Welcome to the United States Educational Center, Patterson (1994)

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The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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WE HOPE that your visit to the Watchtower Educational Center in Patterson, New York, will be an enjoyable one.

Jehovah's Witnesses carry on a worldwide Bible educational work that is directed from their headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, and is supported by voluntary donations. In the decades following World War II, this work expanded so rapidly that in the 1970's it became necessary to add printing facilities at Watchtower Farms, located at Wallkill, New York. Then, in 1980, it was decided to build another complex somewhere outside of New York City, one that would focus on education.

an enjoyable one.

A number of sites for this purpose were considered. Finally, in December 1984, a 670-acre dairy farm was purchased.After legal approval to build was obtained, construction of the Watchtower Educational Center commenced in 1988. It is scheduled for completion in 1996.

The complex of 28 buildings includes school facilities, an office building, support services, and residence buildings to accommodate some 1,200 people.

School facilities. The Watch tower Bible School of Gilead, which has trained and sent out missionaries for more than 50 years, was transferred to this facility in March 1995, with an initial class of 48 students. Additional schools operated by the Watch Tower Society will be conducted here as well. The school building includes

classrooms, offices, a library, and a large auditorium that seats some 1,700 people. This auditorium is used for the Bethel family Watchtower Study and other special programs.

Offices. A number of departments that have connections with educational activity were transferred to the Watchtower Educational Center during 1995. A fourstory office building accommodates the Art Department, Writing Correspondence, Translation Services, the Service Department, a portion of the Legal and Engineering departments, as well as an extensive library for use by the office staff and the rest of the Bethel family. The Photography Department, located in an adjacent building, moved there in October 1994. Another building will house Tape Recording and Video Services. The Video Services Department is now located in temporary facilities within the office building.

Residences. Accommodations for the Bethel family at Patterson are provided in six residence buildings and the Patterson Inn. Work began on the Patterson Inn in June 1989. Since its completion in February 1991, this seven-building complex has housed construction personnel and has been the temporary location of offices and support services.

Support Services. The spacious dining room has adequate seating for 1,600 people. Food is prepared in a large kitchen adjacent to the dining room. Laundry and other

personal services are provided in the General Services Building.

The Maintenance Department cares for the upkeep of completed buildings, as well as currently assisting with interior finishing on the construction project.

Construction. Volunteers from far and near have come to serve at the construction site on a tempo-

dowsills, manholes, storm-drain pipes, electrical pull boxes, and over 10,000 paving tiles.

Using four different welding processes, the Welding Shop manufactures handrails, installs stairs and fabricates stainless steel gutters. Thousands of metal plates have also been made that allow concrete tilt-up wall panels to be welded to building structures. The tilt-up method of

rary basis. Their experience in various construction trades has proved invaluable in helping newer members of the Bethel family to acquire these useful skills.

A heavy equipment crew cares for building the roadways and parking lots and does the excavation for buildings and utility lines. Early site work included the laying of 1.5 miles of waterlines, 3 miles of sewerlines, and over 30 miles of electrical conduit.

construction, which the Society began using in 1983, eliminates much of the building of forms normally needed to construct a concrete wall.

Construction of the Powerhouse began in April 1991. The powerhouse provides the entire Educational Center with electrical service, heat, hot water, chilled water for air-conditioning, and emergency power.

Thorough landscaping is provided in areas where construction has

The Batch Plant has already produced well over 100,000 yards of concrete. Samples are taken regularly and tested for strength in the plant's laboratory. By operating its own batch plant, the Society saves money and ensures a highquality product.

The Precast Shop has produced hundreds of precast concrete winbeen completed. Annual flowers, plants to be used as ground cover and thousands of evergreen and deciduous shrubs are started in our greenhouses.Additionally, we grow a number of larger shrubs and trees in a nine-acre field nursery.

We sincerely hope that your visit to the Watchtower Educational Center has been rewarding.

VISITING HOURS

Visitors are welcome to take a guided tour of our complex during regular working hours Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Please note the following:

Stay on sidewalks when walking between the main lobby and the guest parking lot.

Beware of moving machinery and equipment.

Farm areas, including the beef herd, are unavailable for touring.

No picnic or camping facilities are available at present.

Parents: Closely supervise your children.

© 1994 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. All rights reserved. 5/95 (fo-E PAT) English

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