SJM's Kramer Manor Oral History Project

The Kramer Manor neighborhood of Scotch Plains and Fanwood was established in the first half of the 20th Century as a Black neighborhood. It grew and thrived despite obstacles presented by refusal of federal funding for mortgages, the deprivations of the Great Depression, a World War, and systemic racism to become the multicultural community we know today.

With partial funding from a Union County HEART grant to Social Justice Matters, and additional funding from SJM, community residents, past and present, have combined forces and expertise to conduct oral interviews of a dozen long-time residents and to provide historical context to their fascinating stories.

Kramer Manor Project Update and Invitation

The members of the SIM-sponsored project, The History of Kramer Manor: A Twentieth Century Black Community invite you to an 8:30 pm showing of a short film about Kramer Manor be at the Kramer Manor Block Party, September 18th. We will also have a table you can visit to learn more about the project and to pick up your very own copy of the keepsake ad journal which includes the historic narrative written by our team with the invaluable contributions of Kramer Manor residents, past and present.
Location: Trenton Avenue, Fanwood.
The block party begins at 3 pm and the movie will be shown at 8:30 pm.


We would be honored and happy if you could attend.

The Project Team:
Pamela Brooks
Pamela Brownstein
Kevin Eldridge
Derek Garrett
Jill Jackson-Jones
Douglas Layne

This history program is made possible in part by a 2021 HEART (History, Education, Arts Reaching Thousands) Grant from the Union County Board of County Commissioners.