Born in the Phoenixville Hospital in 1969, Joe Varady is the fourth generation of the Varady family to live in this town. Growing up, his father often taught him interesting stories about Phoenixville and its surrounding areas. Joe graduated from Gettysburg College in 1991 with a degree in studio art before attending West Chester University, where he earned a master's degree in elementary education. After graduate school, he used his art skills to enhance his effectiveness as a 5th grade teacher at Barkley Elementary School from 1994-2004, when he quit to become a full-time dad to his two kids, Cosmos and Kayla. Joe enjoys sharing his knowledge of local history. Tales of Phoenixville, his first foray into historical fiction, fulfills his desire to continue sharing Phoenixville's rich and exciting history with members of the community. He hopes that this book will serve to educate and entertain both current as well as future generations. Joe lives in Phoenixville with his wife, Kathy, and two children. Joe holds a sixth-degree black belt and is the founder and chief in-structor of Satori Dojo Martial Arts, which he founded in 1994. A national champion weapons fighter, he is also the author of several books on the martial arts including The Art and Science of Staff Fighting (2016) and The Art and Science of Stick Fighting (2020).