Explore Wellsboro Fall/Winter 2020

Wellsboro

e r o l p x E

Official Visitors Guide of Our Town, Home of Pennsylvania’s Grand Canyon

FALL/WINTER 2020/21 www.wellsboropa.com 1

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Wellsboro Editors & Publishers Teresa Banik Capuzzo Michael Capuzzo

Associate Publisher George Bochetto

Operations Director Gwen Button

Managing Editor Gayle Morrow

Accounting

Amy Packard

Contributing Writers

Ashley Ensminger, Kerry Gyekis, Lilace Guignard, Carrie Hagen, Don Knaus, Karey Solomon

North Country Woodworking Come see your local cabinet makers!

We are a family business with over 35 years experience manufacturing custom cabinets, doors, moldings, and furniture.

We also offer countertops in Laminate, Sold Surface, Zodiaq, and Granite.

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Come visit our showroom just 6 miles North of Mansfield, off Route 549.

Our showroom is open Thursday-Saturday 10am-4pm or call for an appointment any time.

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Contributing Photographers

Bernadette Chiaramonte, Bruce Dart, Lonny Frost, Jerame Reinhold, Dustin Riehl, Linda Stager

Sales Representative Beverly Kline

Distribution Michael Banik

The Beagle

Nano Cosmo (1996-2014) Yogi (2004-2018) Explore Wellsboro is published by Beagle Media, LLC, 39 Water Street, Wellsboro, PA 16901, in partnership with the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce. Copyright Š 2020 Beagle Media, LLC. All rights reserved. E-mail info@mountainhomemag. com, or call (570) 724-3838. Explore Wellsboro is distributed at hundreds of locations in Tioga, Potter, Bradford, Lycoming, Union, and Clinton counties in PA and Steuben, Chemung, Schuyler, Yates, Seneca, Tioga, and Ontario counties in NY. 10,000 copies are delivered to PA On Display to be distributed to welcome centers across the state.

FALL/WINTER 2020/2021

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elcome to Wellsboro, the home of Pennsylvania's Grand Canyon. Our gaslit streets, and family-owned shops and restaurants, are reminiscent of simpler times—but with all the modern conveniences! In more “normal” times, Wellsboro hosts year-round activities and entertainment—truly something for everyone.

A mix of events and options, including art fairs, music festivals, concerts, plays, and sports, can keep your days as full as you want them throughout the seasons. We look forward to returning to our previous schedule in 2021.

Fall in Wellsboro and the surrounding area brings breathtaking hues of reds and yellows blanketing the mountainsides in brilliant color. Explore the wide-open spaces on one of the many hiking or biking trails or take in the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon’s majestic beauty from one of the many accessible lookouts or driving tours.

The winter season kicks off in a big way in Wellsboro with Dickens of a Christmas, transforming our gaslit streets into a Victorian-era marketplace. It doesn't end there; Wellsboro offers several winter festivals, celebrations, and sporting adventures.

Whether you're looking to play, work, or live in our town, contact us at the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce, and we'll be happy to help get your adventure with us started.

We welcome you to explore Wellsboro.

Julie A. Henry Executive Director Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce Wellsboro Foundation 114 Main Street, Wellsboro, PA 16901 (570) 724-1926 info@wellsboropa.com www.wellsboropa.com

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Wellsboro, Pennsylvania

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Hot Picks for Where to Stay and Be Pampered!

Back in the Day Guest House.......................... 18 Bear Lodges.................................. 3 Canyon Motel............................. 19 Hanna’s Nail Spa........................ 39 Penn Wells Hotel & Lodge....... 18 River of Pines Cottage............... 18 Sherwood Motel........................ 19 Sky High Chalet......................... 18

Hot Picks for Dining!

Eddie’s Restaurant....................... 45 Fox's Pizza/Terry's Hoagies....... 47 Johnny'z Hot Rod Cafe.............. 45 Pag-Omar Farms Market........... 45 QQ Chinese Restaurant..............45 The Main Street Creamery.........37 The Steak House..........................45

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Tioga County, Pennsylvania

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Hot Picks to Visit!

