Mission: The mission of the Montclair History Center is to PRESERVE, EDUCATE, and SHARE. We PRESERVE our local history through our historical buildings, artifacts and documents. We EDUCATE the community on local history and its importance through programs, advocacy and exhibits. We SHARE the stories and history of the various persons and groups that have and continue to shape Montclair. Adopted February 2012.
About Us:
The Montclair History Center (MHC), a nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization, promotes preservation, study and appreciation of local history. The Montclair History Center was originally founded in 1965 to save the Israel Crane House, a Federal Revival style landmark home built by a local entrepreneur in 1796. It was relocated from Glen Ridge Avenue to its current location on Orange Road. Located next to the Israel Crane house’s new location is the Nathaniel Crane House. Built about 1818, it was donated to the Montclair History Center in 1973 by the Sampson family. Together, the two Crane Houses serve the public as a historic house museum, museum shop and space for demonstrations, lectures and classes interpreting our area’s past. In 2014, the scope of interpretation for the Crane House was expanded to include the period in the 20th century when it served as a YWCA for African American women and girls.
In 1984, MHC purchased the Clark House, located at 108 Orange Road, adjacent to the two Crane houses. The house, built in 1896, expanded the institution's ability to service the public by creating the Terhune Research Library and administrative offices. Since its inception, the Library has been a valuable resource for scholars, historians, local teachers and homeowners wishing to know more about their home (often to aide in restoration efforts and thus preserving historic districts).
Join Us for a Nature and History-filled Camp Farm Camp Registration is Live The Montclair History Center, Montclair Community Farms, and Rutgers Cooperative Extension 4-H partner each year to host a fun, nature, and history-filled camp for…
Read More »Celebrating the Contributions of Frances Mills The Montclair History Center was saddened to hear of the passing of supporter Frances Mills. Frances was one of the founding members of the Montclair History Center, then the Montclair Historical…
Read More »Winter Wonderland Open House Sunday, December 17th, 12 to 3 pm Visit the Crane House & Historic YWCA Museum to see the beautiful period decorations by Garden Club of Montclair. Eexplore this 227-year-old home at your leisure and warm yourself…
Read More »The Montclair History Center is helping Montclair Ambulance Unit (MAU) celebrate MAU’s 70-year history. In partnership, the two organizations are working to digitize, catalogue, preserve, and share MAU’s archival and artifact collection.…
Read More »New Oral Histories from the Many Voices of Montclair Oral History Project The next round of oral histories from the 2018 oral history project are now available. In this blog post, find links to the interview summary and audio files of Keith Ali,…
Read More »FALL HEIRLOOM BULB FUNDRAISER Our fall sale has begun! Now through September 18. ?????With a nod to our Dutch "Speertown" roots, we’ve got heirloom bulbs for your garden! These are the varieties you may have found in Montclair gardens back…
Read More »Celebrating Montclair History Center’s 2023 Summer Interns??????????????? Quayannah Lane joins us as a Staff Intern through the Eleven+ organization. ??????? The Montclair History Center has once again welcomed a dynamic group of summer…
Read More »Fall Heirloom Bulb Fundraiser Our fall sale has begun! Now through September 18. With a nod to our Dutch "Speertown" roots, we’ve got heirloom bulbs for your garden! These are the varieties you may have found in Montclair gardens back when…
Read More »Space Still Avaiable For Camp Next Week! The Montclair History Center, Rutgers Cooperative Extension 4-H, and the Montclair Community Farms partner each summer to host a fun, nature and history filled camp for youth to learn about our past, and…
Read More »Next Round of Oral Histories Released from the Many Voices of Montclair Oral History Project??????????????? Dr. Carole (Layne) Willis The next round of oral histories from the 2018 oral history project are now available. In this blog post, find…
