It is with deep sadness that we mark the passing of Lawrence “Pat” Kramer, a tireless advocate for Paterson, a four-term Mayor, and a beloved Trustee of the Hamilton Partnership for Paterson. He will be greatly missed.
The Kramer family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Pat’s honor to the Hamilton Partnership. You may do so via the link below, or by sending a check to the Hamilton Partnership for Paterson, 72 McBride Ave., Paterson, NJ 07501.
The Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, an urban Park in a storied Historic District, is home to the 2nd largest waterfall in the country east of the Mississippi, and the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution.
Background
After many years of advocacy, the Park became part of the National Park Service in 2009. In addition to local groups, many national organizations—including the National Trust for Historic Preservation, National Parks Conservation Association, NAACP, and the Sierra Club—supported the formation of the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park. Also supporting a Paterson National Historical Park were former Cabinet members who served in the Administrations of Presidents Gerald R. Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush.
The Park design was informed by input from a citizen participation plan, and the design firm was selected through a national design competition.
There is still much to be done. A new, landscaped riverwalk is currently under contruction. And a Visitor Center will highlight the historic significance of the Falls and the City of Paterson to the state, the region, and the country.
Today you can see the Great Falls that inspired Alexander Hamilton and you can explore the Paterson Museum, housed in an old locomotive factory, with early Colt revolvers and two of the first motorized submarines, silk machinery, and other Paterson manufacturing treasures. The President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Richard Moe has said, “Pierre L’Enfant’s innovative waterpower system at the Great Falls-and many factories built later-constitute the finest remaining collection of engineering and architectural works representing each stage of America’s progress from Hamilton’s time to the twentieth century.”
Take a tour of the Paterson Great Falls National Park
