“Guiding Hands, Shared Histories: Women Who Shaped Our Communities” is the first of a three-part series – “The Ties That Bind: Women Who Bridged Two Worlds” – hosted by the Clermont Foundation and the Josephine School Community Museum. (Other programs are on July 18 and Aug. 29.)

Today’s program highlights extraordinary women who shaped the history of both locations. Their stories illuminate leadership, resilience, and the evolution of women’s roles across the 19th and 20th centuries.

Program begins at 1:30 p.m. at Clermont Farm (151 Clermont Lane, Berryville). Then, visitors drive approximately 1.5 miles to the Josephine School Community Museum (303 Josephine St., Berryville).

At the farm, the focus is its history with emphasis on the women who owned it. Ellen Jett McCormick owned the farm after the Civil War and her husband’s death. She was concerned with land management and stewardship. In the late 20th century, her great-granddaughter Elizabeth Rust Williams followed in Ellen’s footsteps. A trailblazing attorney and first female judge in the 26th Circuit, Ms. Williams advocated for the preservation of the 362-acre farm, ensuring Clermont’s permanent protection through one of Virginia’s largest heritage gifts.

At the museum, the focus is on Rosetta Clay, who was a lifelong resident of Josephine City. Her legacy includes the creation of the Black history museum she championed. In the 1990s, Ms. Clay was part of the small grassroots movement determined to turn the circa 1882 Josephine City School into a Black history museum. She worked tirelessly raising funds, asking for memorabilia, and working with local government to make the museum a reality.

When: May 16, 2026
Time: 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Where: Clermont Farm Foundation & The Josephine School Community Museum
Tickets: $10 per adult; FREE for students 18 and younger and seniors 65 and older.

Don't miss this opportunity to connect with history and see what’s happening at Clermont! Tag your friends and plan your visit today!