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 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 deeper exploration of Josephine’s life after emancipation — her negotiations, her leadership, and her enduring role in shaping a free and resilient community. Her story is one of determination, agency, and the creation of a place where families could build new futures.
Tickets $10 per adult
FREE for students (18 and under) and seniors (65+)