Self-Guided Tour of Paterson's UGRR Locations
Thanks to a grant from the Passaic County Cultural and Heritage Council and the NJ Historical Commission, we have expanded this website to include a self-guided tour of places in Paterson that were associated with UGRR activities. In the background of this page is an excerpt from one of Paterson’s earliest existing maps from around 1861. At that time Paterson was much smaller than it is today. This map helps to show where the people in this story were located in early Paterson. It is helpful for understanding and imagining how they interacted, met and organized themselves, and how they secretly sheltered and moved enslaved people through Paterson. The map reminds us of the diverse and complex network of people and local relationships that were involved in Paterson’s early abolitionist movement and Paterson’s “network to freedom.”
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We compared this old map with a current map of Paterson to see what the locations look like now. Of course a lot has changed over the past 160 years, so unfortunately none of the original buildings still exist today. Nonetheless, we have placed signs on the sidewalk in close proximity to where the original buildings once stood. These markers are signs with QR codes on them, and the name of the location. Taking a photo of the QR code using the camera of a smart phone will open a page on this website that is linked to the history and details of that location. The locations and their information can be also be browsed at any time by visiting this webpage and clicking on various links below.
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HOW TO TAKE THE TOUR
1. Download the historic map to your phone or computer by clicking here. You may also download the modern map showing the locations by clicking here. Both maps are Adobe PDF files and should open on your smart phone or computer. You may also save the map files and print them out. Each map has a page with each location’s individual address, and a link that you can use to download a Google Maps route plan to your phone with all the locations so that you can navigate from one to the next on foot or by car.
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2. We recommend that you start in Paterson’s downtown commercial district, close to the Passaic County Community College at the Huntoon and Van Rensalier UGRR Historic Site and monument, located at 125 Broadway, next door to Wendy’s. Of course you can start at any location on the map that you choose.
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3. There are a number of locations that are walkable from each other, even close together, but the distances may be excessive for some. Please plan ahead for alternative transportation if distances and time might be a factor for you. However, also keep in mind that a number of the locations are not comfortably walkable due to excessive distances from the others. It would be most feasible to use a car or bike if you wish to visit all the sites on the same day.
4. When you arrive at the location, look for a white metal sign mounted into the sidewalk where a normal street sign would be located. Signs are WHITE background with a lantern icon and text (see below for an example).
5. After you locate the sign, point your smart phone camera at the QR code, and a website address will be automatically downloaded from the code. Your preferred web browser will take you to the webpage on this site that will tell about the location.
6. When you are finished, move on to the next location.
HOW DID WE LEARN OUT ABOUT THESE PEOPLE?
While researching for the Network To Freedom nomination, it was found that in the last quarter of the nineteenth century, information began to appear in the local press of individuals who participated in the networks of assistance for the freedom seekers whose journeys brought them through Paterson. These first-hand accounts were published in different sources into the 1910s. Written by white men, these lists were predominately focusing on the activity of other white men. The attribution made it into a county history. In 1901, prominent historian William Nelson included his observations. In a chapter about the treatment of the enslaved in New Jersey in the early 18th century, Nelson observed, “This town was a well-recognized “station” on the road by which runaway slaves from the South were helped on their way to Canada and freedom. John Avison, Darius Wells, Isaac Van Blarcom, Henry M. Low, Josiah P. Huntoon, Nathaniel Lane, and Alexander H. Freeman were among the anti-slavery men in Paterson early in the present century, who were ready to take great risks to aid the fugitives on their flight toward the North star.” Two African American operatives were also identified. William Van Rensalier’s descendants have stories of participation and John Kline, and his family, also were noted participants. The individuals whose history is described below are the ones with the most documentation uncovered to date.
