A Federal Building for a Growing Industrial City
By the late 1890s, Paterson had become one of America’s leading manufacturing centers. The city’s expanding silk, locomotive, and machinery industries brought rapid population growth and increased demand for federal services. The existing post office was no longer adequate, prompting the federal government to authorize the construction of a new post office and customs house.
Completed in 1899, the building was designed to symbolize the importance of Paterson as one of New Jersey’s principal industrial cities.
Architecture
The building is a striking example of Dutch (Flemish) Baroque Revival architecture, a style rarely used for federal buildings in the United States.
Its distinctive architectural features include:
- Stepped Dutch gables
- Decorative patterned brickwork
- Limestone trim and carvings
- Ornamental stone tracery
- Steep clay-tile roofs
- Tall chimneys
- Decorative dormers
- Richly detailed entrances
The design has often been compared to the historic market buildings of Haarlem, Netherlands, reflecting the Dutch heritage of the region and giving the structure a unique appearance unlike the more common Classical Revival federal buildings of its era.
The Architects
The building has long been associated with prominent Paterson architect Fred Wesley Wentworth, who prepared the design used for the local project and supervised construction. Some historical records also credit the Office of the Supervising Architect of the U.S. Treasury, led during this period by William Martin Aiken and later James Knox Taylor, reflecting the federal design and approval process used for government buildings at the time.
Paterson’s Main Post Office
For more than three decades, the building served as Paterson’s principal post office. Thousands of residents visited daily to:
- Mail letters and packages
- Purchase stamps
- Conduct money-order transactions
- Handle customs-related business
- Access other federal services
Its central location near City Hall, the courthouse, and the downtown business district made it one of the busiest public buildings in the city.
Conversion to the Courthouse Annex
After a new federal post office was constructed elsewhere in Paterson, the building was vacated in 1932. Passaic County acquired the property in 1936, and after renovations it reopened in 1937 as the Passaic County Administration Building, becoming the Courthouse Annex connected to the adjacent courthouse. Since then it has housed court-related offices and county administrative functions.
Historic Recognition
The Courthouse Annex and the adjoining Passaic County Courthouse were listed together on both the New Jersey Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places in 2015 as the Passaic County Court House and United States Custom House and Post Office Historic District. The designation recognizes both their architectural excellence and their importance in the civic development of Paterson and Passaic County.
Preservation
Because of its outstanding historic significance, the building has benefited from numerous preservation initiatives supported by the New Jersey Historic Trust. In 2026, Passaic County announced a $4.5 million exterior restoration project to repair masonry, preserve decorative architectural elements, improve accessibility, and ensure the long-term preservation of the historic structure.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Information |
|---|---|
| Original Name | United States Post Office and Customs House |
| Current Name | Passaic County Courthouse Annex |
| Address | 63–65 Hamilton Street, Paterson, NJ |
| Completed | 1899 |
| Original Use | Federal Post Office and Customs House |
| Current Use | Passaic County court and administrative offices |
| Architectural Style | Dutch (Flemish) Baroque Revival |
| Associated Architect | Fred Wesley Wentworth (with oversight by the U.S. Treasury’s Supervising Architect’s Office) |
| Historic Designation | National Register of Historic Places (2015) |
Today, the Passaic County Courthouse Annex remains one of Paterson’s architectural treasures. Its picturesque Dutch-inspired design provides a striking contrast to the monumental Classical Revival courthouse next door, creating one of New Jersey’s most distinguished historic civic complexes.