The "Patience Unlocks The Impossible Door" Story

Mike with one of his wildlife photos he has taken.

It was an ordinary day.  Just left the home that sports yellow siding and brown shutters on the west side of Lititz, PA.  Spent the last couple of hours with Mike Shull who taught in the Manheim Township School District with me for 38 years.  Taught first in the middle school and then transferred to an elementary school to end his career in teaching.  Taught all three of my kids in the mid-80s when they went through the middle school.  Also coached my two sons in high school baseball in the late 80s and early 90s.  Mike had a story to share with me about one of my favorite topics as well as his, photography.  Story goes like this ..... years ago Dave Strayer was the Camp Ranger at the Boy Scout's Camp Mack which is located between Lancaster and Lebanon, PA.  Mike got to know Dave through scouting and eventually became an Eagle Scout.  Mike's father always told him that when you find someone who is a "star",  attach yourself to them.  "Well, Mike found out that Dave was his "star" and maintained a friendship with him for many years.  

Sample of the 2012 international rate stamp showing
a Lancaster County Amish farm scene.

Around Christmas in 2011 Dave, who was an ardent stamp and coin collector, told Mike that the U.S. Postal Service was going to come out with a Lancaster County (PA) stamp.  Behold, the new 2012 international rate stamp arrived and featured Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (Amish country) as part of the Scenic American Landscapes series.  The photograph had been taken originally in the 1980s by National Geographic photographer James Amos, but never used as a stamp until now.  Dave and Mike tried to figure out where the photo, which featured a Lancaster County farm scene, could have been taken.  Neither one of them could figure where it had been taken, so they began a quest to locate the site and recreate the same photograph.  Mike shared it with the members of the Lancaster Photography Club and they to had no clue as to where it might have been taken.  He received many general locations, gave them a look but was never successful in finding the spot.  At the time, Dave was a resident of Audabon Villa, a nursing home in Mike's hometown of Lititz.   Mike would visit with Dave weekly to keep him abreast of his progress on their quest to find the spot.  Mike stopped at all the local Post Offices he could find around Lancaster County, but received no help.  Finally in March of 2012 Mike visited a "mud sale" in Colemansville, PA to ask about the stamp's location.  He found two young Amish farmers and struck up a conversation with them.  He asked them if they would look at a stamp he had of Lancaster and see if they might know where the location may be where it was taken.  Told them he had been on a quest to find the location to share with his friend who was dying. 

First photo Mike took of the original location

 "I know where that is," one of the Amishmen said.  He asked his friend, "Is that the Centerville Bulk Food store?"  His friend agreed then Mike asked for directions.  "It's over by Intercourse on Scenic Road."  Just then a fireman who was attending the "mud sale" came by and also agreed about the location.  Mike took his directions and took off for the store with the knowledge that his quest was coming to a close.  He arrived at the Centerville Bulk Food Store and after waiting in line, talked to the Amishman who was behind the counter.  The Amishman pointed out the window at the location and as Mike was about to leave, the Amishman's wife came up to Mike and told him they had seen a photographer at the spot a few times in the past and were wondering what he was doing.  Told him that since that time they had raised the height of their store so it may not exactly match the photo.  He hustled to his truck and shortly was at the location.  Perfect match he thought.  He snapped a few quick shots and off he went to have a few photos made and go to Audabon Villa to visit with his friend and "star."  Dave, very ill and facing death, managed to turn over in bed and Mike held up the photo he had taken.  "We found the spot Dave!  I believe our quest is finally over," Mike said.  Dave had the biggest smile on his face when Mike said again, "We found it!"  Dave replied, "No, you found it."  Mike corrected him with, "No, we found it!"  Dave seemed to come alive and he held the picture in his hand and shook Mike's hand.  Mike spent a couple of months waiting for the tree at the location to blossom and the fields to be plowed as in the stamp's picture.  

Mike's final photo with the U.S. Postage Stamp
he was trying to recreate.  Notice the horse's leg
is in the exact same position as on the stamp.

 Finally, on his 8th visit to the site he had all the pieces in place for the photo.  Set his Canon 5D Mark III on his tripod and waited.  Had to get an Amish buggy in just the right position for the shot.  Shortly he had it with the horse's leg exactly as in the stamp.  All was fine except for the fact that Dave had passed away on May 6, right before Mike took the photo, and didn't get to see the final result.  But, Mike still had the knowledge that he and his friend had accomplished what they had set out to do and was satisfied.  Another scouting assignment complete and a great tribute to his "star"!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - my story title came from a statement that Mike had painted above the chalkboard in his classroom.