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Volume 18 • Issue 3 The Summer 2018 Historic County Newsletter Of The PASSAIC COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Bloomingdale • Clifton • Haledon • Hawthorne • Little Falls • North Haledon Passaic • Paterson • Pompton Lakes • Prospect Park • Ringwood • Totowa Wanaque • Wayne • West Milford • Woodland Park Roswell Lyman Colt: “Greatest of all the Colts” by Glenn P. Corbett In February of 1907, a short article appeared in the New York “….Many people versed in the history of the city consider Hamilton Time s detailing the impending arrival from Italy of a statue of was the founder of the city, but (it) is asserted by others that he Alexander Hamilton, which was to be placed in front of Paterson was only the paid counsel for the Society for the Establishment of City Hall. Mr. W.B.S. Boudinot, a descendant of Elias Boudinot, Useful Manufactures……he was nothing more than a paid em ployee… one of the charter directors of the Society for Establishing Useful ..If the people of Paterson are so anxious to erect a statue Manufactures (S.U.M.), commented on the statue: commemorative of a man who really did a great deal for Paterson, they ought erect a statue to Rowell L. Colt.” Who was Roswell Colt? Roswell Lyman Colt was born to Peter Colt and Sarah Lyman very first corporation in New Jersey, held the hopes of many in the Colt on July 20th, 1779 in Wethersfield, Connecticut. The Colt and new nation. Such corporations, it was believed, could create Lyman families had deep Connecticut roots, with many extended economic independence from Great Britain and other nations. family members living in the Hartford and New Haven areas. Peter According to an interview of John Colt conducted by the famed Colt, a merchant and Yale University graduate, was pressed into Paterson historian William Nelson a few years before John Colt’s service as a deputy commissary general during the Revolutionary death in 1883, it appears Roswell and his siblings had a happy War. Colt had five younger siblings, a brother John and four sisters and memorable childhood in Paterson, in and around a bustling (Sarah, Mary, Catherine, and Julia) who were born during and beehive of activity. John remembered watching workman erect a immediately after the war. new wooden structure, using tulipwood. To his amazement (and In the immediate aftermath of the war, the young family moved perhaps his amusement), the building collapsed under its own to Hartford. Peter and other local businessmen built and opened weight. Roswell himself explored the neighborhood around the mill, the Hartford Woolen Mill in 1788. George Washington visited the including what would eventually become Colt’s Hill, the spot where factory and was so impressed with the quality of its fabrics that he would build his mansion nearly fifty years later, in the early 1840’s. he ordered “cheaper stuffs” for his slaves at Mount Vernon. The The Colt family remained in Paterson for only three years, due “best” fabric was used to create the suit that he used for his first to the S.U.M. suspending manufacturing operations in 1796. Peter presidential inauguration, including buttons also made in Hartford. Colt found immediate employment in upstate New York at Fort A few years, later in 1790, Peter Colt was elected Treasurer of Stanwix, working for Philip Schuyler (Hamilton’s father-in-law) in the State of Connecticut, a position he retained until April of 1793. the construction of Western Inland Lock Canal along the Mohawk It is likely that Colt’s finance and logistics expertise were remem - River and Wood Creek, a predecessor to the Erie Canal. The Colt bered by Alexander Hamilton from their joint military experiences. family eventually moved into a farmhouse near Fort Stanwix and The Secretary of the Treasury asked Colt to leave Connecticut and the newly created city of Rome, New York, when work on the canal move to the “national manufactory” being built at Paterson, New ceased a few years later. Jersey by the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures (S.U.M). This was truly the frontier life in the late 1790’s, with Native Peter Colt was brought to Paterson to jump-start the construction American tribes inhabiting much of New York State. It was during of the first mill and the raceway system, a project which had been this period that the Federal Government sought “extinguishment” stalled due to the absence of the Society's engineer Pierre L’En fant. of the Indian land claims through treaties. During one such meeting Colt brought his family with him, including Roswell. The S.U.M., the between the Indian nations and government representatives, Continued on page 3 PASSAIC COUNTY HISTORICAL President’s Message SOCIETY Lambert Castle The Passaic County Historical Society has been successful for many years due to the volunteer 3 Valley Road efforts of our members. With a number of our committee members now