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Fact Box

If You Go:

What: Fourth Annual Open House

When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday

Where: Pine Drive, Arch Rock

For more information: Call 436-6070

MIFFLINTOWN - A fascination with county history and a love for photography is what gave a Mifflintown woman the idea to publish a book full of crisp, black and white photographs.

Abby Yorks, photographer and owner of 2nd Time Around Photography, has been taking photographs for several years. Yet the idea to publish a book only recently came to mind when she amassed a collection of photos on her computer.

"I had all of these photos on my computer for two years and thought about the idea. I had been out different times to take pictures throughout the counties ... and over two years all these pictures gathered up," Yorks said.

Yorks said she went through her collection of photos and had to decide what ones she wanted to use.

"I basically decided that if I was going to do a book, I wanted to separate it (the book) into municipalities instead of chapters. I was also going to focus on certain historical points," Yorks said.

The photos she decided to use are all recent pictures of new things, either a landmark or something that holds significant historical value.

Yorks said after she had an initial plan on how she wanted to design her book, she took her ideas to Impressions Printing in Mifflintown.

"I thought about this for a while before I went to them. I told them my idea and they used my layout - I also provided them with my photos on a CD," Yorks said.

Yorks said Impressions Printing gave her a two week estimate as to when a rough copy would be available.

"Everything was good when I saw the final product," Yorks said.

Her mother, Sheila Yorks, also helped to finalize the final product by writing the captions for her photos.

"My mom is a member of the historical society in Juniata County. She did research on each of the photos that I took and helped write the captions," Yorks said.

The book, "A Pictorial Stroll Through Juniata County," was published in the first week of August 2008.

Yorks said her ultimate goal was to have the book and 300 additional copies done and printed in time to present at the Juniata County Fair.

"I accomplished my goal," Yorks said with a laugh.

The book, which isn't available in stores or online, can be purchased for $15 at the Fourth Annual Open House, held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in Mifflintown.

"My book is going to be for sale along with greeting cards, local postcards and numerous framed prints," Yorks said.

All of the greeting cards and postcards will feature photographs taken by Yorks.

For more information, call Yorks at 436-6070.