Bradford County Tourism Promotion Agency.................35 Lackawanna College....................51 Lycoming County Historical Society......................................35 Mansfield University................... 21

Hot Picks for Shopping!

Canine Chic..................................49 Canyon Country Fabrics............39 Draper’s Super Bee Apiaries.......33 Dunham’s Department Store......33 Highland Chocolates...................37 In My Shoes..................................37 Otto Bookstore.............................39 Patterson Farms...........................39 Pop’s Culture Shoppe...................33 Senior’s Creations........................37 Simmons-Rockwell.......................2 Sticky Bucket Maple....................15 The Farmer’s Daughters..............37 The Main Street Olive Oil Co.....37

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Pine Creek Rail Trail

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Hot Picks for Entertainment!

Deane Center for the Performing Arts...........................................23 Hamilton-Gibson Productions.. 23

Hot Picks for Becoming a Local!

Broad Acres Nursing Home.......49 Davis Real Estate.........................49 Dominion Energy........................51 Mountain Valley Realty................6 North Country Woodworking.....4 Penn Oak Realty..........................49 Phoenix Resources Landfill/ Waste Management................49 Pine Creek Real Estate................49 Rockwell’s Feed, Farm & Pet Supply.......................................33 Six West Settlements Inc...............7 Troy Veterinary Clinic................35 UPMC Susquehanna ..................52 Ward Manufacturing...................25 Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce...............................41

Hot Picks for Outdoors!

Cooper's Sporting Goods...........31 Corey Creek Golf Club...............31 CS Sports Cycle & Ski Shop.......31 Ski Sawmill...................................31 Wild Asaph Outfitters.................31

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Festivals & Events SEPTEMBER 2020

September 4 • 6:30 p.m.

Dave Brown & the Dishonest Fiddlers Outside Stage, Deane Cente 570-724-6220 Bring own chairs • Donations accepted September 11, 12, 18, 19 • 7:30 p.m.

Hamilton-Gibson Production's The View From Here Coolidge Theatre, Deane Center 570-724-2079 • Reservations Required Adults $12 • Students $6 September 12 • 4:00 p.m.

Live Helicopter TYOGA Ball Drop 759 PA Rt. 660 • 570-724-1926 September 13, 20 • 2:30 p.m.

Hamilton-Gibson Production's The View From Here Coolidge Theatre, Deane Center 570-724-2079 • Reservations Required Adults $12 • Students $6 OCTOBER 2020 October 9, 10, 16, 17 • 7:30 p.m.

Hamilton-Gibson Production's Stray Cats The Warehouse Theatre • 570-724-2079 Reservations Required October 11, 18 • 2:30 p.m.

Hamilton-Gibson Production's Stray Cats The Warehouse Theatre • 570-724-2079 Reservations Required October 16-17 • All Day Community Wide Yard Sales 570-724-1926 October 23-24 • 7:00 p.m.

Fireside Collective Folk, Bluegrass, Newgrass Coolidge Theatre, Deane Center BYOB • $25 Call 570-724- 6220 to reserve tables October 31 • 6:00 p.m.

Halloween Parade & Trick-or-Treating Parade begins at Packer Park Trick-or-Treat to follow until 8:30 p.m.

570-724-1926 All listed events and activities are tentative. Please call phone number listed to confirm.

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NOVEMBER 2020 November 6, 7, 13, 14 • 7:30 p.m.

Hamilton-Gibson Production's Silent Sky Coolidge Theatre, Deane Center Reservations Required • 570-724-2079 November 8, 15 • 2:30 p.m.

Hamilton-Gibson Production's Silent Sky Coolidge Theatre, Deane Center Reservations Required • 570-724-2079 November 27 • 7:30 p.m.

Velveeta Performance - $25 Penn State 80s Band Coolidge Theatre, Deane Center BYOB / Tables Limited Reservations at 570-724-6220 DECEMBER 2020

December 5 • All Day 37th Annual Dickens of a Christmas Downtown Wellsboro • 570-724-1926 December 13-14 • See website 5th Annual Christmas on Main Street Downtown Wellsboro wellsborochristmasonmainstreet.com JANUARY 2021

January 16 •10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Step Outdoors Winterfest Hills Creek State Park • 570-724-2426 January 24 •3:00 p.m.

