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Passaic County reopens Lambert Castle after multi‑year restoration
Summary
Passaic County officials marked the reopening of Lambert Castle with a ribbon cutting and remarks highlighting restoration work funded by grants from the New Jersey Historic Trust, Friends of Passaic County Parks and the NJDEP Green Acres program; admission will be free for opening weekend.
Passaic County officials formally reopened Lambert Castle Saturday, celebrating a multi‑year restoration project that county leaders and preservation partners said will return the 1892 landmark to public use.
The ceremony included remarks from Commissioner Bartlett; County Commissioner Director Sandy Lazaro; Deputy Director Commissioner Orlando Cruz; Paterson Mayor Andre Seyer; and a representative of the New Jersey Historic Trust, Gladstone Paz. County officials said the castle, built in 1892 for silk manufacturer Catalina Labra, returned to county stewardship in 2020 and underwent restoration to prepare it for visitors.
"Places like Lambert Castle are living classrooms," County Commissioner Director Sandy Lazaro said, urging educators to bring students to the site to learn local history. Deputy Director Commissioner Orlando Cruz said the reopening carried "personal meaning" because he grew up and still lives in Paterson.
Mayor Andre Seyer called the event "a proud moment for Paterson and Passaic County," and tied the renovation to wider preservation and tourism efforts in the city, citing recent work at Hinchliffe Stadium and other public‑space projects. The mayor also said President William McKinley visited the site in 1898.
Gladstone Paz, speaking for the New Jersey Historic Trust, praised the collaboration between state and county partners and said the restoration "epitomizes the purpose and goals" of the Trust and its preservation grants.
County leaders credited critical grant funding from the New Jersey Historic Trust, Friends of Passaic County Parks, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Acres program, and acknowledged architects and contractors who worked on the project, including James Garesi, Michael Henahan, Clark Hinton Clark, Caitlin Hintz, John O'Hara, Pannoni Associates, M and M Construction, and ZN Construction.
Officials said the regional tourism economy adds roughly 100 jobs a year and that the castle's reopening will support cultural tourism tied to upcoming events. Admission will be free throughout opening weekend; organizers asked visitors to limit photography and video to the music room and foyer to protect sensitive artworks during the first public viewings.
The program concluded with a formal ribbon cutting in the music room.
