What happened when one of Leesburg’s earliest families pulled up the stakes and moved on? Not everyone who bought one of the first plots when Leesburg was platted in the 1700s built their “forever home.” The William Foulks family left for the Pennsylvania frontier; a land forbidden to American settlers at the time. They paid dearly for their decision. Diane will share the story of William and Ann Foulks and their children, including Leesburg-born George and Elizabeth.

Diane Helentjaris, a Leesburg author and photographer, writes frequently for regional publications. Her historical novel, The Indenture of Ivy O’Neill, published in 2022, was nominated for the National Library Association’s Alex Award. She is currently completing a biography of Wild West horsewoman Lulu Bell Parr. Diane received her BA Cum Laude in Interdisciplinary Humanities and Medical Doctor degree from Michigan State University and a master’s in public health from the University of Michigan. A native of Dayton, Ohio, Diane has lived in Leesburg with her family for over thirty years.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please call 703-737-7195, email balchlib@leesburgva.gov or register online https://tinyurl.com/TBLEvents