Annual Robert Burns Dinner Timeless Destination Restaurant 570-724-1926 FEBRUARY 2020

February 12, 13, 14 • 9:00 a.m.

Wellsboro Winter Celebration Downtown Wellsboro • 570-724-1926 February 27 • 9:00 a.m.

Sled Dog Challenge Pine Creek Rail Trail • 570-724-1926 APRIL 2020

April 9 • 7:30 p.m.

Scotland's Tannahill Weavers Coolidge Theatre, Deane Center 570-724-6220

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Find Your

S

Festival

ometimes we just need a festival, and this might be one of those times. You can have it in the form of a crisp snowy weekend outdoors or a day roaming the downtown doing some seasonal shopping. You can incorporate your own kind of celebration into one we have provided for you, creating your personal respite from, well, whatever you need a respite from. You can find your festival and celebrate winter all winter long in Wellsboro.

DICKENS OF A CHRISTMAS Every year for the past thirty-six or so, on the first Saturday in December, Wellsboro’s downtown transforms itself to another place and time. Porkpie hats and waistcoats, hooped skirts and velvety capes, Scrooges and Santas share the streets and sidewalks with an eclectic array of purveyors. Everything from apple dumplings and crab cakes to hand-worked Christmas decorations, plus all the wonderful seasonal delights and delicacies you might envision in between, appear like magic, like Marley’s ghost—but without the clanking chains.

The streets are full of music, impromptu theatre, and plenty of holiday cheer. Come as you are or dress the Victorian part. Parking is available at various lots throughout the downtown, and shuttle service is offered. A schedule of events will be available on Dickens Saturday, December 5.

CHRISTMAS ON MAIN STREET The weekend following Dickens of a Christmas has evolved into its own celebration—Christmas on Main Street.

Set this year for December 11, 12, and 13, it is hometown shopping at its finest. The weekend includes the Shiny Brite Christmas ornament tour, one of Wellsboro’s newest old traditions. The Shiny Brites are vintage Corning glass ornaments made here in Wellsboro during the World War II years. They will be on display at various downtown businesses throughout the weekend. Shoppers can purchase a passport/guidebook for five dollars, with stamped passport holders eligible to win the grand prize. Many of Wellsboro’s downtown merchants will be offering special sales and incentives.

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WINTERFEST January weather can be so January, can’t it? But, whether there is snow or sun, wind or rain, Winterfest at Hills Creek State Park, scheduled this year for January 16, promises to be a day of family fun at one of the area’s most lovely parks. Winterfest runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., says Tim Morey, park natural resource specialist, and it’s all free. If you have winter sports gear, it’s okay to bring it along, but, really, the only thing you have to bring is the desire to enjoy a great day in the great outdoors. Cross-country skis, ice skates, and snowshoes will be available for folks to use, hiking trails will be open, and some park roads will be plowed for cross-country skiing. Call the park office at (570) 724-4246 for more information about Winterfest and plan to have a blast.

WINTER CELEBRATION By the time February rolls around, even Cupid might be feeling a little cabin feverish. Why not celebrate Valentine’s Day in Wellsboro? The Winter Celebration is February 13, 14, and 15 this year, and is a delightful mid-winter break full of things like music, shopping, pots of homemade chili to sample and vote on (comes with a chance for chocolate, and an opportunity to raise money for Second Chance Animal Sanctuaries), and ice carving—all guaranteed to lift your spirits out of their snowy slump.

SLED DOG CHALLENGE Saturday, February 20, is the date for the 2021 Grand Canyon Sled Dog Challenge. Teams and mushers, including Mary Beth Logue, board member of the Pennsylvania Sled Dog Club, and her dogs, will meet at the Darling Run access of the Pine Creek rail trail for their eighteen-mile round trip run down through the Pine Creek gorge. Spectators can make the trek from Darling Run to Tiadaghton as well, so dress for the weather and bring cross-country skis or warm hiking boots. Plan for a 9 a.m. start to this free event. Find out more information about the Pennsylvania Sled Dog Club at pasleddogclub. com.

