 02:18 GMT

Damn, sick stuff. Wish I wasthere to enjoy it. And do some of it...

elaine: 8th Nov 2005 - 11:18 GMT

this is fab, by the way. just thought i'd mention it

Peter: 8th Nov 2005 - 14:41 GMT

wow. decaying factories are always cool... i love the photo of that mannequin. tres creepy!

im glad you got into this place, and scored some photos to share with us!

Anonymous (162.39.142.230): 8th Nov 2005 - 19:19 GMT

awesome photographs... awesome find.

adam: 8th Nov 2005 - 19:50 GMT

thanksthanks.. paterson is a well of photographic opportunities since the whole city used to be an industrial town and then everything shut down and the city turned to shit sometime in the 70s/80s.

for those of you who live nearby, you must check out the waterfalls. i wish i had photos from there with me.

adam: 8th Nov 2005 - 19:51 GMT

oops.. didnt realize kc already posted pics of the falls :)

Peter: 8th Nov 2005 - 20:04 GMT

adam: are you from patterson?

adam: 8th Nov 2005 - 22:46 GMT

nah.. i used to live in glen rock where i went to h.s. 93-97.. so we used to drive over the bridge (there are only 2 or 3 bridges that lead from bergen county to passaic county, go figure) to buy alcohol and explore the "ghetto".. fun/stupid times :)

Anonymous (cpe-69-205-175-118.stny.res.rr.com): 9th Nov 2005 - 05:02 GMT

gorgeous. i love the mannequin down the stairwell pic.

Anonymous (cpe-24-168-143-198.nj.res.rr.com): 18th Nov 2005 - 17:29 GMT

damn havnt been there in mad long time what about the passic factoryholla @ ur boy switch qm8 got sum old ass flicks4u

jack: 18th Nov 2005 - 19:05 GMT

where did all those people go. they all had a job there, making money and waiting for the bell to ring so they could go home. i wonder how many people wish they could go back to work there. who is the lovely girl lying in the stairwell.

adam: 23rd Nov 2005 - 09:45 GMT

hey jack.. a lot of people in paterson dont have jobs anymore. its a "depressed" city.. thats what happens when factories close.

Dotty: 14th Dec 2005 - 19:20 GMT

Wow hard to believe i once lived and worked in Paterson How i miss the hot dogs at libbys lol I left in the 70s sure do have fond memories of my home towne

ROWDY: 24th Dec 2005 - 06:00 GMT

NICE, ITS A SHAME THEY DESTROY SUCH NICE BUILDINGS TO BUILD HOME DEPOTS AND STUFF.

yep: 9th Jan 2006 - 21:57 GMT

they can't even build there because the land is contaminated.
it's been an empty lot with one retaining wall for a minute now.

GGP: 9th Jan 2006 - 22:07 GMT

been watching them clearly a field on the sprawling outskirts of Oneonta for some months now, in preparation for a new Lowe's. You would not believe the size of the patch of land they're clearing for this place. It's a crime.

adam: 15th Jan 2006 - 12:17 GMT

no shit? not surprising the land is contaminated.. but damn. wtf. i always figured that the paterson river was just a sewage dump.

Emilie: 22nd Jan 2006 - 04:26 GMT

Adam... Do you live in Paterson? My father grew up in Paterson...Long time ago. My grandfather built a house on Vreeland Avenue. I wonder if it's still there...

adam: 24th Jan 2006 - 10:33 GMT

nah.. used to live one town away.. now im 2500 miles away :)

ATaylor: 25th Jan 2006 - 08:38 GMT

Sad to see strong, productive structures marred, destroyed and autographed by non productive elements.. The " Silk City" in " The Garden State "... don't tell you too much anymore.. The memories are colorful, 3 shifts of factory blasting out Jaccquard Fabrics , silk shops, dye houses, Bakeries , Italian, Jewish, Germsn, Polish... Then there was Hinchcliff Stadium and of course, Falls View for Hot Dogs that in my mind, up until now I don't think have been duplicated. Something about the Betts brothers that ran Falls View....... makes you want to smile........until you see the photographs of neglect and ruin.

Emilie: 26th Jan 2006 - 20:53 GMT

Thanks for letting me know, Adam.. I'll have to think of a way to find out if that house still stands. It would have been built around 1910-1915 I think. I have the address on an old business card that was my grandmothers. During the depression she and a friend made candy to sell for extra money.

Jace : 5th Feb 2006 - 05:11 GMT

nice flix. brings a smile to my face. It feels so good to see these photographs. I wish i were able to see more pictures. The factory was my life while it existed. This place brought together three generations of graffiti artist to paint. Its a shame to see it go...i agree that it is a depressed city, so much of its great history is gone. Just wish there were another place like this to paint in piece.

adam: 7th Feb 2006 - 06:39 GMT

3 generations? damn.. i guess that makes sense since it was closed for so long.. if you have any old pics from inside.. post em in this thread :)

danielle: 13th Feb 2006 - 10:07 GMT

ah yes, paterson, nj. the home of mom & pop bimonte, and their parents as well. those pictures look about right, i'll bet they have their own stories to tell about that place.

