Several years ago, Vaughn Whisker was just another retired man, an avid history buff, a gun collector, a Boy Scout leader, a naturalist. He agreed to begin writing a column for the Bedford Gazette, and soon was pouring out reminicences of bygone days to his "Tales of the Allegheny Foothills."

He told readers all about the home remedies of his youth, how Christmas was celebrated, how it was in the one-room school. And soon he began to research other storis, such as the role of Bonquet, Washington, Braddock and Forbes in Bedford's history. He guided the re-mapping of the Forbes Trail and wrote about that.

It was inevitable that the output be channeled into book form, and readers responded warmly. These are his ten volumes of "Tales of the Allegheny Foothills." and several the his earlier editions have been reprinted. Vaughn has also authored a history of the Bedford fire company. All told, thousands of his books have been sold, and requests have come from other states. He has provided a unique and readable collection for posterity, and worthwhile reading for today.

He hoped these books would provide a means of bringing the past alive to the present generations as well as generations yet unborn.