About Friends of the Howe House

Make the future better by honoring the past; a successful campaign towards homeownership of the historic property of James Howe in Montclair, New Jersey

WHY DOES THE HOWE HOUSE MATTER?

Imagine a place where African American history can be experienced, studied, and honored. A house restored to the condition James Howe would have known it as a free man, 200 years ago. An archive where local African American history is safeguarded for posterity. And a powerful monument to the struggle for African American freedom. This is your opportunity to help bring this vision to life.

WHY NOW?

Bringing to light the James Howe House’s hidden history is a social and educational responsibility. New Jersey was planned and subdivided into royal land grant plantations as a slave labor driven state and New Jersey was the last northern state to abolish slavery. The James Howe House embodies an effort to correct this injustice, and the story of James Howe represents the expansion and experience of freedom in the face of slavery and racism.

WE’RE IN A RACE AGAINST TIME.

Every day, all over the country, physical signs of African American history are being erased, repurposed and reclaimed, blasted and bulldozed, forever lost to future generations. This is happening at a moment when American society is more polarized than it has been in living memory.

In preserving the James Howe House, we have the chance to stop this trend at our front door, to lift up African American history, instead of tearing it down. And, in the diverse community that has rallied around this cause, we are proving what’s possible when Americans of all stripes come together.

Black lives matter. Black history matters. The Howe House Matters.

A Community Commitment

In the Fall of 2022 a community coalition of residents, civil rights activists, faith leaders, historians, preservationists, and social justice organizations came together around a single mission: fundraise $400,000 to purchase the historic home of James Howe and return the property to the local African American community. After decades of local knowledge and testimonials swirled around the house, the property was put for sale on the private real estate market and labeled as an “investment property” ripe for the highest bidder. This coalition refused to allow this meaningful and important landmark to be sold and disappear forever. An urgent campaign was launched and within a matter of weeks, the commitment was secured.

A Historic Homecoming

In February of 2023, the newly formed organization, Friends of the Howe House, became the owners of the property at 369 Claremont Ave in Montclair, New Jersey. And so concluded the Howe House Matters Campaign, with a prosperous victory and a united and emboldened group of people dedicated to building a nonprofit organization that will act as stewards of this home and decide on the purpose it serves for the community.

Photos taken by Kate Albright of Montclair Local on February 13, 2023 when the Friends of the Howe House became owners of the property at 369 Claremont Ave.