Read More »Montclair History Center Welcomes Students Back to the Crane House & Historic YWCA Museum Mr. Addison Jarvis and educator Mrs. Janet Spoerl. Mr. Addison was Mrs. Spoerl’s student at Bradford and is now a para educator at Hillside…
Read More »Register for Farm Camp this July The Montclair History Center, Rutgers Cooperative Extension 4-H, and the Montclair Community Farms partner each summer to host a fun, nature and history filled camp for youth to learn about our past, and where…
Read More »July Walking Tours Walk. Talk. Taste. Montclair- Upper Bloomfield Avenue Sunday July16th from 12 to 3 pm Discover the food and stories that make Montclair unique on this 3-hour food tasting and historical walking tour of the section of Bloomfield…
Read More »Space Still Available For Select Farm Camp Weeks! The Montclair History Center, Rutgers Cooperative Extension 4-H, and the Montclair Community Farms partner each summer to host a fun, nature and history filled camp for youth to learn about our…
Read More »Hortense Tate Scholarship Awarded to Montclair High School Student Desiree Lawrence Education is a critical component of the Montclair History Center’s mission, embodied in its local history programs for school children and adults and in…
Read More »Space Still Available For Select Farm Camp Weeks! The Montclair History Center, Rutgers Cooperative Extension 4-H, and the Montclair Community Farms partner each summer to host a fun, nature and history filled camp for youth to learn about our…
Read More »Farm Camp Registration Open for this Summer The Montclair History Center, Rutgers Cooperative Extension 4-H, and the Montclair Community Farms partner each summer to host a fun, nature and history filled camp for youth to learn about our past,…
Read More »Additional Oral Histories Released from the Many Voices of Montclair Oral History Project The second round of oral histories from the 2018 oral history project are now available. In this blog post, find links to the interview summary and audio…
Read More »June at the Montclair History Center brings walking tours, history at home, MuseumWeek!, guided house tours and community festivals! See the below programs and events happening this month! June Programs & Events Guided Walking Tour of…
Read More »History at Home Tonight at 7 pm: A Discussion with Father Charles Brady Charles Brady, a former Catholic priest, served St. Peter Claver parish on Elmwood Avenue in Montclair and Holy Spirit parish in Orange from 1966 through 1973. Brady'smission…
Read More »This Week at the Montclair History Center HISTORY AT HOME: A DISCUSSION WITH FATHER CHARLES BRADY Wednesday, May 24th at 7 pm Charles Brady, a former Catholic priest, served St. Peter Claver parish on Elmwood Avenue in Montclair and Holy…
Read More »Moving of the Crane House & Historic YWCA by Lackawanna Plaza in 1965 Coming Up this Month at the Montclair History Center! Details below. Two History at Home programs this month will explore Colonial Era Homes on May 11th and the rescheduled…
Read More »Counselor & Counselor-in-Training Positions Available at Farm Camp Counselor positions for students 16+ and CIT positions for students ages 12-15 are available for all weeks of camp. Counselors must be age 16 by June 1, 2023 and CITs must be…
Read More »Hortense Tate was a pivotal figure in the Glenridge Avenue YWCA from the time she moved to Montclair from Kansas to become a Girl Reserve Secretary in 1921 and throughout the 20th century, continuing the YWCA mission to establish an educational…
Read More »Farm Camp Registration Open for this Summer The Montclair History Center, Rutgers Cooperative Extension 4-H, and the Montclair Community Farms partner each summer to host a fun, nature and history filled camp for youth to learn about our past, and…
Read More »HISTORY AT HOME: PHOTOGRAPHY OF CHARLES WARREN EATON, 1900 TO 1925 Thursday, March 9th at 7 pm Historical Society of Bloomfield Trustee Rich Rockwell presents a new program on the photography of Charles Warren Eaton from 1900 to 1925. Rockwell…
Read More »Time to Preorder Herbs & Heirloom Tomatoes Hard to believe it's that time of year again! The Annual Herb Sale will take place from May 4th through May 7th. Preorder your herbs and heirloom tomatoes as you start your Spring planning for your…
