Black Heritage Trail Will Unveil Historical Marker Honoring Montclair’s YWCA

MONTCLAIR, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the Montclair History Center. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

The New Jersey Historical Commission (NJHC) will unveil a New Jersey Black Heritage Trail historical marker at the Crane House & Historic YWCA at 110 Orange Road on Saturday, April 18 at 11 a.m.

The marker will commemorate the Montclair YWCA founded in 1912 by seventeen women representing Black churches in Montclair, New Jersey. Established to serve and uplift Black women and girls during the 20th century, the Montclair YWCA provided a place of safety, refuge, and opportunity encouraging women to take pride in their heritage, pursue education, and emerge as leaders within their communities. From 1920 to 1965, the Montclair YWCA operated from the historic Crane House, a period marked by significant growth and change within Montclair.

In September 2022, bipartisan bill A2677 was signed into law and established a Black Heritage Trail in New Jersey. To date, there are 77 approved sites on the Black Heritage Trail, eight of which have been installed.

“The women of the YWCA helped shape Montclair through their vision and deep commitment to uplifting Black women and girls. Their work reflects the story of a town and a nation moving through the transformative eras of the Great Migration, integration, and the Civil Rights Movement,” said Executive Director Angelica Diggs.

The New Jersey Black Heritage Trail is intended to be a living trail inviting visitors and passersby to engage with the sites’ art and history. Each historical marker will be 30x42 inches with black letters against a white background with gold trim. The markers will be mounted on a 7-foot pole. A square 6x6-inch aluminum plate will be attached to most marker poles with a QR code that leads visitors to the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail website. On select markers, including the Montclair YWCA, visitors will find a 5x10-inch aluminum plate with a Virtual Museum QR code. The New Jersey Black Heritage Trail Virtual Museum invites viewers to learn more about Black history and heritage sites in New Jersey through photographs, documents, and other related information. No application is required to access the Virtual Museum, but visitors will need to scan the QR code and follow the on-screen prompts to activate the experience.

New Jersey Black Heritage Trail sites are selected through a community-driven process. Each year, the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail reviews nominations from the public as well as staff recommendations. The final selections are approved by the New Jersey Historical Commission.

In addition to historical markers, the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail provides programmatic opportunities. Those interested in attending a Black history event connected to the Trail can find a curated list of offerings at https://linktr.ee/blackhistorynj.

“The story of the Montclair YWCA is a vital part of our community’s history. At the Montclair History Center, we believe it is our responsibility not only to preserve that legacy, but to share it so that future generations can learn from the courage, advocacy, and leadership that impacted our community,” shares Board President Elizabeth Hynes.

As part of the legislation, the Historical Commission will work in cooperation with other state agencies, each of which has a unique role in implementing the project. This includes the Division of Travel and Tourism, New Jersey’s leading voice for promoting the importance of tourism as essential to the state’s economy, image, and overall quality of life; the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office, which is charged with preserving, protecting, and promoting the state’s historic resources; and the New Jersey Black Heritage Foundation, which prioritizes broadening and diversifying statewide participation in and appreciation for Black arts, history, and culture.

About the New Jersey Historical Commission

The New Jersey Historical Commission (NJHC) is a state agency dedicated to the advancement of public knowledge and preservation of New Jersey history. Established by law in 1967, its work is founded on the fundamental belief that an understanding of our shared heritage is essential to sustaining a cohesive and robust democracy.

About the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail

Under the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail, the New Jersey Historical Commission will work in cooperation with other state agencies, such as the Historic Preservation Office, the Division of Travel and Tourism, as well as local governments, owners or operators of Black heritage sites, and others to identify a series of sites. The bill also names the New Jersey Black Cultural and Heritage Initiative Foundation as a principal collaborator, due to its mission which includes broadening, deepening, and diversifying statewide participation in and appreciation for Black art, history, and culture.

About the Montclair History Center: The Montclair History Center, formerly the Montclair Historical Society, is an independent not-for-profit organization that was founded in 1965 and is dedicated to preserving and sharing Montclair’s diverse history. For additional information, please visit the website www.montclairhistory.org, or contact the Montclair History Center at 973-744-1796 or mail@montclairhistory.org

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here.