Isaac Van Blarcom Safehouse

Isaac Van Blarcom (1812-1894) was a descendant of early colonial Dutch settlement in Bergen County and the Paterson area. He was heavily active in the Presbyterian Church around the City of Paterson and in the abolitionist and temperance movements in New Jersey, as a ranking member of the Liberty Party, the New Jersey Anti-Slavery Society and later as a Republican. Van Blarcom was a candidate for Passaic County Sherrif in 1844 under the Liberty Party ticket. His business and trade was as a brick and stone mason, and he was awarded the contract for the Passaic County Jail in 1842 which was a highly-stylized brownstone building on Main Street in Paterson. At his home on Marshall Street, he built deep cellars for his house which was later used to take people in to safe guard during Underground Railroad operations. He is buried in Cedar Lawn Cemetery in Paterson.

Historic Marker Location:

85-89 Marshall Street, at corner of Slater Street, an auto repair shop now occupies the place where Isaac Van Blarcom’s home once stood.