Bring Black Inventors Hall Of Fame To West Orange, Ex-Official Says

WEST ORANGE, NJ — It’s time to bring the Black Inventors Hall of Fame Museum to West Orange, a former councilwoman says.

Tammy Williams recently put out a call to launch a “new chapter” for the proposed site of the museum: the Mayfair Farms property (read her op-ed below).

Mayfair Farms, a popular local event venue, closed in 2022 after 80 years of hosting weddings and other gatherings. There is now a plan to open a new location for the Black Inventors Hall of Fame (BIHOF) museum on a portion of the property at 481 Eagle Rock Avenue.

Legal counsel for the BIHOF noted in June 2024 that the project requires negotiations with the owner of Mayfair Farms, a rezoning of the property for the proposed use by the township council, along with a subdivision of the property and a site plan approval from the West Orange Planning Board.

Howard said the museum is scheduled to open in late 2027, Inventors Digest reported earlier this year.

“We plan to restore the Mayfair while constructing a connecting five-story annex to house the majority of our collections,” Howard said, adding that the facility will also feature a 250-seat auditorium theater, a banquet room, a community room and a film studio.

Williams, a former town council president, has been among those lending their support to the effort.

In February, Williams reported that the BIHOF museum is under contract to purchase the property at Mayfair Farms.

Last week, Williams released the first part in a series of op-eds in support of the proposed museum. She wrote:

“West Orange is a town rich in history, innovation, and resilience. As the longtime home of Thomas Edison, our township proudly claims the legacy of invention that helped shape the modern world. Today, we stand on the threshold of a new chapter—one that builds on that legacy while correcting the gaps in our historical narrative. The proposed Black Inventors Hall of Fame Museum, to be located at the former Mayfair Farms site, represents an unprecedented opportunity to reimagine a dormant property as a beacon of inspiration, learning, and economic activity.

“For decades, Mayfair Farms was a place where families gathered, weddings were celebrated, and memories were made. Yet, since its closure, it has remained shuttered—a silent space in a town full of potential. Rather than allowing it to fall further into disrepair or be lost to low-rise development, we are proposing to breathe new life into this historic site through a visionary cultural project that honors Black ingenuity and innovation. This project doesn’t erase the past—it elevates it.

“The Black Inventors Hall of Fame Museum will serve as a living tribute to the more than 400 Black inventors whose groundbreaking contributions have helped shape every aspect of American life—from traffic lights to agricultural tools, from surgical instruments to telecommunications. Too often, their stories have been left out of mainstream education and public consciousness. We believe that West Orange, the “Home of Invention,” is the ideal place to correct that omission.

“Why here, and why now? Because West Orange deserves more than empty buildings and abandoned opportunities. The town deserves investment that honors its heritage and uplifts its diverse community. The Museum’s design respects the architectural integrity of the Mayfair Farms site while transforming it into a 21st-century space for cultural engagement, economic growth, and community pride.

“We envision a place where schoolchildren can take field trips to learn about inventors who look like them. A place where families can experience interactive exhibits and discover the long-buried brilliance of innovators whose genius changed the world. A place that attracts scholars, educators, and tourists alike. This is not just about what was—it’s about what’s next.

“The plan includes not only exhibition space, but a STEM Learning Center to engage youth in science, technology, engineering, and math through hands-on education. We aim to create a dynamic environment that both educates and empowers—because the future of invention should be accessible to every child, not just those born into privilege.

“This project is deeply personal to me, but it is also bigger than any one person or group. It is a reflection of what West Orange can be when we lean into our strengths: our history, our diversity, and our spirit of reinvention. The Mayfair Farms property has been waiting for a purpose as powerful as the one we’re proposing. Let’s not miss this opportunity.

“As we launch this four-part op-ed series, I invite the residents of West Orange to learn more, to ask questions, and to imagine with us. Over the next few weeks, I will outline the educational, economic, and cultural benefits of this historic project—and why it belongs right here in West Orange.

“Because this isn’t just about a building. It’s about building something lasting.”

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