Join Us for Juneteenth Celebrations!

Letter from the President of the Board

Dear Friends,

As we continue our journey to honor and preserve the legacy of the Howe House, I want to take a moment to reflect on the powerful momentum we’ve built together so far this year. From our engaging Howe House tours to our heartfelt Black History Month celebrations, each event has reminded us of the importance of this home—not just as a historical landmark, but as a living symbol of Black resilience, achievement, and community.

We were honored to be recognized at the Montclair High School African American Achievement Dinner, a testament to the impact of our shared mission and the importance of passing this legacy on to the next generation.

I’m thrilled to share that our collective efforts have led to an incredible milestone: the Howe House has officially been added to theThis recognition places the home among the state’s most significant sites of African American history—and we couldn't have done it without your continued support.

Looking ahead, we have exciting things on the horizon, including our Juneteenth Cocktail Fundraiser on June 20th, helping us fund a commemorative plaque on the Howe House and Juneteenth Festival on June 21st—a day of culture, music, food, and community.

Thank you for being part of this mission. Let’s keep making history, together.

With gratitude,

Kimberly Latortue

Join Us for Our Juneteenth Cocktail Party Fundraiser!

We are excited to announce our upcoming Juneteenth cocktail party fundraiser! Our goal is to fund the installation of a commemorative marker for Howe House as part of the NJ Black Heritage Trail (see article below). Please help us celebrate and commemorate Montclair's rich Black heritage!

The fundraiser will be collaborative, with the goal of honoring three key sites on the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail: the Howe House, the Montclair History Center, and St. Mark’s Church. Come out and enjoy drinks, community, and the chance to support this important cause.

Juneteenth Festival

Join us for a vibrant day of celebration, culture, and community as Friends of the Howe House host a Juneteenth Festival in honor of freedom, heritage, and resilience.

We are still looking for sponsors; if you are interested, please .

Howe House is Now Part of the NJ Black Heritage Trail!

In January 2025, Friends of the Howe House received long-awaited news from the New Jersey Historical Commission. (Drum roll!) Howe House is now part of the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail.

In celebration, Assemblywoman Collazos-Gill visited the Howe House on February 26th, presenting individual board members with a joint resolution from the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey, extolling the efforts involved in preserving and uplifting the James Howe House.

Two other Montclair landmarks, the Montclair historic YWCA and St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, were also added to the trail, making Montclair a leader in official NJ black heritage sites.

Thank You, Rotary Club!

We’d like to give a huge shout out of gratitude to the Montclair Rotary Club, as well as friends from the Montclair Public Library and the YMCA of Montclair, for an afternoon of planting, pruning, and beautification of The Howe House.

In our digging and planting we discovered the spoon pictured. An image search of the spoon came up with this information: the item pictured is an 1881 Rogers Bros. heritage silver-plated serving spoon, likely from 1953.

The pattern, called "Heritage," features flower blossoms and leaves with geometric lines. In 1881 Rogers Bros. was part of the International Silver Company.The pattern was introduced in 1953 and discontinued in 1973. It is considered a traditional mid-century silverware pattern.

Can't wait to see everything blooming and more new discoveries on our grounds!

Thank You, Montclair High School Students!

Check out these amazing students from Montclair High School who volunteered to do some spring cleaning at the Howe House! These 10th graders, led by their teacher Dr. Liz Voltman and our friends at Montclair Rotary Club, helped weed, plant perennials, and add beautiful painted rocks to our yard. They also enjoyed a tour with our President and learned all about James Howe and the residents of the Howe House.

A Tiny House, A Thousand Stories - Story #714

Photo credit: Patrick McGeehan

A Turning Point in History: The Howe House Fire of 2013

In the summer of 2013, tragedy struck the Howe House, as flames threatened to engulf this iconic symbol of Montclair’s Black heritage. As smoke rose, so did the community’s resolve to save it. Miraculously, the house survived—scarred but standing—a poignant reminder of its resilience and the urgency of preserving our shared history. The fire reignited our commitment to safeguarding the Howe House, ensuring its legacy lives on for future generations.

May is Preservation Month!

This year’s Preservation Month theme, “”, shines a light on the big and small ways your work revitalizes communities with vibrant downtowns, jobs, affordable housing, increased property values, climate-friendly options, and civic pride.

Your efforts don’t just save a building—they inspire awe, joy, and a deeper sense of belonging.

Now’s the time to share what preservation is creating in your community! Join the conversation, showcase your work, and connect with peers nationwide in the . Let’s make some noise for preservation!