The City of Paterson, City of Paterson Parking Authority (PPA), Passaic County Community College, the Huntoon-Van Rensalier Underground Railroad Foundation, the Paterson Historic Preservation Commission, private donors and volunteers, collaborated to pay tribute to all generations of Patersonians and abolitionists that contributed to America’s “Network to Freedom,” the Underground Railroad (UGRR). The Huntoon-Van Rensalier UGRR Foundation and the PPA released plans for the Underground Railroad Monument and memorial plaza in June of 2013. The monument honors both abolitionists, Huntoon and Van Rensalier, depicting them together standing side by side, holding lanterns to light a path toward freedom. The PPA’s parking deck located near the Huntoon’s Corner historic site, allocated $200,000 from its initial construction funds for the creation of the memorial. With these funds, the Huntoon-Van Rensalier UGRR Foundation and the PPA commissioned the nationally renowned UGRR monument architect and artist, Ed Dwight to design the monument.
ABOUT THE SCULPTOR
Ed Dwight is a graduate engineer and former United States Air Force test pilot, whom has dedicated much of his later career to art endeavors. After completing a Bachelors and Master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering, Dwight continued his higher education with a Master of Fine Art in Sculpture from the University of Denver. Dwight has a wealth of practice in the design and development of monuments that emulate the historical struggle and triumphal experience of slavery and African American heritage. Dwight’s first major commissioned work was for the abolitionist Frederick Douglass in 1978. This life-sized monument was commissioned by the National Park Service and is on display at the Douglass Museum in Anacostia, Maryland. He later sculpted images of Dr. Martin Luther King, race riots, and cotton pickers. Dwight has also sculpted for previous UGRR projects which include the UGRR Memorial in Battle Creek, Michigan and UGRR sculpture placements on the Detroit Riverfront, and near the waterfront in Windsor, Canada. Since his first major commissioned sculpture, Dwight has completed 113 large scale installations throughout the United States and has created over 18,000 sculptures. Today Dwight operates a studio, gallery and foundry in Denver, Colorado.
ABOUT THE DESIGN
Dwight approached the design of this monument to honor both Josiah P. Huntoon (1813-1891) and William Van Rensalier (1831-1904) and the UGRR movement. He noted that both of these men were instrumental in the rescue of African American from the “yoke of slavery.” Huntoon and Van Rensalier are depicted in a full frontal body sculpture of each man on a bas relief panel standing side by side with each holding a lantern. The lantern is symbolic of the UGRR movement. To elaborate on their slave-saving activities, Dwight proposed the sculpture have an arch monolith with the central core being Huntoon and Van Rensalier. Two arched wings protrude on either side, depicting images of slaves approaching both men. Huntoon and Van Rensalier will be gesturing to the incoming slaves as a welcome to safety. In addition to the bronze bas relief sculpture, the pedestal has three smaller bas relief elements affixed. These elements include a bronze image of the Huntoon safe house and two etched granite panels that will narrate the biographies of the two men.
The Underground Railroad monument is positioned within an oval plaza, allowing the memorial to appear visible to all those who travel on Broadway. Upon entry to the plaza, the “Huntoon’s Corner” maker is aligned in the center of the walkway. This walkway leads to a concrete plaza where the sculpture is placed. Formal landscaping, benches, a light schema and impressions of footprints around the site make the site feel like a walking, living opportunity.
The PPA and the Huntoon – Van Rensalier Foundation carried out a fundraising campaign to support the monument in October 2013. Both organizations teamed up with thatsmybrick.com to create a legacy path around the monument. Donors were able to purchase personalized brick which was placed on the pathways surrounding the monument. The promotion and participation in the fundraiser conveys the legacy of educating the public regarding the historical significance of the Underground Railroad in the eradication of slavery.
