Sojourner Truth Comes to Life at Rockwell Museum

Sojourner Truth was an early civil activist. Debra Zuill will portray Truth at the Rockwell Museum.

It has been more than 125 years since Truth was laid to rest in Battle Creek, Mich., yet her voice can still be heard today. In honor of her legacy — and the legacy of many African-American historical heroes — the Norman Rockwell Museum will present "Ain't I a Woman: The Story of Sojourner Truth" on Saturday, Feb. 26, beginning at 5 p.m.

The presentation is part of the museum's "Witnessing History" performance series which began nearly eight years ago. Since then, said education curator Tom Daly, the series has given life to history and perspective to audiences.

"In many cases these characters are literally coming back from the dead," Daly said in a phone interview. "When we first found out that we were going to have the [Jerry] Pinkney exhibition, we thought 'how could we build this program here?' We had Harriet Tubman, she was a rock star. But Sojourner Truth wasn't as well known. But her story fits perfectly with what we are trying to do. She was part of that first wave of the Civil Rights movement. She was really fighting for human rights."

Actress Debra Zuill of Saugerties, N.Y., will play the role of Truth, a character she has become very close to over the years, playing her role most notably for the annual Stone House Day every July in Hurley, N.Y., near Truth's birthplace. Zuill's performance at the museum will be the first since her husband died last month. She said that, as always, the voice of Truth will find its way through her, no matter the circumstances.

"She has a very strong voice up through the ages," Zuill said. "The first time I did Sojourner Truth was when we needed a re-enactment for Stonehouse day. We set it up like an interview and I researched her life — I'm a history buff — and in researching I came up with her most famous speech. Then we changed it a little bit so that we would have people asking me questions and hecklers in the audience while I said my speech, just like it would've been for her. Well, our professional heckler wasn't wearing period clothes and after the performance he told me he thought that some people in the audience were going to kill him for what he was doing!"

U.S. stamp designed by Jerry Pinkney, whose work is being exhibited at the museum.

Fortunately, Zuill and her crew have worked out the heckling problem (he is now in period costume), but the experience, she said, is the same.
  

"The tie to Berkshire County history is so strong," he said. "Elizabeth Freeman's freedom was crafted in Sheffield. Here, we have an opportunity to highlight what people have done. That freedom was tremendous. Agrippa Hull, Samuel Harrison, Du Bois —  they would not be here without that cloak of freedom. Western Massachusetts was a safe haven. Out here, you had to rely on your neighbors if you wanted to survive. It didn't really matter what color they were."

 Zuill said she appreciates the power of Truth's story and those who have paved the way since.
  
"No one can forget Dr. King, or Frederick Douglass or JFK, or even our president now," she said. "He got the whole world saying 'yes we can.' When people see this performance I just hope they go away with a greater knowledge of this woman. I tell you, when somebody speaks her name I immediately go into character. Then, it's so hard for me to get out."

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.