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On the Road to Prosperity

by John Beale

John Beale
Phil Conklin uses a hand plow to till the garden on his family’s 300-acre farm near Prosperity. Conklin said he gave up farming years ago because, after paying his expenses, it was too difficult to make any money. In the past, he said he’s taken jobs outside of farming to help to keep things going. His family now has oil and gas wells on the farm.
August 21, 2016

Prosperity means different things to different people. But to the residents of a village by that name in Washington County that’s been significantly affected by fluctuations in the coal and Marcellus Shale gas industries, Prosperity is home. Some of the 1,105 residents have made a lot of money. Some are working hard to just get by. But most say they wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

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John Beale

John Beale teaches photojournalism in the Bellisario College of Communications at Penn State’s University Park campus. His photography has been published extensively by many major newspapers, magazines and websites; including ESPN​.com, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and The New York Times. His work has been recognized with numerous regional and national awards.