Occupancy of portions of the Patterson Inn by the workers is scheduled to begin in the spring of 1991. This will initially serve as housing for construction workers and then will eventually be used as guest facilities for those visiting the educational center. In July 1989 construction began on the Patterson Inn, a 150-unit hotel located next to the educational center. To provide utilities for the educational center, 30 miles of electrical conduit, 1 1/2 miles of water pipe, and 3 miles of sewer pipe were installed. One of the first projects was the building of the main entrance road, which included widening the state highway in front of the main entrance, allowing for safe entrance to and exit from the site. Since the project is comparable in size to a small town, considerable work is involved in constructing some three miles of paved roads, underground utilities, and facilities for treating water and wastewater. A 300- by 85-foot metal building that was constructed in 1989 now houses a temporary kitchen, a dining room that will seat up to seven hundred people, a locker room, and construction shops. Facilities were built for the repair and maintenance of equipment. Trailers were installed to serve as construction offices. So a concrete-mixing plant was moved to Patterson from Watchtower Farms. It is anticipated that nearly 75,000 cubic yards, or 10,000 truckloads, of concrete will be used on the project. To provide support services, several temporary buildings had to be erected.

Also, many brothers who live near Patterson have opened their homes to accommodate members of the Bethel family working on the project. Since many more accommodations were needed, a total of 14 houses within seven miles of the property have been leased. These houses now provide accommodations for some members of the Bethel family. Eight houses on the property were renovated. Between 19 many months were spent in surveying, preparing drawings, and obtaining necessary building permits. It is centrally located about 70 miles north of Brooklyn Bethel and 45 miles east of the Society’s Wallkill, New York, facility. In December 1984 a property consisting of 684 acres was purchased. These additional facilities will no doubt play a vital role in the continued Bible educational work being done worldwide.

There will be classrooms, an auditorium for approximately 1,600 people, and considerable office space. This number will consist of members of the Bethel family and students invited to the Gilead missionary school and others who may receive training from time to time. When complete, the project will include housing for about 1,200 brothers and sisters. The same increased demands have been felt in other countries as well.Ī major forward step in this worldwide Bible educational activity is the construction of the Watchtower Educational Center at Patterson, New York. So at the present rate of growth, nearly 250 additional Bethel family members are needed each year.

headquarters staff (including Brooklyn and Watchtower Farms) has increased in number nearly 75 percent during that same ten-year period. This growth has placed an increased demand on the Society’s branch facilities throughout the world. By 1990 this number grew to some four million. In recent years, there has been a tremendous growth in the number of Kingdom proclaimers worldwide. These people are being helped to align their lives with Jehovah’s will and thus have the prospect of everlasting life.- Isa. Jesus Christ said: “This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.” ( John 17:3) Whereas fast-moving political changes have captured the attention of much of the human race, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been actively educating millions of honesthearted ones about God’s purpose involving life, freedom, and peace. Mankind’s greatest need in this last decade of the 20th century is to be properly educated about its Creator, Jehovah God. What is the purpose in constructing an educational center, and why are over four hundred brothers and sisters now working on this project? The visitors’ center includes a video presentation, picture displays, and an outside observation deck. The Society is pleased to extend to you an invitation to visit the recently opened visitors’ center for the Watchtower Educational Center now being constructed at Patterson, New York.

Watchtower farms