As if you didn’t think there were enough new schools popping up in and around Leesburg, there will be a new elementary school in September of next year. But this one will have a bit of history behind it. Frederick Douglass Elementary School was built in 1958 as a segregated school for the African-American community. Although the Brown vs. Board of Education case ruled “separate but equal” unconstitutional in 1954, Frederick Douglass Elementary was built specifically as a segregated school. The new school is a response to demand for a new school caused by a growing population; locating it on …

Can you imagine a time when people couldn’t go to school with each other due to the color of their skin? It may be hard to believe but just over 50 years ago, this was just daily life. Two days ago marked a historic day when the Virginia Supreme Court ruled massive resistance unconstitutional marking, the start of desegregation in Arlington and Norfolk counties. Feb. 2, 1959 was just the beginning of a huge battle of desegregation and civil rights. Virginia schools didn’t integrate after the Brown vs. Board of Education in 1954, which was for many states, the start of integration. But, …

When you think of dueling, you probably remember scenes from a William Shakespeare play or something funny in a movie. But dueling is a form of social battle, mostly fought between two gentlemen of high social standing defending their honor. The practice began in the 11th century. In between the 11th and 20th centuries it was illegal in most countries, although still performed. Some duels ended in death, but many were just a small blip in the legislative process, and many performing them weren’t convicted of the illegal practice  On Jan. 26, 1810, the Virginia General Assembly passed laws …