The Path Between Two Worlds: The Life of Josephine Williams
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1:30–3 p.m. • Saturday, July 18
Part Two of the Summer Series: The Ties That Bind – Women Who Bridged Two Worlds
Presented by the Clermont Foundation & the Josephine School Community Museum
This second program in our shared three-part series turns to one of the most profound stories connecting Clermont and Josephine City: the intertwined lives of farm owner Ellen Jett McCormick and Josephine, the formerly enslaved woman whose journey from bondage to landownership helped establish a thriving Black community in Clarke County.
About the Program
The afternoon begins at 1:30 p.m. at Clermont Farm (151 Clermont Lane, Berryville). Afterward, visitors will make the short 1.5-mile drive to the Josephine School Community Museum (303 Josephine St., Berryville).
At Clermont
We look closely at the life of Ellen Jett McCormick, who inherited Clermont and adjoining properties following her husband's death in 1870. During this time, she also held Josephine and other African Americans in enslavement.
As financial pressures mounted, Ellen was compelled to sell parcels of land — a moment that opened a path for transformation. Josephine, now a free woman, negotiated the purchase of property that became the foundation for a new Black community, later known as Josephine City.
At the Josephine School Community Museum
The program continues with a 40-minute guided discussion exploring life after emancipation in Clarke County and the broader Shenandoah Valley. Through discussion and historical context, participants will examine the opportunities, challenges, and community-building efforts that shaped the lives of formerly enslaved individuals and their descendants during the Reconstruction era and beyond.
Tickets
$10 per adult
FREE for students (18 and under) and seniors (65+)
Tickets may be purchased at Clermont Farm or through our ticket link.
This program is presented in partnership with VA250, Virginia's participation in the national commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Learn more at: https://va250.org
Contact Information
Clermont: (540) 955-0102 • [email protected]
Josephine School Community Museum: (540) 955-5512 • [email protected]
Part Two of the Summer Series: The Ties That Bind – Women Who Bridged Two Worlds
Presented by the Clermont Foundation & the Josephine School Community Museum
This second program in our shared three-part series turns to one of the most profound stories connecting Clermont and Josephine City: the intertwined lives of farm owner Ellen Jett McCormick and Josephine, the formerly enslaved woman whose journey from bondage to landownership helped establish a thriving Black community in Clarke County.
About the Program
The afternoon begins at 1:30 p.m. at Clermont Farm (151 Clermont Lane, Berryville). Afterward, visitors will make the short 1.5-mile drive to the Josephine School Community Museum (303 Josephine St., Berryville).
At Clermont
We look closely at the life of Ellen Jett McCormick, who inherited Clermont and adjoining properties following her husband's death in 1870. During this time, she also held Josephine and other African Americans in enslavement.
As financial pressures mounted, Ellen was compelled to sell parcels of land — a moment that opened a path for transformation. Josephine, now a free woman, negotiated the purchase of property that became the foundation for a new Black community, later known as Josephine City.
At the Josephine School Community Museum
The program continues with a 40-minute guided discussion exploring life after emancipation in Clarke County and the broader Shenandoah Valley. Through discussion and historical context, participants will examine the opportunities, challenges, and community-building efforts that shaped the lives of formerly enslaved individuals and their descendants during the Reconstruction era and beyond.
Tickets
$10 per adult
FREE for students (18 and under) and seniors (65+)
Tickets may be purchased at Clermont Farm or through our ticket link.
This program is presented in partnership with VA250, Virginia's participation in the national commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Learn more at: https://va250.org
Contact Information
Clermont: (540) 955-0102 • [email protected]
Josephine School Community Museum: (540) 955-5512 • [email protected]
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Where is it happening?
151 Clermont Lane, Berryville, VA, United States, Virginia 22611
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherClermont Farm Foundation
