Don Bosco Tech in Paterson Being Demolished

Don Bosco Tech in Paterson
Being Demolished

The SDBs bought the unused Harris Brothers Silk Mill at 202 Union Ave. in the late 1940s, and several coadjutors brothers and the provincial (Fr. Ernest Giovannini) labored mightily to convert it into a trade school, including a boarding section. It was ready to open for the 1948-1949 year. Photo by Fr. Mike, August 1999.

The Salesians closed Don Bosco Tech in Paterson, N.J., at the end of the 2001-2002 school year, after 54 years of service to disadvantaged young men (and some who were not disadvantaged) from all over northern New Jersey.  Your humble blogger was principal there in 1980-1984 and was assigned to the SDB community there (but not the school as such) in 1999-2002.  A great many SDBs served there over the years, winning the hearts--and, we hope, the souls of thousands of young men and their families, and cherishing their service there.

DBT's main building (the former mill) and part of its parking lot. The statue of St. Dominic Savio was erected to celebrate his canonization in 1954; the Dominic Savio Classroom Club was founded at DBT by Bro. Michael Frazette, SDB. The statue now graces the grounds of Salesian HS in New Rochelle. Photo by Fr. Mike, August 1999.

DBT erected a new shop building in the early 1950s. The Rector Major, Fr. Renato Ziggiotti, blessed it during his visit to the province in 1955. Photo by Fr. Mike, June 2000.

The Paterson Board of Education bought the property and turned the buildings into a charter school.  But the buildings' ages--the original factory building dated from the late 19th century--caused problems for the BOE as they had for the SDBs.  So a few years ago the school was relocated, and plans were prepared to raze the buildings and put up a new one.

DBT's chapel was always handsomely decorated for Christmas. This is 1999. Photo by Fr. Mike.

During Thanksgiving week the demolition began, as reported by the Paterson News, with at least one error in the story, which attributes DBT's closure to the diocese and doesn't mention the Salesians at all.  See

http://www.northjersey.com/story/news/paterson-press/2017/11/22/demolition-begins-don-bosco-tech-paterson/887075001/

DBT's last graduation, May 2002. Fr. Jay Horan (CYM) and Fr. Steve Schenck (director) hand out a diploma. Principal Fr. Mike Conway is at the podium. Unknown photographer; photo among several given to Fr. Mike, who was away from DBT on a special assignment at the time.