Dimock, Pa. – that’s where we went to do research for our seven-part series, “Boon or Bust?” appearing each Thursday in The Evening Sun. For those who may not know, it’s a Pennsylvania town finding itself swept into the center of the gas well controversy after dozens of people from the rural region accused Cabot Oil and Gas of polluting their wells while drilling.

Susquehanna is a county with about 10,000 less people than Chenango. Dimock is a rural town tucked into its hills – think Smyrna, McDonough.

The Borough of Montrose is the area’s biggest population center. Similar in size and development as Norwich, maybe a little smaller. One of its most obvious defining features is a several story, columned courthouse in the center of town – sound familiar?

There was an unknown moment of foreshadowing as we neared our destination in The Evening Sun Mystery Machine (aka white van #3). In the last leg of our hour and a half trip in early December, we anxiously searched the roadway for indications we were almost there. A trio of heavy work trucks drove past us and someone wondered if they were used for gas well drilling.

We passed so many dump trucks, tankers, and contractor pick-ups I couldn’t even estimate the number – hundreds probably. In every direction of travel you could rarely go more than a few minutes without the rev of a diesel engine being heard.