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William Paterson University is celebrating 75 years in Wayne, marking three-quarters of a century since the institution moved from its longtime home in Paterson to the former Hobart estate that would become its present-day campus.
Then known as the New Jersey State Teachers College at Paterson, the institution relocated in October 1951 after surging enrollment following World War II and the establishment of the G.I. Bill left it in need of room to grow.
“Seventy-five years ago, our move from our origins in Paterson to the former Hobart estate in Wayne made for one of the biggest changes in our 171-year history,” said President Richard J. Helldobler in his fall 2026 State of the University address. “But now, three-quarters of a century later, our presence here is a welcome sign of permanence in an often turbulent world.”
That permanence would have been difficult to envision in 1951. The State of New Jersey had purchased the 250-acre estate of the family of Garret Hobart, who served as vice president of the United States under President William McKinley, and designated the property as the institution’s new home.
The campus included newly constructed Hunziker Hall and the water tower, along with historic Hobart Manor, which housed administrative offices, the library, and three classrooms. A small cafeteria occupied the estate’s former garage, while an old brick barn was being converted into a student center and bookstore. The flag and flagpole that still stand on the lawn along Pompton Road were a gift from the Class of 1951.
Then-president Clair Wightman looked beyond those modest beginnings when he welcomed students to their new campus in the 1951–52 freshman handbook, The Flashlight. Quoting Joseph Conrad’s Youth, Wightman invoked the feeling of being able to “go on forever” before offering students his own hopes for the institution.
“I want you to help build a fine institution that will go on for all time,” he wrote, “and I want you to build in yourself something that will give you the feeling that you can succeed, that you can go on, no matter what happens.”
Over the ensuing 75 years, the institution Wightman envisioned has transformed in size and scope. Today, William Paterson serves more than 12,500 undergraduate, graduate, and dual enrollment students and offers more than 150 undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs. The Wayne campus has grown along with it, adding academic buildings, residence halls, laboratories, performance and athletics facilities, and spaces for students to live, study, gather, and learn.
Yet while William Paterson’s physical home moved to Wayne, its connection to the City of Paterson has remained strong. Generations of Paterson residents have studied, taught, and worked at the University and served as trustees and other volunteer leaders. Today, that relationship continues through the University’s participation in the Paterson Alliance; partnerships with Paterson Public Schools, the Cosmos and Jackals sports teams, and the New Jersey Community Development Corporation; service and experiential learning opportunities for students; educational initiatives supporting Paterson youth; and business development assistance through the Small Business Development Center.
The 75th anniversary also provides an opportunity to revisit the experiences of those who first called the Wayne campus home.
In a 2001 WP Magazine feature marking the 50th anniversary of the move, the late Vincent Moretta ’52, a member of the first class to graduate in Wayne, recalled the “smallness” of the college and how everyone knew him because he played on the basketball team.
“William Paterson is a very special place because it gave me a new look at life,” Moretta said. “I was challenged in a lot of different ways and realized I had an opportunity to do a lot of things in my lifetime.”
Seventy-five years after the move to Wayne, that focus on creating opportunity for students remains central to William Paterson’s mission, even as the institution and the campus around it have transformed.
The University kicked off its 75th anniversary celebration on Welcome Day and will mark the milestone throughout the 2026–27 academic year with 75th anniversary banners across campus, special recognition at Homecoming and other events, and an upcoming video series capturing alumni, faculty, and staff memories and stories about the Wayne campus.
