'Pennsylvania Crude: Boomtowns and Oil
Barons' Photographer Will Sign Books

By Sandra Rhodes

Calling all oil aficionados. Now is your chance to hold a piece of oil history right in your hands – a book signed by one of the key players that brought this masterpiece to you.

Ed Bernik, the award-winning photographer for “Pennsylvania Crude: Boomtowns and Oil Barons,” will be in Bradford for a book signing from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14, at the Main Street Mercantile.

“Pennsylvania Crude: Boomtowns and Oil Barons” is a 116-page coffee table-style book that takes the reader on a pictorial tour of the oil industry in the Pennsylvania Field from discovery and boom eras through the resurgence occurring today. The book is divided into six sections: Seeps and Pits, Discovery, Boomtowns, From Mud to Market, A Second Boom and The Next Well.

Several local people, stories and places are featured in this book that includes 201 photos – both current and historical.

There stories of how the Tuna Valley, Tarport and Music Mountain came into existence.

There are portraits of the faces of the industry, both directly and indirectly – Willard Cline, an independent oil producer; Isabelle Champlin, an archaeological professor at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford; Dr. Assad Panah, director of Petroleum Technology Institute at Pitt-Bradford; Bob Sage, who, at more than 80 years of age, still works on his oil lease every day; and Matt Benson, communications director for the Pennsylvania Independent Oil & Gas Producers.

Take a glimpse into the Bradford Club with barber Mike Ross and city councilman Rick Benton. And no book on the oil industry in Pennsylvania would be complete without Minard Run Oil, Lewis Emery and Fred Fesenmyer.

There are also vintage post cards and photos courtesy of the Bradford Landmark Society.

Bernik has been a commercial photographer for more than 25 years, specializing in corporate and editorial images of people. He began his love affair with the Allegheny National Forest after returning to western Pennsylvania from Boston, not as a photographer, but as a fly fisherman —taking refuge on small streams in search of native brook trout. He has several previous books of photography to his credit.

Bernik, from North East, also supplied photos for the companion DVD, “Pennsylvania Crude: The Road Trip.” He was also the photographer for the award-winning book “Pennsylvania Wilds: Images of the Allegheny National Forest.”

The foreword was written by Harvey Golubock, president and chief operating officer of American Refining Group of Bradford – the oldest continuous running refinery in the United States.

The companion DVD titled “Pennsylvania Crude: The Road Trip” includes various places of interest in all of the counties, including museums, parks and other attractions. The DVD won a multitude of awards, including Best of Show at the ADDY Awards in Erie. The ADDY Awards are sponsored by the Advertising Federation of Northwestern Pennsylvania. The ADDY Awards recognizes all forms of advertising.

The book is available for $39.95 plus tax through the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau at The Old Post Office, 80 E. Corydon St., Bradford, or by calling 800-473-9370, or by e-mailing info@visitANF.com.

Those who already have the book are welcome to come to get Bernik’s signature, too.

“Pennsylvania Crude: Boomtowns and Oil Barons” was published by Forest Press, a subsidiary of the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau. The Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau is the official tourist promotion agency for McKean County.

Future plans for Forest Press include assembling prints of photos from “Pennsylvania Crude: Boomtowns and Oil Barons” available for sale.

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