ROAD TRIP TO FARMVILLE

Heading to Farmville, Virginia, for the 125th Anniversary celebration? There’s a lot to see in the state where Tri Sigma all began. Here are just a few places you can visit to connect with our founders and other early members who were Significantly Sigma.

WOODSTOCK

Nestled in the upper Shenandoah Valley, Woodstock is known as the Heart Home of Tri Sigma, as both our National Headquarters and the family home of Mabel Lee Walton, our third National President, are located here.

After visiting NHQ, take a short walk down Muhlenberg Street to see Mabel’s childhood home, built by her father in 1885. Next, head to Main Street—once known as Lawyer's Row—where Mabel used a desk at her family’s law office to conduct Sigma work in the early years of her presidency.

At Main and Locust, you'll find historical marker A85 which honors Mabel and Tri Sigma. On your way out of town, pay your respects to Mabel and her sisters, Mary Beall Walton and Emily Walton Holloway—also initiates at the Gamma Chapter—at the Massanutten Cemetery. Emily's daughter was Mary Hastings Holloway Page, our fourth National President.

FARMVILLE

There are obviously several sights to see at Longwood University, home of our Alpha Chapter. On the north side of campus, at the intersection of Buffalo and High Street, you'll find historical marker I14 which highlights the Farmville Four.

Next, head to the Rotunda where, just inside the main entrance, you'll find bronze plaques of the coat of arms of all four sororities founded at Farmville. On your way out, touch the hand of the Joan of Arc sculpture—or "Joanie on the Stony" as she's known—for a little good luck (so we're told). As you head south on Brock Commons make note of the Upchurch Building on your left—it was named after Elsie Stossel Upchurch, a 1940 initiate at Alpha.

Keep walking south toward the library to find the Farmville Four Clock. Meet here at 1 p.m. on April 22, 2023, to celebrate our 125th anniversary!

OUTSIDE FARMVILLE

West of Farmville is the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park off Route 460. History buffs may know the McLean House as the place where Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant, but Sigma history buffs know it as the 1878 birthplace of founder Martha Trent Featherstone. As you head east to Richmond, stop at the Union Baptist Church on Genito Road in Amelia Court House to visit the grave of founder Lelia Scott at her family's cemetery.

CHARLOTTESVILLE

When driving through Charlottesville, stop for lunch at Michie Tavern, originally founded in 1784 by the great, great grandfather of founder Sallie Michie. Rumor has it the tavern is haunted—but don’t worry, it’s a friendly group of ghouls. Staff members have reported the sounds of a lively party coming from the ballroom late at night when no one is there. Sallie’s final resting place is the Emmanuel Episcopal Church Cemetery, a few miles west in Greenwood.

RICHMOND AREA

In Richmond, don’t miss the historic Jefferson Hotel, the site of our 1911 convention. Stop in for afternoon tea or take a peek at the beautiful interior. Nearby Ashland is home is home to Tri Sigma's newest chapter, Theta Mu– Randolph-Macon College, and is where both Natalie Lancaster and James Miller Leake grew up. Stroll down Railroad Avenue where they lived as children. Natalie is buried at the Woodland Cemetery on Hanover Avenue.

WILLIAMSBURG

If you’ve ever walked along Duke of Gloucester Street in this restored town, you’ve walked a path familiar to a few early Sigmas. Lucy Stubbs, the very first editor of The Triangle, grew up there before its restoration and is buried near Bassett Hall in a small family cemetery attached to the Benjamin Waller house. Founder Lucy Wright James grew up nearby and attended a one-room schoolhouse along Route 60, now home to the Hickory Neck Episcopal Church.