Dzine: 12th May 2006 - 16:42 GMT

im a graffiti artist from paterson. the factory looks better up close!

Matt : 26th Aug 2006 - 16:00 GMT

I'm an artist and writer in BK, NY. I'm involved in the beginning stages of a project called "Satellite Island" for a publication in the city Den Haag in the Netherlands. It will cover all variations on the theme of the Island in contemporary culture. I've been interested in Paterson, NJ becasue of its geography - both man made and natural. It is surrounded on three sides by the Passaic River and on the south by I-80, making it a kind of conceptual island. I'm also drawn to its history and the implications of its loss of manufacturing on the population there. I'm looking for someone who is from there or lives there to show me around or even possibly be invovled in the project with me. I'm looking specifically for a graffiti artist but I'm also open to others who are from there and interested in this project. I can send more detailed information if there is interest. Please contact me at:

mattwycoff@earthlink.net

Many thanks, Matt

SILO 1: 29th Aug 2006 - 22:14 GMT

I was born and raised in Paterson a.k.a P:town when I was growing up.I miss paterson these days but im far from there now.I remember looking at the grafitti done by the greatest around like (DONDI,MITCH,REST,KULL,ZAR,FAZER,etc etc. Hey JACE you draw to right?I think I remember your name around.Dude hit me up at nando035@yahoo.com

SILO : 1st Sep 2006 - 19:22 GMT

Yo switch I remember your name dude I think we lived on the same block for a while in P:TOWN.Dude I remember you coming up in Grafitti big time.I have a question for the artist in this forum?Where are all the original kings at?Alot of these guys that were around when I was a kid just disappeared.No matter how old I get I still know how to tag like when I first started and im 35 now.If any of you artist are from paterson and still do it send me a email to nando035@yahoo.com

eric guerra: 9th Sep 2006 - 15:00 GMT

I was born an raised in paterson. I moved to Tampa about 8 months ago. Even though paterson is the ghetto, it was my home. I miss it. Libbys is still there, right next to the falls. I'll be going back in 2 weeks, just for the weekend. gotta go to court, go figure. paterson has so much great history, its sad its gotten so bad. alexander hamilton, Colt guns were made here, the submarine was invented here, first trains were made here, Silk City! By the way, an author by the name of George Tice is coming out with a book called Paterson II, its a 128 page book with about 70 something photos of paterson. Just by looking at the cover, you'll see its going to be a great book to have, especially if your from the area. The cover spoke to me, it says Paterson. Be safe.

John Kovats: 17th Sep 2006 - 01:35 GMT

I was born in Paterson,...Lived there till I was about 12,.I remember Libbys,.now someone else has it and it don't taste the same. I remember the Plaza movie theater,2 movies and a cartoon for .50,what a deal,.went to school #19,.lived on Sheridan Ave. I remember Baldwins store on Union Ave,.the submarine,.ah yes,.I remember.Years gone by,.some good some bad,..but I remember them well.

Joe: 3rd Jan 2007 - 23:53 GMT

Wow do I remember Paterson, I lived right off of River Street. I was into graffiti back in the day; I went by the tag Dazz. I wasn’t as popular as the other guys like Dondi but I did my thing. I remember walking to downtown was friends, hanging out at Don Pablo’s on River Street btw 5th and 6th Ave. Partying at the FunHouse, The Roxy, The Palladium and The Paradise Garage in the City; Those were the days! Now I am in boring Southern California where everything closes by midnight and the people are slower than turtles.

John: 8th Jan 2007 - 14:07 GMT

Lived in Ridgewood in the '50s. Went to Paterson for everything and to the Armory to see the Crescents and to Hinchcliff Stadium for the midget cars and the Panthers. You can't go home again except in memories.

Krissy: 24th Mar 2007 - 07:27 GMT

I was born and raised in Paterson NJ, even though it has changed a lot and today is more known as ghetto, i still love the city i was born in. There are beautiful sights to see too, not just this. But the pictures are very cool though.

