Montclair History Center

NJ TRANSIT has just released a new interactive map that allows you to visit more than 150 Revolutionary War places by bus or rail!

Jersey Journeys offers the option for you to select a train, light rail line or bus to see what piece of history you can explore on that line. It is a great way to explore the states best historical spots to celebrate our 250th! Link to the website is in the first comment!

This Montclair High School 1866 to 1896 school registry lists attendance and withdrawal of students, including the Crane Family of the Crane House & Historic YWCA Museum on Orange Road! Some surprising facts are revealed. Did you know James Crane's occupation was listed as "gentleman?" Did you know his daughter Phebe Crane had to withdraw from school due to a persistent sickness? Did you know that attendance was graded with a complicated score system?

New material about the Crane family is rare to come across, so it's really exciting to find this! Thank you to our Montclair High School intern Sawyer Silberman for bringing this to our attention.

Today is June 5th, and in it is the anniversary of the riot and subsequent mass protests at Fort Dix outside of Trenton during the height of the Vietnam War in 1969.

In Fort Dix, 747 soldiers were held in a stockade, or military prison, and the vast majority of them were accused of going AWOL. Soldiers were overcrowded, starved, physically hurt, and forced to give confessions, true or not. Soldiers spoke of the cruelty and racism of their prison guards. On the day of the riot, prisoners were forced to stand in the sun for hours; and when it was over, they were returned back to their cells without water for the rest of the day. The tension reached a breaking point and over 250 soldiers began to riot. Later, they would call it a rebellion.

38 soldiers at Fort Dix were specifically blamed for the day's events and were placed in solitary confinement for months, in cells that were only 8 by 6 by 4 feet. They did not receive trials and many of them were starved, losing up to 60 pounds by the time of their release.

News of the rebellion and subsequent confinement of the 38 reached the general public, becoming a cause for the anti-war movement. Between 4,000 and 10,000 individuals marched on Fort Dix demanding the release of the "Fort Dix 38." This included such disparate groups as The Black Panther Party, the Catholic Peace Fellowship, the Medical Committee for Human Rights, and even a battalion of Quakers from Philadelphia. Fort Dix staff responded to the march by using tear gas and threatening them with bayonets.

The military had little evidence to convict most of the 38; only five soldiers faced a formal general court martial. These five had all made political statements against the Vietnam War. Two were acquitted; the other three were sentenced to hard labor for a number of years.

Do you remember the Fort Dix 38?



Image 1: David Fenton
Image 2: Shakedown, Oct. 17 1969 Issue

Montclair trivia…
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Check this out!

Step Inside Newark History at the Historic Forest Hill House & Garden Tour! 🌿🎬

The Forest Hill Community Association is bringing back its beloved Historic Forest Hill House & Garden Tour on Saturday, June 6 from 11 AM – 4 PM in Newark’s North Ward.

Explore 12 remarkable stops featuring stunning historic homes, beautiful gardens, and even a house of worship connected to the late 19th-century abolitionist movement. Several featured homes have appeared in films, television productions, and commercials — including The Whisper Man, American Sports Story: Gladiator, Rob Peace, and more. One property even served as a compound for Newark’s most famous opera singer.

The self-guided walking tour begins at the Ballantine Gates at Lake Street and Ballantine Parkway. Visitors can stroll at their own pace or ride the free Essex County trolley between stops.

🎟 Advance tickets are $35
☔ Rain or shine event
🕚 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Come experience one of Newark’s architectural treasures and celebrate the rich history, culture, and character of the Forest Hill neighborhood!

The Montclair History Center and Aging in Montclair have teamed up to present two live interview events where longtime residents share their stories and the impact they've had on the Montclair community.

Join us June 11th at JAZZ HOUSE KiDS. This event is free and made possible by Partners for Health Foundation. This event is offered in person or through zoom. Registration required in advance, available here: https://events.humanitix.com/everyone-has-a-story-with-mhc-and-aim-june-2026

About Melsissa Walker
Over the past two decades, Melissa Walker has led transformative change in arts education as Founder and President of JAZZ HOUSE KiDS, building the organization into a nationally acclaimed institution serving tens of thousands of students through world-class education and performance. A GRAMMY Award-winning jazz vocalist and graduate of Brown University, she has been recognized as one of NJBiz’s Best 50 Women in Business and received honors including the Jazz Journalists Association’s Jazz Hero Award, the Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award, and the 92nd Street Y’s Extraordinary Women Award. Walker also serves as Executive Producer of the award-winning Montclair Jazz Festival, the largest free jazz festival in the NYC area.

About Our Interviewer
After retiring from the diplomatic service, Nancy LeRoy resumed her acting career in film and theater in Washington, DC and New York City. She moved to Montclair to be near her children and grandchildren.

Everyone Has A Story with MHC and AIM June 2026 Get tickets on Humanitix - Everyone Has A Story with MHC and AIM June 2026. Jazz House Annex (Main entrance is through the rear parking lot on North Willow near Bloomfield Avenue), 347 Bloomfield Ave, Montclair, NJ 07042, USA. Thursday June 11th 2026. Find event information.

To celebrate the end of Asian American & Pacific Islander month we have a new blog post written by artist and local Ela Shah! Ela shares her experience of the AAPI community in Montclair from her time moving here to now, and how it has affected her. Additionally, see two new pieces of art from Ela and see how they are inspired by this community.

Check it out here: https://www.montclairhistory.org/new-blog/elashahaapi

And, listen to Ela's oral history interview here: https://montclairhistory.catalogaccess.com/archives/16051

A wonderful visit with Assemblywoman Collazos-Gill earlier this week! Thank you for all your support of local history and the Montclair community.

The Montclair History Center is thrilled to announce that Executive Director Angelica Diggs has been accepted as one of nineteen fellows from across the country to participate in the American Association for State and Local History’s History Leadership Institute Seminar.

For more than six decades, the History Leadership Institute has helped strengthen the leadership capacity of the history field by bringing together practitioners from museums, historical societies, historic sites, and related organizations across the country.

This year’s cohort will gather for an intensive two-week seminar in June led by HLI Seminar director Andrea Jones and hosted by the Minnesota Historical Society. Fellows will explore major issues facing history organizations today, build relationships with peers from across the field, and develop the skills, perspective, and confidence needed to lead in a rapidly changing environment.

This opportunity is possible with the support of generous donations to the Making History Matter Campaign, Denny O’Toole Scholarship, and Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko Scholarship.

Learn more about the program online here and meet the other fellows at https://aaslh.org/meet-the-2026-history-leadership-institute-seminar-fellows/.

Join us this upcoming Saturday for our Historic Pine Street walking tour! We’ll explore its architectural gems, uncover fascinating historical facts, and share lively anecdotes. Contributions from residents and those familiar with the area are warmly welcomed! This historic district tells the rich story of Montclair’s Italian immigrant community, its residents, and local businesses. The tour includes a special treat from Nicolo’s Bakery and a coffee tasting at Java Love. Led by Director Angelica Diggs and Board of Trustee Donato DiGeronimo. Total walking distance is approximately 1 mile.

Tickets are $20/person. $15/person for Members (contact our office for the coupon code) Tickets are required in advance. Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/historic-pine-street-waking-tour-may-16th-at-11-am