For the most up-to-date information on festivals and events, visit wellsboropa. com, or call the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce at (570) 724-1926.

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Bruce Dart

A Christmas Carol Tradition

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om Walrath (above) has been yelling at people on the streets of Wellsboro for years, and he’s not stopping any time soon. “It’s the most liberating feeling in the world to walk through a crowd of people shouting for them to go home, to get out of my way,” he chuckles. “Sometimes they’re offended, but when they turn around and see it’s Scrooge, they want to get their picture taken with me.” During Dickens of a Christmas weekend, he can be seen strolling the streets and on stage. He has been part of the Hamilton-Gibson Productions A Christmas Carol tradition since it began in 1999, but not always as Scrooge. The first year he played Bob Cratchit. In the first scene of the first performance, the actor playing Scrooge, Richard Mason, suffered heart failure (he survived). After the flurry of CPR and paramedics, the cast convinced director Thomas Putnam to play Scrooge, script in hand. They finished the rest of that weekend’s performances without incident, but the following weekend they drove through a blizzard to perform in Cowanesque Valley.

“There were about eight people there,” Tom says. Not an auspicious beginning.

Every year since, the role has been his, with Brian Kennedy playing Bob Cratchit. There are five actors in the cast, most handling multiple roles. The sold-out performances convinced Thomas Putnam to add another cast in 2010—same script, different interpretations, two stages at staggered times, with Rob Kathcart portraying Scrooge. So, visitors have had seven performances to choose from on Dickens weekend.

Doing this year after year is quite a commitment for the all-volunteer troupe, though few come close to the double-decade stints of Tom and Brian. But one role requires frequent re-casting, even if the actor would like to continue—Tiny Tim. This year a sixth Tiny Tim will join the original cast, after Bryson Fuhrer (above) grew out of it. At the end of the last performance in 2019, Tom asked the audience to help him recognize Bryson’s leaving in what may be as definitive a comingof-age moment as a young person can have. “I didn’t know what I was going to do when I wasn’t a part of that cast,” Bryson admits. The moment was extra special when the original Tiny Tim, Derek Erdmann, (who was in the audience) joined the cast on stage.

Tom describes a conversation he and Brian have at the end of every Dickens weekend. “I ask Brian if he’s going to do it again next year. He always says, ‘I’ll do it if you do it.’ And so we do.” This year’s Christmas festivities might look a little different, but if Scrooge and Thomas Putnam have anything to do with it, this old holiday chestnut will be performed in Wellsboro in whatever way is allowed. Get the most current information at hamiltongibson.org, on Facebook, or call (570) 724-2079. ~ Lilace Guignard

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Courtesy Lahey Family Fun Park

Christmas on Main Street

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ellsboro’s Christmas on Main Street is a Shiny Brite festival—literally. Held every year on the second weekend in December, the festival invites locals and visitors to explore Main Street shopping opportunities while learning a bit more about the town that saved Christmas for countless American families.

“Different businesses throughout Wellsboro participate by displaying family collections and other collections they’ve accumulated of the Shiny Brite and other ornaments made in Wellsboro,” says Ellen Bryant, one of the Christmas on Main Street organizers. “We have a guidebook on the history of these ornaments each year.”

The tradition being celebrated began in 1937 when handblown glass Christmas tree ornaments became impossible to import from Germany. A Corning Glass factory in Wellsboro, then manufacturing lightbulbs on a glass ribbon machine, was re-tooled to produce Christmas ornaments as part of their output. Shiny Brite ornaments were produced here until the 1980s; the factory closed its doors in 2016.

Ever since Shiny Brite ornament production ceased in Wellsboro, eBay became the most usual source for them. But this year, visitors will have an opportunity to view and purchase vintage ornaments made in the Shiny Brite tradition, thanks to Richard Pope, long-time proprietor of the recently closed Glass Menagerie in Corning and a former Corning employee.

Some years ago, Richard got the rights to continue producing Currier and Ives ornaments formerly manufactured by Corning in Wellsboro. These ornaments featured a print silk-screened on thin plastic, which was then shrink-wrapped onto a glass bulb. He established the Vesta Art Glass Company to manufacture and distribute the Currier and Ives ornaments, plus some others.

