Nearly two decades ago as Mayor of Paterson I had the distinct honor of joining Dolores Van Rensalier, a great-granddaughter of abolitionist William Van Rensalier, in preserving the Huntoon-Van Rensalier Historic Underground Railroad Site in Paterson. Today, I was proud to return to that site with Dolores to unveil a statue of her great grandfather and Josiah Huntoon, a white merchant who ran a coffee and spice store in Paterson and helped shelter fugitive slaves before and during the Civil War. The selfless sacrifice and bravery of these two men remind us of the seminal role Paterson played in the Underground Railroad and in our nation’s history.
Posted on: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 20:08:56 +0000
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