:)

mookie: 27th Mar 2007 - 00:54 GMT

the alexander hamilton houses, worst projects i've ever seen

Silo: 19th Apr 2007 - 15:57 GMT

Hey Joe,I also now live in South Cali (Upland) to be exact and dont get me wrong Cali is cool but it will never be Jerzee to me.I wont move back to NJ becuase it will never be the same but I do miss my birth place.For some strange reason I grew up thinking the infamous "DONDI" was a white guy that lived off of Redwood Ave.It turns out he was a black guy named "Donald White" from Brooklyn and died of aids I think in 1998.Does anyone remember when a group of grafiti artist painted some art work in the picnic area of the falls by the bell?Well "DONDI" was the one who to me did the best art down there becuase it was actually art and not scribble scrabble.I believe it was a drawing of a guy and a girl kissing under water, I could be wrong it was a long time ago when Mayor graves was around.Mayor Graves allowed for these guys to do some art to try to control them from going crazy tagging all over paterson.When he was the mayor we had some of the best Falls festival.Those were the good old days.Hey if anyone has pictures of the grafiti that was done by the falls let me know I would like to see them

Silo: 19th Apr 2007 - 16:05 GMT

Hey Mookie, by the way I think you are wrong about the worst projects in Paterson a.k.a P:town the worst and im sure other people can agree with me on this one was C.C.P- Christopher Colombus Projects until they were knocked down they where to uncontrolable.if you got shot,stabbed,robbed etc. believe me you where on your own lmao now that was bad.I had a couple of friends that grew up in there and if you ask me who knows where they are today?I even knew a Puerto Rican girl that lived there and I was shocked when I found she actually lived there because she was the total opposite of the people that lived there.

vic: 9th May 2007 - 20:58 GMT

i lived in paterson for 27 years i remember mitch, head and the rest of the guys they use to hang out in school 3 i lived by grand street most of the time just went back to visit earlier this year it looks rough but its home i still love ptown... and the projects up the hill from grand street are also gone...

colleen: 26th May 2007 - 05:05 GMT

i was born and raised in paterson. went to school 5 and 19 lived on albion ave. moved to florida in 1974 i have very fond memories of paterson. it used to be a great place to grow up. my neighborhood was one big family. i too went every saturday to the plaza theater. i remember belrick's soda shop, baldwin's store, the milk jug, a&p and bob and ann's luncheonette. at ne time paterson was a beautiful place. too bad it was allowed to become another newark. i still have my memories though.

luz santana: 30th May 2007 - 19:01 GMT

yo was this the grand street projects? i grew up on grand street and been up to grand street projects many of times. my best friend toshia lived there. thanks for the picture of the memories i had as a child

luz santana: 30th May 2007 - 19:04 GMT

hey my mistake i thought it was the projects but it wasnt.......i know da factory you talking about.i grew up on grand street

Eric: 6th Jun 2007 - 05:02 GMT

CCP project was absolutely the worst. I had many friends (good people) who lived there. I only hope they made it out OK. I graduated from Kennedy back in 1983 and went on to earn a BS degree from Trenton State College a.k.a The College of NJ. Many fond memories of growing up in Paterson. The best was going to the Fabian and Plaza Theaters and catching a double feature for $3.00. They would always show a first run film along with a Karate flick. I just knew I was Bruce Lee when I stepped out of the theater...Those were the days.

It's a shame I've only been back to Paterson once since graduating in 1983. I hear much has changed for the worse unfortunately. I hear it's like the wild wild west with all the gangs and all.

Wishing all past and current residents the best.

God Bless us all!

danny: 20th Apr 2008 - 12:53 GMT

does any one know about the amusement park that was located on garret mountain back in the 20's ?
or the boat house and train ?
need old photos please.

jasmin: 23rd May 2008 - 01:29 GMT

everything looks destroded and ruined.the windows were all broken

eric guerra: 30th May 2008 - 16:43 GMT

Its me again. No matter how bad it is, it is still my birth place, St. Josephs Hospital, lived on Preakness Ave for half my life, then moved one block away to Ryerson ave. I left Paterson and moved to Tampa, been here for the last 2 1/2 years and now I have a car, a career, my license back, my credit back and actually just bought a house down here. Paterson captures you and holds you back. It did for me anyway. Being wit the wrong crowd an all. Moving was the best thing I did. I still have family in Paterson, and they're trying to sell their 2 houses so they can move down here. So i still visit paterson and think of all the fond memories, going to garret mountain to smoke, all the house parties, chillin on the block, Libbies, GhettoBrook mall, lol man i miss those days sometimes, not a care in the world, living for that day not thinkin about tomorrow. I wish all past and current residents of Ptown Paterson the best like the other Eric does. Holla

