Bernard A. Drew grew up in the Massachusetts Berkshires and lives with his family in Great Barrington. He is a journalist, editor, newspaper columnist and reference book writer specializing in popular literature. An avid local historian, he is active with Great Barrington Historical Society, Friends of the W.E.B. Du Bois Homesite, Upper Housatonic Valley African American Heritage Trail and other organizations. He is past president of the Great Barrington Historical Society and the Berkshire County Historical Society. His favorite Berkshire history topics include electrical inventor William Stanley, Canadian heroine Laura Secord, poets Elaine and Dora Read Goodale and iron bridge builder Charles E. Ball. He has hiked the woods to discover remnants of 19th century charcoaling. He has researched the Civilian Conservation Corps Camp 196 at Sandisfield State Forest and the sighting towers used in the construction of the Hoosac Tunnel. He has investigated original sections of Henry Knox's 1776 cannon trail and uncovered fascinating stories of the community that grew around Lake Buel in New Marlborough/Monterey, Mass.