South end of Berryville along South Church Street and intersection with Josephine Street, Berryville, Virginia 22611; 39.14491 N, 77.98545 W
Directions from Courthouse to Site 7:
- Continue along Josephine Stuntil you reach the cul-de-sac at the end
- Head south on Church St for 0.5 mile
- Turn left onto Josephine St
- This begins Josephine City
A 12 October 1870 article in the Clarke Courier described Josephine City:
“About 31 acres of land belonging to the estate of Major Edward McCormick, dec’d, adjoining the toll gate on the Millwood and Berryville turnpike, was put up for public sale a few weeks ago, and ‘knocked off’ to Robert Hall, (colored) at $100.01 per acre. Robert represents some thirty-three colored families, as he informs us…”
These 31 acres were the plot of land owned by Ellen McCormick. A plot of adjacent land owned by Ellen McCormick of Clermont later became Josephine City.
A “map of Josephine City” was drawn up and recorded with the deed. The plat depicts the arrangement of fifteen lots on either side of a central road named Josephine Street. Lot purchasers are identified on the map. Notably, one Josephine Williams is recorded as owning Lots 1 and 2 on the north side of the street. It is generally assumed the community was named after her, although it is unclear as to why. Regardless, Josephine City is the only settlement in the county named after a woman.
“About 31 acres of land belonging to the estate of Major Edward McCormick, dec’d, adjoining the toll gate on the Millwood and Berryville turnpike, was put up for public sale a few weeks ago, and ‘knocked off’ to Robert Hall, (colored) at $100.01 per acre. Robert represents some thirty-three colored families, as he informs us…”
These 31 acres were the plot of land owned by Ellen McCormick. A plot of adjacent land owned by Ellen McCormick of Clermont later became Josephine City.
A “map of Josephine City” was drawn up and recorded with the deed. The plat depicts the arrangement of fifteen lots on either side of a central road named Josephine Street. Lot purchasers are identified on the map. Notably, one Josephine Williams is recorded as owning Lots 1 and 2 on the north side of the street. It is generally assumed the community was named after her, although it is unclear as to why. Regardless, Josephine City is the only settlement in the county named after a woman.
The community remains a center of African American history and life in the county and hosts 7a Zion Baptist Church (c. 1880), 7b Milton Valley Cemetery, 7c the Josephine School (1882), and the 7d Clarke County Training School (1930). Locally famous resident and caterer Geneva Jackson still lives on Josephine Street. In 2019, she was honored at SVBHP’s program, Honoring Shenandoah Valley Soul Food History and Chefs.
A Virginia Historical Highway marker for educator and Berryville native Lucy Diggs Slowe, can be found along Josephine Street near Milton Valley Cemetery. Another marker near the junction of Josephine and Church streets provides a description of Josephine City, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
A Virginia Historical Highway marker for educator and Berryville native Lucy Diggs Slowe, can be found along Josephine Street near Milton Valley Cemetery. Another marker near the junction of Josephine and Church streets provides a description of Josephine City, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.