Tombstone Tales from the Cemeteries of Mifflin County
Tombstone Tales from the Cemeteries of Mifflin County

Author: Forest K. Fisher

Publisher:

Published: 2016

Total Pages: 61

ISBN-13: 9780976343387

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All too often, a cemetery visit is prompted by the immediate passing of a friend or relative, which, let's face it, is the way of things. We don't readily connect these burial places as a space that can tell a tale. Mifflin County Historical Society author, Forest K. Fisher, asserts that cemeteries can do just that. Tombstone Tales from the Cemeteries of Mifflin County sheds some light on individuals who lived and died, yet above all, who left a story from which we can glean a bit of county history. Through the resources of the historical society archives, Fisher gained background for each story, and many were part of the history curriculum he taught locally for over 30 years. One particular story he knows first-hand, that of his late mother, Mifflin County artist Anne Kepler Fisher.This, his ninth book detailing local history from a central Pennsylvania county founded in 1789, the author visits seven Mifflin County cemeteries in the 62-page all color publication as he traces the impact of individuals buried there. Thirteen individuals are featured. Discover Mifflin County's first pioneer woman, the "Daniel Boone" of Mifflin County, a Civil War general buried in a cannon, the only man executed in Mifflin County, the doctor who died at the Alamo, the only county woman awarded the Bronze Star during WWII, the tragic short life of a ill-fated child, the minister and his exhumed remains returned during a perilous journey, the daughter and a grandson of signers of the Declaration of Independence, the county's first pediatrician, the artist who painted the Amish and the purported relative of Edgar Allan Poe.The story of Mifflin County can be told in many diverse ways. Tombstone Tales from the Cemeteries of Mifflin County represents local history through the lives of the departed. Visit a local cemetery, checkout the tombstones and take a walk through history.

For Just a Penny
For Just a Penny

Author: Forest Fisher

Publisher:

Published: 2018-09-16

Total Pages: 133

ISBN-13: 9780976343394

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Mifflin County Historical Society author, Forest K. Fisher, presents the history and evolution of the picture postcard and its significance as a medium of communication in For Just a Penny, Historic Mifflin County Postcards. In Fisher's tenth book detailing local history from a central Pennsylvania county founded in 1789, the author uses local vintage postcards and historic images throughout the 130-page publication. Whether colorful, hand-tinted images or aged sepia-tone real photo postcards, both are prized by collectors. Many examples of these come from the archives of the county historical society, while other postcards were loaned from area collectors, as well as from the author's personal collection. Fisher also brings along his connection to the family photographic business, The Kepler Studio, Lewistown, PA, and its large collection of classic images from 60 years in the commercial photographic business, 1923-1983. Using this primary source, a brief pictorial lesson is presented on how to date a real photo postcard or RPPC, using examples from his family's photographic studio collection.One feature illustrates exaggeration or fantasy real photo postcards. Examples of this novelty postcard style might show a fisherman reeling in a canoe-sized trout or farmers harvesting corn the size of oak logs. Today we would say, "Oh, that's been Photoshopped." But a century ago postcards of this genre, often produced for tourist consumption, had to be accomplished in the photographer's darkroom. For Just a Penny shows exactly how this was accomplished. It's as much art as science, not to mention a slightly twisted sense of humor came in handy.A book like this cannot do justice to historic images when presented in grey scale or black and white. For Just a Penny is published in full color semi-gloss pages from cover to cover, giving the reader a glimpse of almost 120 years of postcard history, with a Mifflin County, Pennsylvania slant.Step back with the Mifflin County Historical Society and author Forest K. Fisher to glimpse the social media of a bygone age, when messages to friends and loved-ones could be sent for just a penny.