Paterson Falls Historic S.U.M Building NJ
A view of the historic S.U.M. building (part of the power plant) located at the Great Falls National Park in Paterson New Jersey. Alexander Hamilton, the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, created the S.U.M (Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures) with the goal of developing American manufacturing and ultimately achieve industrial independence from Europe. The plan was to establish a system of factories powered by water from the Great Falls and create a community based on manufacturing. The S.U.M controlled the land around the Great Falls and water rights to the Passaic River. Paterson's mills originally used waterpower from the Falls to turn individual waterwheels, supplying power directly to machines through systems of shafts, gears, pulleys, and belts. The industry that grew in the area developed in stages over many years, starting with cotton, then steel and then silk This building was part of the power plant. The plant itself was demolished but the S.U.M. building retained for historic purposes.