Read More »Hortense Tate was a pivotal figure in the Glenridge Avenue YWCA from the time she moved to Montclair from Kansas to become a Girl Reserve Secretary in 1921 and throughout the 20th century, continuing the YWCA mission to establish an educational…
Read More »The Montclair History Center welcomes applications for the Hortense Tate Scholarship. Mrs. Tate inspired countless young women at the YWCA by creating a positive environment, fostering cultural pride, and encouraging African American young women to…
Read More »Celebrating Black History Month The Montclair History Center celebrates Black History this month, and every month. Explore the below programs, virtual histories, and resources available to learn about the stories and contributions of the African…
Read More »Click Here To View The Save The Date: Farm Camp Registration Opens January 31
Read More »IN CASE YOU MISSED IT 2022 If you've missed any of our History at Home programs, Montclair history articles, blogs we've posted, or additions to our digital collections, check out the complete list below! History at Home on YouTube The…
Read More »Personalized Historic Maps We’re offering replica maps from three different years: the 1906 Atlas of Essex County, 1926 tax map, and a 1934 Sanborn map. Great for long-time Montclair residents, new-in-town folks, or people who once called…
Read More »In 2018/2019, as part of Montclair’s 150th Anniversary, the Montclair History Center invited long-time Montclair residents to share their recollections of earlier times in Montclair. We hoped to interview 20-30 individuals. By the time we…
Read More »Tis the Season - Join us for Some Holiday Cheer this December! Join the Montclair History Center this December and celebrate the holiday season! The Crane House & Historic YWCA and our Museum Store will be open every weekend (dates and times…
Read More »Shop local with the Montclair History Center this Season Personalized Historic Maps We’re offering replica maps from three different years: the 1906 Atlas of Essex County, 1926 tax map, and a 1934 Sanborn map. Great for long-time Montclair…
Read More »Join the Montclair History Center this November as we recap the past year at our Annual Meeting (a virtual presentation). This month also features our Walk. Talk. Taste Upper Montclair history and food tasting tour and we continue our free and…
Read More »OUR SCHOOLS, OUR TOWN: A SHORT HISTORY OF THE MONTCLAIR MAGNET SCHOOL SYSTEM Thursday, October 27th at 12 pm & 7 pm Continuing our “Back to School” theme, Masiel Rodriquez-Vars joins us to discuss more recent history of the…
Read More »Join us this Saturday for a Guided Walking Tour of South Mountain Avenue Guided Walking Tour Of South Mountain Ave Saturday, September 24, 10 am to 12 pm A stroll along South Mountain is like walking through a dictionary of residential…
Read More »FALL HEIRLOOM BULB FUNDRAISER Orders Due this Tuesday, September 20. With a nod to our Dutch "Speertown" roots, we’ve got heirloom bulbs for your garden! These are the varieties you may have found in Montclair gardens back when our…
Read More »Does the name Angelica Diggs ring a bell? Angelica was on staff at the Montclair History Center from 2012-2019 and has returned to lead the organization as our new Executive Director. The MHC Board of Trustees and staff are delighted!…
Read More »Guided Walking Tour: Watchung Plaza Saturday, August 27TH From 10 AM - 12 PM Tickets are still available for our guided walking tour! In the early days of Montclair’s settlement, Watchung Avenue divided the Dutch farmlands of Speertown…
Read More »Our fall sale has begun! Now through September 20. With a nod to our Dutch "Speertown" roots, we’ve got heirloom bulbs for your garden! These are the varieties you may have found in Montclair gardens back when our houses were newly built,…
Read More »The Montclair History Center announces that Executive Director Jane Eliasof has taken a new position outside the museum world and will be stepping down at the end of May, 2022. When Jane began volunteering with us in 2008 it was clear that she…
Read More »Thanks to two solid days of rain, we have more plants than we usually do at the end of our sale. We're knocking down our prices in order to move the remaining stock into happy gardens. You can ORDER ONLINE HERE and we'll place your complete…
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