Catholina Lambert (1834–1923) was one of the most influential industrialists in the history of Paterson, New Jersey. An English immigrant who rose from humble beginnings, he became one of America’s leading silk manufacturers and helped establish Paterson as the nation’s premier “Silk City.” He is best remembered today as the builder of Lambert Castle (Belle Vista) on Garret Mountain.
Early Life
Catholina Lambert was born on March 28, 1834, in Yorkshire, England. At the age of ten, he began working as an errand boy in a cotton mill, where he earned only a few shillings a week. Determined to improve his prospects, he emigrated to the United States in 1851 at the age of seventeen.
He found work in Boston with the silk manufacturing firm of Tilt & Dexter. His talent for business quickly became apparent. When one of the partners retired, Lambert purchased his interest, and the company became Dexter, Lambert & Company.
Building a Silk Empire
During the 1860s, Lambert moved much of the firm’s manufacturing to Paterson, where the city had become America’s leading silk-producing center.
Under his leadership:
- Dexter, Lambert & Co. became one of Paterson’s largest silk manufacturers.
- Mills operated in Paterson as well as Hawley, Pennsylvania.
- The company established buying offices in Florence and Milan, Italy.
- During the Civil War, the company secured lucrative government contracts.
- Lambert helped organize the national silk industry and served as president of the Silk Association of America.
Lambert Castle (Belle Vista)
By the late 1880s, Lambert had become one of New Jersey’s wealthiest industrialists. His extensive collection of paintings, sculptures, porcelain, and antiques had outgrown his previous residence, so he commissioned a grand estate overlooking Paterson.
Construction began in 1892 on what he named Belle Vista (“Beautiful View”) in honor of his wife Isabella.
The estate eventually included:
- A four-story Medieval Revival castle
- A magnificent art gallery
- A greenhouse
- Formal gardens
- Stables and carriage house
- A 70-foot observation tower (1896)
President William McKinley visited the castle in 1898 and reportedly called it “The Louvre of America” because of Lambert’s remarkable art collection.
Art Collector
Lambert was one of America’s leading private collectors during the Gilded Age.
His collection included:
- European Old Masters
- American paintings
- Renaissance sculpture
- Chinese porcelains
- Oriental rugs
- Medieval furnishings
Much of the collection was displayed in the castle’s purpose-built gallery.
The 1913 Silk Strike
Lambert became one of the principal mill owners opposing the famous 1913 Paterson Silk Strike.
He firmly rejected negotiations with the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and strongly opposed granting workers’ demands for shorter hours and better wages. His uncompromising stance made him one of the strike’s most prominent employer representatives.
Financial Decline
Although immensely wealthy, Lambert invested heavily in both his business and his art collection.
Several events severely affected his fortune:
- The 1913 Silk Strike
- Declining profitability of the silk industry
- Disruptions caused by World War I
- Financial obligations connected with Dexter, Lambert & Co.
In 1916, he was forced to auction much of his renowned art collection, which sold for only a fraction of its estimated value.
Death
Catholina Lambert died at Lambert Castle on February 15, 1923, at the age of 88.
After his death:
- His family sold the estate.
- The City of Paterson acquired the property.
- Passaic County later assumed ownership.
- The castle became home to the Passaic County Historical Society and remains one of North Jersey’s best-known historic landmarks.
Legacy
Catholina Lambert’s influence on Paterson remains significant:
- Helped make Paterson one of the world’s leading silk-producing cities.
- Created thousands of jobs in the silk industry.
- Built one of New Jersey’s most distinctive historic residences.
- Assembled one of the finest private art collections of the Gilded Age.
- Left a landmark that continues to serve as a museum and symbol of Paterson’s industrial heritage.
In 2026, Passaic County completed a major restoration and reopened Lambert Tower, the 70-foot observation tower that Lambert built in 1896, allowing visitors once again to enjoy panoramic views over Paterson and the surrounding region.