Occoquan to sport a new town seal

Press Release
Published: May 30, 2008

The Occoquan Town Council recently voted to adopt a new color town seal.

Drawing heavily from the town’s existing black and white seal, the new color version features an American Indian standing on a rock outcropping framed by a waterfall and blue sky.

A black-framed border includes the text “Historic Occoquan Virginia 1734.”

“Occoquan has traditionally used a very similar black and white seal on official correspondence,” said Occoquan Mayor Earnie Porta, “but during the past year we have had a number of requests for a color version to meet a variety of needs.”

To address those requests, the town turned to its community of local artists for professional assistance.

David and Jane Ernst of the Artists’ Undertaking Gallery at 309 Mill Street in Occoquan submitted two designs to the town council.

“Both Jane and I were honored to have one of our depictions of the town seal chosen by the Occoquan Town Council,” said David Ernst. “We have been associated with the Artists’ Undertaking Gallery for several years and the community of Occoquan is near and dear to us”

The prominence of an American Indian in the town seal is a tribute to the inhabitants of the sizeable Indian town of Tauxenent, believed to have existed nearby at the time of Captain John Smith’s exploration of the area in 1608.

Occoquan’s name is derived from a Dogue Indian word thought to mean “at the end of the water.”

Although the town was not formally incorporated until 1804, the date of 1734 on the seal reflects Occoquan’s first known appearance in public records, at the time as the location of public tobacco warehouses.

Occoquan’s new seal may be viewed by visiting the town’s web site at http://www.occoquan.org