Friends of the Howe House (FOHH) is an all-volunteer nonprofit dedicated to preserving the Jame Howe House in Montclair. Howe was the first African American in Montclair to own a home. Previously enslaved to the Crane family, Howe was willed the home along with six acres of land and $400. The home still stands and was saved for preservation through the efforts of the FOHH, formed in 2022.

The organization views the Community History program as a vital step in their transition from commemorative events to sustained, research-driven interpretation that confronts the state’s complex history of slavery and freedom. Through this developmental process, FOHH aims to shift toward shared authority, inviting residents, descendants, and elders to act as co-creators of the house’s narrative. They envision this work will form the basis for the transformation of the Howe House into a museum and community gathering space that honors difficult truths while fostering civic pride.