Joyce Sharrock Cole was appointed to the position of Ossining Village Historian, the afternoon of Tuesday, July 21, 2020, in a small event at Duer’s Circle, the newly upgraded intersection on the west side of Ossining’s historic double arch.
She is the first African American to hold the position. Former historian Dana White resigned to run for a seat on the village Board of Trustees.
“Today was an AWESOME day,” Ossining resident Kemi Pogue shared with Black Westchester, shortly after the appointment. “Shout out to our new Ossining Village Historian Joyce Sharrock Cole! The first African American in this role! Thank you, Dana White, for passing the torch!
Sharrock Cole currently serves on the Village’s Historic Preservation Commission and is the first African-American to serve as Ossining’s 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,” Sharrock Cole shared with Black Westchester. “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.”
The small gathering took place at Duers Corner to highlight recent upgrades to improve pedestrian and driver safety, including two newly unveiled stop signs and ADA ramps at each crosswalk, and to tell the story of its name.
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.
In 1919, the New York State legislature passed a law requiring municipalities to appoint a municipal historian. These historians form a network of people charged with preserving the history of their communities. It is the most extensive network in the country.
Joyce Sharrock Cole is a historian, genealogist, writer, curator, and emerging playwright who serves as the appointed Village Historian for the Village of Ossining. Since beginning her public history work in 2017, she has focused on uncovering and sharing the often-overlooked stories that shape our community’s identity.
She is the author of Captured Legacy: Uncovering the Untold Stories of Ossining’s Black Community and the curator of the award-winning Black History & Culture exhibit at Bethany Arts Community. Her creative work also includes historically based plays that use theater to deepen public understanding of local history.
She is the co-founder of the Little Bertie County Genealogical Society of Ossining and the Ossining Juneteenth Council. She serves on the boards of the Westchester County Historical Society, Westchester County African-American Advisory Board, Bethany Arts Community, Historic Hudson Valley’s African American Advisory Board, and the Historic Jug Tavern.
Her work has earned recognition from the New York State Governor, U.S. Congress, and other state and local institutions for her contributions to community memory, historical research, and cultural preservation.
Black Westchester salutes Joyce Sharrock Cole for making history and congratulates her as the new Ossining Village Historian.
Excerpt from the book, “Black Westchester Celebrates Black Women Of Westchester,” available on Amazon or email BlackWestchesterMag@gmail.com to purchase your autographed copies.
