Some (or SUM) things are mysterious...

#RockSolidHistory from the #GreatFalls of #PatersonNJ!

You may know some fun facts about this natural water feature – Paterson was an industrial city designed in 1791 by Alexander Hamilton to harness the power of the falls, and the falls became a national park in 2011.

What you may not know is what this “S.U.M.” sign on a fence there means. I didn’t!
It turns out that S.U.M. represents the “Society for Establishing Useful Manufacturers.” It was this group of investors that Hamilton gathered to fund the purchase of the land and the building of the canals/raceways to bring water to mills in what we now know as Paterson.

Now you know and can impress your friends. 😊

#SocietyforEstablishingUsefulManufacturers #AlexanderHamilton #TheGreatFalls #NorthernNJHistory #NJHistory #GardenStateHistory #SilkCityHistory #PatersonHistory