By Latanya West – Contributing Writer
The Huntoon-Van Rensalier Underground Railroad Foundation graciously presented its Inaugural Annual UGRR Award Dinner, Thursday, September 24th at the Brownstone Restaurant in Paterson, NJ. This First Annual UGRR Awards Dinner was a huge success estimating over 150 guests as well as the awardees. All thoroughly enjoyed themselves, watching continuous historic UGRR silent event slides in the background, listening to Acappela Singers, and giving guest speaker Dr. John E. Warren, Publisher of the San Diego Voice & Viewpoint a standing ovation. The highlight of the evening was Mayor Jose “Joey” Torres who received the 1st Underground Railroad Lantern Award, a symbolic award for “leading the way”. Among many of Mayor Torres’ accomplishments, when a Councilman in 1996 during the HV UGRR controversy, he boldly introduced a city Resolution that the City Council unanimously passed, acknowledging and legally protecting and preserving the site. During his dynamic speech, he took from his own lapel, his first City Council pin and his new Mayor’s pin. Standing by him, he turned to his wife who pinned them both on Dolores Van Rensalier-Warren, Foundation President in tribute to her steadfast, persevering HV UGRR accomplishments. “Our first year, we focused on esteemed lawmakers,” reflected Dolores Van Rensalier-Warren, President of the Foundation. “Our first year we honored the local, state and national public servants that implemented the resolutions and laws that protect this historic site and others,” she continued. “All eight of our Awardees have been steadfast in working with all people together in making their communities, their city and this state a better place to live. “ I st Annual UGRR Awardees were US Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr; Vera Ames, City Councilwoman Emeritus, Kamau Kalfani (Posthumous)President of the 1995 UGRR Coalition; Elease Evans, State Assemblywoman Emeritus, Gianfranco Archimedes, Exec. Dir of the Historic Preservation Commission that also received a group award, and the Paterson Parking Authority Commission group award for their continuous dedication to the Site. In honoring the Huntoon-Van Rensalier legacy, each year the Foundation will continue to carefully chose awardees from all cultures and races for their long, steadfast character and accomplishments. “Our awardees,” said co-founder Erik (Huntoon) Lenander, “must exemplifying the service and on-going legacy of both abolitionist, Josiah Huntoon and William Van Rensalier.” Josiah Huntoon, a White merchant was a close friend and employer of William Van Rensalier, a free Black man and great grand father of Dolores Van Rensalier-Warren. Together they operated an Underground Rail Road station out of the house in which they lived, hiding runaway slaves in theirs cellar, giving them food, clothing and shelter. they used a lantern in the tower of the house to signal when it was safe for the slaves to come down from Garret Mountain at night. The Foundation and the monument which stands on the very site on which the house was located are the results of 20 years of struggle to save the land and a book which Mrs. Van Rensalier_Warren wrote on the lives of this two men. Today this legacy monument in one of the few Black Historical sites in Paterson, New Jersey.
