Dolores Elder, keeper of the history of Occoquan, retires

OCCOQUAN — About 20 years ago, Dolores Elder heard someone say nothing noteworthy ever happened in Occoquan.

She was working at the manager of the tourist information center that once sat on Mill Street in the tiny riverside town. It was a statement she didn’t quite believe.

“I heard fellow employees tell people nothing ever happened here when they were questioned about Occoquan history.  That was probably the first step in the journey,” said Elder. “As I researched and learned more about the town’s history, I approached the board of the historical society and offered to do a newsletter that basically was filled with history but included current happenings.”

Of course, there is a lot of history in the tiny town. It was home to multiple mills, which included iron forges, grist and cotton mills. It was also the site of an old toll bridge on the main road between Washington, D.C., and Richmond in the late 18th century.

After 22 years of working in the town — the last six of them as curator of the Mill House Museum — she has decided to retire. It’s a job she’s going to miss.

“Telling the story of the people that have shaped Occoquan over the centuries has to be the most full filling part of this experience,” said Elder. “I always say at the museum we aren’t telling the story of the objects in the collection but the people that owned those items.”

Through her research about the region, alongside the Prince William Historical Society, she’s also enjoyed helping residents learn more about their stories.

“People today are no different than those who preceded us.   We all strive to improve the quality of life for our families and community,” said Elder. “Being able to help people find out about their own family stories has been very rewarding. Watching children’s eyes light up when they understand something.”

During her tenure, she helped to make a Civil War-era discovery.

“It was exciting to be along with the group from the Prince William County Historical Commission when they discovered Selecman’s Ford.  This rocky ford was where on December 28, 1862, Major John Pelham’s horse artillery crossed the Occoquan River and pursued the Union soldiers into Fairfax.  The ford was used extensively during the Civil War,” said Elder.

The thought of bringing people to the river to gaze at the water and town, and to read the many historical markers situated along with the shoreline sit high on her list of accomplishments.

“You see them talk among themselves and point out along the water, knowing they are talking about the town history,  we did something good sharing our story through our historical markers,” she said.

Whenever someone that had lived in town in previous years would visit the Mill House Museum, she encouraged them to write down their memories. “Those memories fill in the story of daily life that a written formal history often doesn’t include,” said.

Elder has credited a host of others in the town, especially contributors to her historical newsletter, June Randolph, Martha Roberts, Lorraine Musselman, and Town Mayor Earnie Porta.

“She is irreplaceable and will be sorely missed,” said Porta.

Elder said that, in retirement, she will spend more time with her husband, Gary, and their family. She plans to volunteer at church, sew baby bonnets for the Angel Babies charity, and ride her bike along the river.

Occoquan is located on the banks of the Occoquan River, at the intersection of Route 123 and Commerce Street in Prince William County.

Photo: Occoquan Town Mayor Earnie Porta and Dolores Elder.