Tuesday afternoon the Village of Ossining held a program at Duers Circle, the intersection located on the western side of the iconic double arch bridge. The small gathering was prompted by upgrades to improve pedestrian and driver safety, including two newly unveiled stop signs and ADA ramps at each crosswalk.

The program was much more than information about infrastructure upgrades. It was a changing of the guard in the role of Ossining Village Historian, and a presentation about the inspiring life of Reverend Henry E. Duers for whom the intersection is named. Henry Duers was born into slavery in North Carolina. He ran away and enlisted in the Union Army. As a Civil War veteran, he came to the Village of Sing Sing where, as Reverend Duers, he founded the Centennial Star of Bethlehem Colored Baptist Church. The granddaughter of Henry Duers and representatives from Star of Bethlehem Church attended the program. To maintain social distance attendance was limited.

Mayor Victoria Gearity opened the program with remarks of gratitude for Dana White’s service as Village Historian, and an announcement of her newly appointed successor, “Dana’s experience as a journalist inspired her storytelling approach to her service as Village Historian. It is rare that someone so treasured for her service has an opportunity to recommend a successor, and Ossining is fortunate that is the case here.

“With mixed emotions, I have accepted the resignation of our deeply beloved and admired Village Historian Dana White. And with great pleasure I announce the appointment of Joyce Sharrock Cole as our new Village Historian effective immediately.”

The position of Village Historian is appointed by the Mayor annually. Mayor Gearity appointed Dana White upon taking office in January of 2015, and has reappointed Ms. White annually to the position. Dana White is running unopposed for the position of Village Trustee. Ms. Sharrock Cole currently serves on the Village's Historic Preservation Commission and is the first African American to serve as Ossining’s Village Historian.

Ms. White thanked Mayor Gearity for what she described as the “life-changing opportunity to serve as Village Historian.” She went on to share some of her experiences in the role and her enthusiastic support of Ms. Sharrock Cole’s appointment, “I am most proud of highlighting the effect that the “Urban Renewal” movement of the 1970s had—and continues to have—on our downtown. The short film “Historic Downtown Ossining” that I produced has more than 11,000 views on YouTube.

“I also enjoyed sharing the influence Sing Sing Prison had on our village’s growth in the 19 th century, on our image in the world, and even on our village name. I really liked making history fun again, with trivia nights and image-driven presentations about our ever-changing landscape. I learned a tremendous amount in the process, and now, as Village Trustee, hope to apply that knowledge to elected office.

“I have long admired Joyce’s work with the Little Bertie County Genealogy Society. As I got to know her better, and collaborated with her on recent projects, I realized she was just the person we need to bring a fresh energy and perspective to local history, one that feels relevant and current. History is happening now, and Joyce is ready to document it. Her researching ability has helped many people learn about their past and affirm their identities, and I’m excited to see how she applies that talent to the village at large.”

Dana White passed the baton to Joyce Sharrock Cole. Before embarking on a fascinating account of the contributions of Reverend Henry E. Duers, Ms. Sharrock Cole offered thoughts on her vision for serving as Village Historian, “It is an honor to be appointed in a position that allows me to share my passion for research and sharing local history with my community. This position will afford me the opportunity to highlight the untold histories and contributions of the early minorities of Ossining, as well as capturing, documenting and preserving the same for residents who immigrated/migrated more recently.

“I look forward to collaborating with the community to capture and preserve our unique experiences while navigating through these unprecedented times and cultivating an environment of accessibility and openness to our historical records for review by our community and students.”