TRANS KOF 2008 : 14th Jul 2008 - 06:08 GMT

Hey all this talk about Paterson brings back alot of memories I grew up in Paterson on Main st. and Wiess St.a block from St.Josephs hospital. my neighborhood was known as little San Juan for all the Puerto Ricans including myself that lived there.I had alot of fond memories growing up in the 70s. i went to school 8 and graduated from JFK in 1985 unfortunately most of the guys I hung out with are either in jail or dead.I was down with the graffiti movement a crew called KOF "kings of the future" with my boys SWIPE,DEKO,NICE,TASK,BOND and of course me TRANS i did some tagging with the fat markers with my cousin called LASH from south Paterson.I was never as popular as my good friend MITCH which really bombed the city back in the day he was definitely "ALL CITY" he had a crew called "UNITED ARTISTS"among 1000 other crews out there.I remember all the break dancin battles I went to at the bingo hall on main across the street from school #3.wind breakers suits,lee jeans,letigre shirts,puma & addidas sneakers with the fat laces matching your shirt.Boy I beat you the Chinese store down called "Paterson mall" made a fortune off of us buying laces every week.you canT forget the belt buckle with your name,Hey about the bomber jackets with the fur hoody WOW .I worked all summer to buy one,of course I put it on layaway downtown like we use to call it "la tienda de los chinos"the chinese store.I could wait to wear my new leather so I wore it in September when it was still in the 70s didnt care I was FRESH lol.well i hope you enjoyed this little trip into memory lane take care and good bless

Duffman1: 23rd Jul 2008 - 13:44 GMT

I worked there in the 70's. It was called Textile Piece Dye works. I think the major pictures shown are of Brewster Print works next door.
It was dreary there back in the 70's. But Polyester was king Disco and we worked 2 12 hour shifts 6 to 7 days a week

CrazeOne: 1st Sep 2008 - 04:18 GMT

Hey Trans. I was also in KOF nad still keep in touch with TASK. He is SWIPE's cuz but I dont think he was actually part of the crew. Do I know you? Damn you paragraph brought back some crazy memories.
Craze

Jessy: 22nd Oct 2008 - 22:00 GMT

These pic's are very depressing I was born and raised in Paterson and moved to PA in 1997 every time I visit it is very sad to see how the streets of Paterson have turned out to be. The city is what you make it so these pic's are no surprise to what the system has allowed this city to become...

Cop43: 12th Nov 2008 - 21:25 GMT

Great stuff, I'm a cop in Paterson and love to get into all the old factories and buildings in our fine city. We've been in some real cool spots most can't get into. I've been on a mission lately checking out good art in the city. Don't think that I'm so dick cop looking to catch writers cause if you know anything about the Silk City you know we have much bigger issues than garffiti. If you get the time do some research on Paterson and try to get here to do some sight seeing, as bad as it is it still has some amazing spots. Hope the new generation of guys getting up keep it up. I love having to search for new work and love seeing some great spots guys are hitting.

ma8397: 17th Nov 2008 - 23:19 GMT

wow, i live right around the corner from here...LITERALLY..who took these pics? i used to throw rocks at the windows as a young child out of boredom...these pics are amazing due to the fact that i've never been in this building but always wanted to go in to see what this looked like...please email me at realhiphop@tmo.blackberry.net....these are really great shots!

Peter: 9th Apr 2009 - 20:56 GMT

i gotta get out to paterson one of these days...

IcexAngel: 5th Nov 2009 - 16:40 GMT

Wow, these photos and everyone's comments have me feeling very nostalgic right now. I was born and raised in Paterson. Graduated from Eastside High School in 1987 and my family and I moved out in the Winter of 1988. I went back to visit a lot as I had and still have family living there to this day. I had a wonderful childhood growing up there, the good and the bad. Thanks for your comments and helping me take this trip down memory lane. I know Paterson can never be restored to its former glory but I do hope that it becomes a better city in the years to come. God bless you all!!

lindadasilva: 28th Dec 2009 - 16:02 GMT

hi.. all all the comments were great ... im actually looking for some one to come and paint my daughters room in graffeti ..does anyone know anybody who does that in the paterson area.. ??? thanks to bad adam you dont live around here anymore...

Jody Swiss: 25th Mar 2012 - 03:00 GMT

The plant / factory was Jersey Die and my dad was an expectative there. I grew up in the plant and was there most Saturdays helping out and running machines. Today no child could ever be near let alone run one. I have some awesome memory's there and ran the scanner machine as well as anyone at only 13. We closed our doors after there was no monies to give raises in 76 or 77 and in 78 the union demanded raises and was told by the Kline family that they were barely keeping it open and if they strike they would close the doors forever. Guess what happened:{

GermanG: 13th Jun 2012 - 19:24 GMT

Interesting. Sad. I grew up just up the hill from there on 25th st. I remember that old mill well, especially the "sawtooth" roof, designed for natural light. Oh well, time marches on

larry clark: 1st Jan 2013 - 11:43 GMT

born and raised in the Big P 1942- escaped in 1963 to the great North West, Seattle. school # 6 graduate and Lean on Me School Eastside 1961. Paterson what can i say, will always love my hometown despite the drastic changes. Paterson made me hip and street wise and I have been able to use these skills as a social worker. Peace

Clarence "sonny" Kimberley: 25th Feb 2013 - 23:01 GMT

Grew up in Paterson -- when to PS#21 and to Eastside High (Grad Jan 1955). Remember all the old factories at the river. great people .