Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Calls outside of office hours? No worries! Our team will respond within 10–15 minutes.
February 17, 2008
Services
Funeral services will be held Thursday.
Edith Ryle McTighe, 94; family pioneered silk industry in Paterson.
Edith Ryle McTighe, one of the last surviving members of the famed Ryle family, who started the great silk industry with which Paterson came to be known, has died at the age of 94.
Mrs. McTighe was a granddaughter of John Ryle, the pioneer silk manufacturer from Macclesfield, Cheshire, England, who, in 1839, came to the United States and started the first silk mill in Paterson with George W. Murray. Through Ryle’s efforts and years of successes and failures, he later became known as the “Father of the American Silk Industry,” producing more than half of the silk manufactured in the United States out of the Old Gun Mill at the corner of Van Houten and Mill Street in Paterson. John Ryle’s home is a state historic site on Mill Street in Paterson. Ryle owned a significant amount of real estate at and around the Great Falls of Paterson and was responsible for financing the first public park there. In addition to his silk interests, John Ryle also served as Paterson’s 11th mayor from 1869 to 1870, and later went on to establish the Passaic Water Company, along with one of his eldest sons, William Ryle, and other Paterson manufacturers.
Mrs. McTighe’s great-aunt, Mary Elizabeth (Danforth) Ryle, was noted for her philanthropy and financing the entire construction of the Danforth Memorial Library still located and operating on Broadway in Paterson. The funds needed to build the new library were donated to the city by Mrs. Ryle following the disastrous fire of 1902 in which most of downtown Paterson was destroyed, including the original library which stood on the corner of Church and Market Streets. When Paterson officials sought to first appeal for funding for the construction of the new library, Mrs. Ryle was incensed that Paterson would look beyond its own borders for financial assistance.
Mrs. McTighe’s great-uncle, John C. Ryle, a silk manufacturer also, was one of the architects who designed Lambert Castle, the home of silk baron Catholina Lambert. The castle is now the home of the Passaic County Historical Society. John C. Ryle was married to one of Mrs. Catholina Lambert’s sisters, Adelaide Shattuck, and lived for many years with the Lamberts at their estate on Garrett Mountain.
Mrs. McTighe’s grandfather, Thomas M. Ryle, managed and operated the Pioneer Silk Company in Paterson for decades following John Ryle’s death in 1887. He later became active in banking circles, real estate development and served as a Freeholder for many years. Thomas Ryle later purchased a tract of land in present day West Paterson where he constructed an estate on the banks of the Passaic River which later became known as Ryle Park. Ryle Park was a popular recreation area on the present day site of the Beatrice Gilmore School around the dawn of the 20th Century.
Edith Ryle McTighe was the daughter of Reuben and Edith (Carlough) Ryle. Born and raised in Paterson, she lived there before moving to Wayne. Mrs. McTighe was active in Paterson city politics, and devoted much of her time to her family, church and community. During the administration of Mayor Lester F. Titus, and campaigned for President Dwight D. Eisenhower. She later worked at the Paterson Board of Elections before retiring in 1977. She was a member of the former Westside United Methodist Church.
Mrs. McTighe is survived by her son, William, of Sea Girt, a daughter, Edith Ryle, of Wayne, three grandsons and two great-grandchildren. Her husband, James J. McTighe, died in 1993, and her brother, Reuben Ryle, noted athlete and golfer, died in 2000.
At left are Edith and James on their wedding day.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Funeral services will be held Thursday.
February 17, 2008
Services
Funeral services will be held Thursday.
Edith Ryle McTighe, 94; family pioneered silk industry in Paterson.
Edith Ryle McTighe, one of the last surviving members of the famed Ryle family, who started the great silk industry with which Paterson came to be known, has died at the age of 94.
Mrs. McTighe was a granddaughter of John Ryle, the pioneer silk manufacturer from Macclesfield, Cheshire, England, who, in 1839, came to the United States and started the first silk mill in Paterson with George W. Murray. Through Ryle’s efforts and years of successes and failures, he later became known as the “Father of the American Silk Industry,” producing more than half of the silk manufactured in the United States out of the Old Gun Mill at the corner of Van Houten and Mill Street in Paterson. John Ryle’s home is a state historic site on Mill Street in Paterson. Ryle owned a significant amount of real estate at and around the Great Falls of Paterson and was responsible for financing the first public park there. In addition to his silk interests, John Ryle also served as Paterson’s 11th mayor from 1869 to 1870, and later went on to establish the Passaic Water Company, along with one of his eldest sons, William Ryle, and other Paterson manufacturers.
Mrs. McTighe’s great-aunt, Mary Elizabeth (Danforth) Ryle, was noted for her philanthropy and financing the entire construction of the Danforth Memorial Library still located and operating on Broadway in Paterson. The funds needed to build the new library were donated to the city by Mrs. Ryle following the disastrous fire of 1902 in which most of downtown Paterson was destroyed, including the original library which stood on the corner of Church and Market Streets. When Paterson officials sought to first appeal for funding for the construction of the new library, Mrs. Ryle was incensed that Paterson would look beyond its own borders for financial assistance.
Mrs. McTighe’s great-uncle, John C. Ryle, a silk manufacturer also, was one of the architects who designed Lambert Castle, the home of silk baron Catholina Lambert. The castle is now the home of the Passaic County Historical Society. John C. Ryle was married to one of Mrs. Catholina Lambert’s sisters, Adelaide Shattuck, and lived for many years with the Lamberts at their estate on Garrett Mountain.
Mrs. McTighe’s grandfather, Thomas M. Ryle, managed and operated the Pioneer Silk Company in Paterson for decades following John Ryle’s death in 1887. He later became active in banking circles, real estate development and served as a Freeholder for many years. Thomas Ryle later purchased a tract of land in present day West Paterson where he constructed an estate on the banks of the Passaic River which later became known as Ryle Park. Ryle Park was a popular recreation area on the present day site of the Beatrice Gilmore School around the dawn of the 20th Century.
Edith Ryle McTighe was the daughter of Reuben and Edith (Carlough) Ryle. Born and raised in Paterson, she lived there before moving to Wayne. Mrs. McTighe was active in Paterson city politics, and devoted much of her time to her family, church and community. During the administration of Mayor Lester F. Titus, and campaigned for President Dwight D. Eisenhower. She later worked at the Paterson Board of Elections before retiring in 1977. She was a member of the former Westside United Methodist Church.
Mrs. McTighe is survived by her son, William, of Sea Girt, a daughter, Edith Ryle, of Wayne, three grandsons and two great-grandchildren. Her husband, James J. McTighe, died in 1993, and her brother, Reuben Ryle, noted athlete and golfer, died in 2000.
At left are Edith and James on their wedding day.
Guestbook