retired and moving to Paterson, NJ 07503-2932 warmer climates, it is necessary to seek out additional volunteers for our many committees. Also, Museum: (973) 247-0085 keep in mind that being active on a Society committee is a step in eventually becoming an elected Fax: (973) 881-9434 Trustee. We have many different areas of activities that might be of interest to you — everything E-mail: [email protected] from helping catalog items in our library and archives, dressing up for the Sleepy Hollow event, Website: lambertcastle.org decorating for the Holiday Boutique, helping at our Concert Series, the options go on and on. If you have an interest in helping the Society, please call Heather Garside, our Curator/Director, Officers Michael Rubin or any officer, trustee or staff member to express your interest in serving. We will find a place for President you whatever interest you may have. Linda Kaplanovich Thank you and have a great rest of your summer. Don’t forget to attend the summer Concert Series First Vice President — we have great performers coming to the Castle this season. Robert Hazekamp Second Vice President Michael Rubin President Cathy Tonnon Treasurer Marie Mahler PCHS Receives Spotlight from the Secretary New Jersey Historical Commission Trustees To mark the 50th anniversary of Dorothy Andrusko the New Jersey Historical Commis - Sharon Brown Maria Caparelli sion (NJHC) and emphasize the Andrea De Luca significant work of history organi - Edwina Hibel zations and programs across Phil Mezzina the state, NJHC asked its FY2017 Barbara Novak and FY2018 grant recipients to Vivian Semeraro submit a short narrative and Honorary Life photos describing the impact of Trustees NJHC funding. Each week until the Norman Robertson end of its fiscal year in June, Edward A. Smyk NJHC will post a spotlight featuring Honorary Trustee the responses of NJHC grant Hazel Spiegelberger recipients. Whether NJHC support Staff contributed to general operating, Heather Garside a brand new exhibit, an engaging Director and Curator education program or the restoration of a historic object, it’s truly amazing to see what New Jersey Dorothy Decker history organizations, libraries, and individuals have to offer. Administrative Assistant The Passaic County Historical Society uses NJHC funding to underwrite our School Trip Grant Paul Johnson Program. The program was designed and launched in 2015 to provide school-age children the Financial Administrator opportunity to learn about local history. PCHS was aware that budget cuts in many local districts Megan Crosby, Docent often made school trips difficult or impossible. Understanding that out of the classroom enrichment Marissa Figlar, Docent activities are such an important part of a child’s education, we decided to think outside of the box Christina Giordano, Docent for ways to get students into our museum. Lisa Lakomy , Docent The reception for this program has been overwhelmingly positive. After her class visited in May, Jennifer Erwin, Archival Assistant one Paterson teacher wrote, “It was a terrific trip! A few of our students had been to the grounds Patrick Byrnes before, but not inside. The guided tour made all the difference in the world! Our docent made the Library Research Specialist castle come to life with wonderful stories…” By fall of 2017, we welcomed over 450 students from Boris Von Faust nine different schools/groups which have taken advantage of the program. While many groups Digitization Specialist Lambert Castle, a picturesque 1892 Victorian mansion came from nearby (Paterson and Clifton), others have come from all over Passaic County and even located on the Garret Mountain Reserve, is on the National from neighboring counties. Through this program and thanks to NJHC funding, PCHS has seen its Register of Historic Places. The Castle is operated and managed by the Passaic County Historical Society, school visit attendance increase substantially at a time when out of class trips have become a a not-for-profit 501(c) educational institution. rare occurrence. Originally posted at: http://discovernjhistory.org/new-jersey-historical-commission-njhc-grantee-spotlight-passaic-county-historical-society/ 2 Colt cont. from page 1 The prosperous Roswell set his sights on another objective: Roswell would find himself giving up the frontier life for that of the Margaret Oliver. She was the daughter of Robert Oliver, Baltimore’s excitement of New York City. most wealthy merchant. Marrying into the Oliver family expanded In 1797, Colonel William Wadsworth (a friend of the Colts), his influence and ability to accumulate even more wealth. They accompanied by New York City merchant William Bayard of the wed in 1811, receiving a wedding gift in the form of a desk and counting house of Le Roy, Bayard, and McEvers visited the Colt bookcase that is now in the possession of the Metropolitan home in Rome. They were representing the government in negoti - Museum of Art.