The Friends of the Howe House is a nonprofit organization committed to preserving the historic house of James Howe, a formerly enslaved man who was freed in 1817. As one of the oldest standing buildings owned by an African American, this house tells the story of freedom and slavery, the importance of homeownership, the development of African American communities in the United States, and the role of African Americans in the growth of towns like Montclair, NJ. This house stands as a monument to African American history, serving as a gathering place for education, community, and honest reflection on the past, present, and future of African American experiences in New Jersey and across the nation.