Veronan’s Preservation Of Black History Recognized

Last year, after many years of planning, the Montclair Historical Society unveiled the renovation of an historic home to highlight the history of blacks in Montclair. That project was led by Jane Eliasof, a Verona resident who is the executive director of the Montclair Historical Society.

This weekend, The New York Times has a story about Eliasof’s work, and how it stands in sharp contrast to the struggle to preserve another New Jersey home that is important to black history. In Montclair, part of the Israel Crane House now reflects the way it looked when it was home to a YWCA that was a boarding house and social center for black women in the early 20th century.

Eliasof told the Times that since the home reopened for tours last October, “it’s not uncommon to sit for 10 minutes or more with a group as we talk about race relations, inequalities and the role of women in the civil rights movement.”

You can read the full story in the Times here.