Howe House Newsletter Oct. 10th
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our special Howe House tour and performance!
Friends of the Howe House extends heartfelt thanks to all who came out to support our collaboration with Luna Stage for the abridged version of The Ground on Which We Stand. Your presence and enthusiasm helped make this unique, immersive experience truly memorable as we continue to celebrate and preserve the legacy of the Howe House. We encourage you to explore more of Luna Stage’s incredible work by visiting their website at www.lunastage.org and to reach out to them to learn how you can bring the full production of The Ground on Which We Stand to a stage near you.
Calling All Artists! Join Friends of the Howe House for Our Annual Art Auction
Friends of the Howe House invites local artists to participate in our Annual Art Auction in support of the ongoing Howe House preservation efforts. We welcome donations of artwork in all media — painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media, and more.
Artwork must not exceed 16" x 20" and should be dropped off on November 4th or 5th between 9 AM and 5 PM.
We also invite the community to join us for the Art Auction on November 6th, 5-8pm at 695 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair (Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices LLC). Come celebrate local creativity while supporting an important piece of Montclair’s Black history!
For more information, email info@friendsofthehowehouse.orgdifference.
Get Ready to Dance for a Cause!
Join Realtor Kimya for an unforgettable Old School Dance Party on Saturday, November 15th, from 7–11 PM, featuring music by the renowned NYC DJ Herbert Holler!
Come out for a night of great vibes, classic hits, and community spirit — all while supporting a meaningful cause. Proceeds from the event will benefit Friends of the Howe House and our ongoing efforts to protect and celebrate Black history.
Don’t miss this chance to dance the night away for a great cause! Link for tickets: Freedom™ Montclair in Montclair - Checkout
Friends of the Howe House Receives Exciting Grant Awards!
Friends of the Howe House is proud to announce two recent grant awards that will help advance our mission to preserve history and inspire future generations.
We are honored to receive the Ruby Bridges Grant, through which we will partner with Charles H. Bullock Elementary School to create and celebrate Ruby Bridges Day — a program uplifting the legacy of courage, equity, and kindness inspired by Ruby Bridges’ story.
In addition, we are grateful to have been awarded a grant from the Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund, supporting our efforts to save and promote historic sites throughout the state. Read more here: News
Together, these grants strengthen our commitment to preserving the past while empowering the next generation to build a more just and inclusive future.
A Tiny House, A Thousand Stories - Story #1026
The Wayside House and Washington’s Journey Through Cranetown
In October of 1780, General George Washington and his troops made their way through what was then known as Cranetown, now Montclair, New Jersey. During this march, Washington set up temporary headquarters in the area, with the idea of supporting an attack on Staten Island to be led by the Marquis de Lafayette. When that plan failed, Washington withdrew North to Preakness. Local tradition maintains that, while Washington was in town, he passed the historic Howe House regularly as he came up the road from the William Crane house, where he was staying, to the summit known as Crane's Gap. From there he could survey the surrounding territory for British troop movements. For this reason, the Howe House came to be affectionately known as the “Wayside House.” The name reflects its role as a quiet witness to history—a wayside stop along the path of a future president as he led the fight for independence.
Special Discount for our Friends
Meet us at Vanguard Theater Sunday Oct 26th at 2pm for a showing of TOPDOG UNDERDOG. This darkly dynamic story follows two African-American brothers struggling to define themselves and survive in a world that too often stacks the deck against them. More than sibling rivalry, it’s about legacy, manhood, and the systems that pit us against one another—told with humor, heart, and searing honesty. The play is both a mirror and a call to conversation: a chance to see our stories brought to life onstage and to gather in dialogue about identity, resilience, and the future we want to build together. USE CODE HHTopdog for 20% off all tickets. Topdog/Underdog — Vanguard Theater
Volunteer for a Howe House Research Jam!
Help us uncover the 18th-century origins of Howe House and move our Register of Historic Places application forward. Join us at the Montclair History Center to explore the Crane family archive—18 boxes of historic documents! Together, we’ll dig into questions like who built Howe House, its early residents, and how it came to the Cranes.
Weekday sessions—sign up for a time that works for you: https://doodle.com/group-poll/participate/b8YAGwgd
Welcome our new board member: Dr Aaron X. Smith
Dr. Aaron X. Smith, aka “The Rapping Professor,” is an Assistant Professor in Africology and African American Studies at Temple University and author of *The Murder of Octavius Catto* and *Afrocentricity in Afrofuturism*. Awarded the Molefi Kete Asante Award for excellence, he holds multiple degrees, including a PhD in African American Studies, and is pursuing a second doctorate in Higher Education. A Montclair, NJ native, he mentors student organizations such as the NAACP and Lambda Theta Alpha, and his motto is: *Learn More, Love More.*
Check out what's happening at our other Montclair NJ Black Heritage Sites
St Mark's UMC: Celebrate and Support The Mark's 145th Anniversary. Learn more: The Mark Montclair Church - Loving Community & Worship Services - 145th Anniversary
Montclair History Center: Spooky stories and a murder mystery are lined up this month and be sure to join MHC for its Guided House Tour: Eyewitness to Black History: Guided House Tour: Eyewitness to Black History — Montclair History Center