With retirement in his sights, and anticipating closing the Glass Menagerie at the end of 2019, Richard offered ornaments for sale. About half went to Wellsboro’s Christmas on Main Street group via the Wellsboro Chamber of Commerce. He also donated an additional 775 ornaments to the group. Many will be displayed at this year’s festival, a new flavor of visual treat and buying opportunities for those who attend. “There’s no doubt these ornaments are collectibles,” Richard says. “They were limited editions—they’ll never be made again. I’m thrilled that they’re ending up in a good place.”

For more information go to www.wellsborochristmasonmainstreet.com. ~ Karey Solomon

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Festivals & Events

Celebrating 30 Years of Community Theatre

Visit our website for show times and tickets!

Deane Center for the Performing Arts

Embracing the arts, enhancing lives, creating community.

Great live entertainment, in beautiful downtown Wellsboro!

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We’re Tioga County’s place when you’re looking for space!

Various sized rooms for: Weddings • Parties Reunions • Shows •Recitals • and More

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Courtesy Lahey Family Fun Park

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Do the Pennsylvania Wild

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or most of my life, I’ve realized that walking in the woods (sometimes for hours, sometimes for days) helped and even cured a lot of things I had been worried about. Suffice it to say that I’ve been practicing social distancing for approximately sixty-four years.

Ask my wife.

I do it once almost every day, and my other half and I do it several times a week, usually. We do it on local trails or without trails. We do it ­to find wildflowers and waterfalls and just to do it. I do it in warm and cold, in rain and snow. In fresh snow, it becomes a book of all the creatures (including me) who are moving through it. Once, in fresh snow on a cold morning, I saw a ball of fur seemingly moving in the air just up the hill from me. When I got to where it was, I realized it was a coyote that had been coming right at me on a dead run. I could see the skid marks of about four feet when he first saw me and had then turned and run away at an acute angle. I began following his back trail, still wondering why he was traveling so fast toward me. I heard hounds in the distance and then hounds coming right past me, ignoring me as they chased the coyote and then several minutes later reversing themselves, coming back and heading out on the same angle the coyote had taken. It was a Roadrunner episode!

Some time ago, I was hunting in an obscure place on our canyon’s West Rim. I call it hunting—really, it is hiking with a gun or a bow or a crossbow. It is, perhaps, the original “social distancing.” I never called it that before, but that is essentially what it is. It is to be alone and quiet, apart from others. Hunting is just one of my excuses.

But, back to the West Rim. I found something pretty interesting, so I sent a picture of it off to the anthropology and geology departments at Penn State, and got this back: “… most likely a trace fossil of a burrowing sea creature…arthophycus from Silurian sandstones some 420 to 440 million years ago…”

We live in an extraordinary area. Whether you are a hiker, biker, rider, hunter, fisherman, runner, walker, crawler, drawer, photographer, it is there, that great wilderness.

The virus is affecting everyone even if we wish it were not. That brings me back to the walking in the woods part. It works! ~ Kerry Gyekis

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Main St

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A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE & MAP OF HISTORIC WELLSBORO

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Walking Tour of Wellsboro

Pearl St

Photos courtesy of Linda Stager

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The fountain in the middle of “The Green,” our town square on Main Street, is our starting point. This statue of Wynken, Blynken and Nod was given to Wellsboro in 1938 by Fred W. Bailey in memory of his wife Elizabeth, who was a daughter of Judge Cameron. This statue was inspired by “The Dutch Lullaby,” written by Eugene Field in 1889. There are several other statues and markers on The Green which are also of interest. Then we cross Main Street at the traffic light.

The red brick building on the corner at 114 Main Street is the former Tioga County Sheriff’s residence and was constructed in 1860 at a cost of $10,000. The two-story brick structure served as the Tioga County Jail until 1985. It is now occupied by Develop Tioga, Wellsboro Chamber of Commerce, and Growth Resources of Wellsboro. The elm tree in the front yard is one of the largest in existence and has been growing since sometime in the 1700s. This tree is older than Wellsboro and has been here since before the first settlers.

