Group Fighting To Preserve Montclair’s ‘Freed Slave House’ Earns Award

MONTCLAIR, NJ — The group leading the fight to preserve Montclair’s first home owned by a freed slave recently earned a prestigious Thurgood Marshall Freedom Fund Award.

The achievement surrounding the James Howe House on Claremont Avenue was celebrated at the annual Montclair NAACP awards ceremony, held earlier this week. Aminah Toler, chair of the Friends of the Howe House, accepted the award on behalf of the community group.

The award follows a year of efforts to rescue the Howe House from being sold to investors, raise funds to secure its sale, and fund-raising and awareness-raising to preserve its future. Read More: Future Looks Bright For Montclair Home Steeped In Black History

“It’s almost a year to the day since we began our efforts to save the Howe House and preserve its legacy for future generations,” Toler said. “Our community has always known the importance of the Howe House for Montclair, New Jersey and America’s history. We hope our efforts can ensure that the Howe House can take a special place in that history as a center for learning and reflection.”

“Receiving this award from Montclair’s NAACP acknowledges our efforts and calls people in Montclair and beyond to support us,” she added.

The Rev. Anya Sammler-Michael said that ongoing support for the House Howe was vital to reaching the finish line.

“It’s been a year of triumphs and hard work,” Sammler-Michael said. “Now is a great time to acknowledge those who helped us get to where we are today, such as the Montclair NAACP. But it is also an important time to remind people that the Howe House’s future is far from certain and that we need ongoing help and effort to preserve this important place for generations to come.”

Kimberly Latortue, president of the Friends of the Howe House, said there is an important push happening to secure national historic status for the house.

“This award further solidifies the importance of achieving our goal to win national historic status,” Latortue said. “This status will ensure the Howe House will be around for generations as a symbol of the African American experience in the U.S. and unbreakable spirit of a community preserving our shared history.”

“We urge our community and those beyond, including New Jersey's political representatives at federal, state and local level to continue to help us achieve this goal,” she said.

The keynote speech at the 107th annual Thurgood Marshall Freedom Fund Dinner and Awards Ceremony of the Montclair NAACP was delivered by Dr. Lillie Johnson Edwards, who cited efforts to preserve the Howe House as an example of the “enduring spirit of the civil rights movement.”

The Friends of the Howe House offered a recap of the battle to save the home:

“The sale of the Howe House to the local community became official last December when a bid for the property was accepted, with the Friends of the Howe House receiving the keys to the property in February. Fundraising and awareness-raising events have included: an evening of fun and art at the One River Art School; an art auction at the Gallery at Berkshire Hathaway in Montclair; a party at the Montclair Brewery with the launch of a Howe House beer; a Devils Hockey night; a Silent Disco and Juneteenth Festival; and panel discussions on the history of the house.”

The group offered some background about the property’s namesake:

“James Howe worked as an enslaved man for Major Nathanial Crane in the early 1800s. After years of slavery, Crane ended Howe’s enslavement and in his 1831 will, Crane left Howe the house, $400, and approximately six acres of land.”

Local groups involved in Friends of the Howe House include the Montclair African-American Heritage Foundation, Montclair Chapter of the NAACP, Montclair Mutual Aid, St. Marks Montclair, and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair.

More events to support the Howe House’s future are being planned for the coming months and next year, including another art auction with Berkshire Hathway Homeservices, Montclair, and a potential gala night. Anyone who wants to get involved in fundraising, volunteering or donations in-kind can contact info@friendsofthehowehouse.org.

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