Berryville in Clarke County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
The Schools of Josephine City
Photographed by Craig Swain, July 15, 2007
1. The Schools of Josephine City Marker
In 1882, the former slaves and free colored people of this community built the Josephine City School to provide their children with a grade school education. Under the leadership of Rev. Edward Johnson, a new building was completed in 1930 to provide high school education for Negro students and was called the Clarke County Training School. It was named the W.T.B. Williams Training School in 1944 to honor a Clarke County native who served as Dean of Tuskegee Institute. From 1949 to 1966, the school was known as Johnson-Williams High School. After the integration of public schools, it became the Johnson-Williams Intermediate School and served students of all races from 1966 until it was closed in 1987. The high school building was converted into apartments for older persons in 1992. The original Josephine City School is on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2003 it became the first museum devoted to the history of Clarke Countys African-American community.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1882.
Location. 39° 8.524′ N, 77° 58.79′ W. Marker is in Berryville, Virginia, in Clarke County. It can be reached from Josephine Street, on the right. Located on
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Northern Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Milton Valley Cemetery (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lucy Diggs Slowe (about 400 feet away); Josephine City (approx. 0.3 miles away); Berryville (approx. half a mile away); Benjamin Berry (approx. 0.6 miles away); a different marker also named Berryville (approx. 0.6 miles away); Stewardship & Conservation (approx. 0.6 miles away); Josephine School Community Museum & The African-American Experience (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Berryville.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Josephine City (was approx. 0.3 miles away but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it).
Also see . . . Josephine School Community Museum. Museum website homepage (Submitted on July 21, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Photographed by Craig Swain, July 15, 2007
2. The Josephine School Community Museum
The marker stands on the parking lot side (left side of the picture) of the museum.
Photographed by Craig Swain, July 15, 2007
3. Entrance to the Museum from Josephine Street
The Johnson-Williams High School buildings stand in the background.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 2, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 21, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,850 times since then and 21 times this year. Last updated on February 18, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 21, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.
