The Shadow
A historical presentation of “The ‘Ghany Girls: Alleghany Women Who Changed the Highlands and Beyond” will be held at the Alleghany Highlands Regional Library on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
Local historian Anne L. Wright will present biographical sketches of three women who lived in the Alleghany Highlands and made significant contributions in our area and others. Wright will discuss the lives of “Mad” Anne Bailey, Anne Royall, and Helen Leitch.
“Mad” Anne Bailey lived above the Falling Springs falls for several years. It was during this time that her husband was killed by Native Americans in the Battle of Point Pleasant. This motivated Bailey to seek revenge, leaving her child with a local woman and embarking on a lifelong quest that went beyond the bounds of convention.
Anne Royall was another local woman who defied convention, becoming a newspaper writer and publisher after her husband died, leaving her virtually penniless.
Convicted as “a common scold,” a nickname that remains linked to her name today, Royall scandalized many with her bold speech and manner.
Helen Leitch became librarian at the Charles P. Jones Memorial Library in 1933 and served the community for almost 40 years.
Leitch starting her career in one room of the Parrish Building on Maple Avenue. She oversaw the library’s transition to the lower level of the Jeter School on Locust Street, and then its final move to Riverside Street.
There is no registration necessary to attend the presentation. Light refreshments will be served at the conclusion.
For more information about this program or other activities, contact the staff at 962-3321 or stop by the Alleghany Highland Re-gional Library at 406 W. Riverside St.
Programs and other activities may be accessed on the AHRL website at www.ahrlib.org or by visiting the library’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
