Black History Month Events In Montclair: Howe House, Historic Tours

MONTCLAIR, NJ — The Montclair History Center will be hosting two upcoming events for Black History Month.

For additional information about either event, visit www.montclairhistory.org or contact the Montclair History Center at mail@montclairhistory.org or 973-744-1796.

THE HOWE FAMILY HISTORY

A free, virtual Black History Month program about the history of the Howe House will take place via Zoom from 7 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19. Register for the link here.

Here’s what to expect, according to a news release from the history center: “James Howe was the first African American in Montclair, New Jersey to own a home. Previously enslaved to the Crane family of Montclair in the early 1800's, James was manumitted and willed $400 and 6 acres of land including the home that still stands at 369 Claremont Avenue. In the summer of 2022, Friends of the Howe House was formed to save and preserve this historic home. The historians of FOHH will share how they uncover clues that help discover the history of the Howe family. Friends of the Howe House will also bring you up to speed on our current work in continuing to tell the untold stories of this piece of Montclair history.”

GUIDED HOUSE TOUR

The history center will be hosting specialty docent-led tours on Saturday, Feb. 21.

Here’s what to expect, the center said: “Explore 200 years of Black history in Montclair and New Jersey through rare first-hand accounts, primary and secondary source documents at the Crane House & Historic YWCA. Artifacts include bills of sale and manumission records for enslaved individuals in the household, 1800s newspapers, census data, personal letters, oral histories, and mid-century Jet and Ebony magazines. These artifacts provide a springboard for discussion about race both in the past and in the present-day.”

Tours begin at noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. at the Nathaniel Crane House & Visitor Center located at the back of the parking lot. No reservations are required. Admission is $12/adult; $10/student/senior with ID; $8/child; under 2 free. Admission is free for Montclair History Center members.

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