The Tioga County Courthouse was built in 1835. In addition to the court room and the judge’s chambers, it houses the offices of many county officials.

Wellsboro was founded in 1806 by settlers from Delaware, Maryland, and Philadelphia; it was incorporated in 1830. The town was named in honor of Mary Wells, wife of one of the original settlers, Benjamin Wister Morris.

Mary Wells (1761-1819) was a Philadelphia Quaker who came with her husband to this part of Tioga County in about 1805. This life-sized sculpture of Mary Wells Morris, is located on part of the land deeded by Benjamin and Mary Wells Morris to Tioga County in 1806.

120 Main Street is the Robinson House, home of the Tioga County Historical Society. The building was originally a tavern operated by Alpheus Cheney, Tioga County’s first Sheriff. In the early 1830s, Samuel Dickinson added four more rooms to the front of the tavern, two upstairs and two downstairs. It was later purchased by John L. Robinson.

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126 Main Street, the law offices of Walrath & Coolidge, was the residence of the Honorable Henry W. Williams, constructed in 1885. At that time he was President Judge of Tioga County and in 1887 he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

The First Presbyterian Church at 130 Main Street was built in 1894.

At that time it was held to be “the finest church of its size” in Northern Pennsylvania.

The Green Free Library at 134 Main Street was established in 1912 by an endowment from Charles Green of Roaring Branch. In 1916, the library moved into the beautiful house called “Chester Place,” which was built by Chester Robinson, brother and business associate of John J. Robinson.

The Gmeiner Art and Cultural Center at the right of the library was a gift to Wellsboro from the late Arthur Gmeiner of Denver, originally from the Nauvoo area of Tioga County.

140 Main Street is known as the “Lincoln Door House.” The front door of this residence (painted red in contrast to the dark green of the building) was a gift from Abraham Lincoln to Dr. and Mrs. J.H. Shearer when they bought this house in 1858. Mrs. Lincoln and Mrs. Shearer were close friends in Springfield, Illinois and the door came from a building there.

Located at the west end of Main Street is the oldest grocery store in Wellsboro, the West End Market. First opened in 1902, the store has been operated as a convenience market, a fish market, and a bulk food store.

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Just around the corner at 10 West Avenue is the Carleton Nursing Home. Formerly the home of Leonard Harrison, banker and businessman, who donated 121 acres of land bordering Pine Creek, and known as “The Lookout,” to the commonwealth in 1922. This area is now known as Leonard Harrison State Park.

Across the street and down a block on the corner at 141 Main Street is the Jesse Robinson Manor, which was built in 1887 by a son of John L. Robinson. It has been described as “Queen Anne style in the true English Spirit.”

As you start back toward The Green, the second and third houses were originally one building. It was constructed circa 1840s as the residence of the Packer family. After the death of the Honorable Horace B. Packer in 1942, the house was cut in two, the land divided and each piece sold separately.

Continue along Main Street to Charles Street, then turn right one block to Pearl Street. On the opposite corner is St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. This parish was organized in 1838 and the present building was erected in 1897.

The building at 33 Pearl Street was erected about 1846 as the office of the Bingham Estate, a land company. It was moved from its original site in 1897 when St. Paul’s Episcopal Church was built.

Across Central Avenue is a block of red brick buildings, in which law firms and insurance companies have their offices. These buildings date back to the 1860s and 1870s and several were built with law offices on the street floor and living quarters upstairs. This was the case with 19 Central Avenue, which was built by the Honorable Mortimer F. Elliot, who served as congressman-at-large in the Forty-Eighth Congress, now the law offices of Cox, Stokes, & Lantz, P.C. Walk three blocks down Main Street through our central business district. Almost all of these buildings date back to the last century and are second- and third-generation family owned businesses.

Visit the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce at 114 Main St. for a free full-size Walking Tour brochure & map.

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Across East Avenue is the Wellsboro Diner, which opened in 1939.

This is a fine example of the diners of the 1930s and is more unusual in that it has been in continuous operation as a diner and has never been removed from its original site.

Located next to the Diner is the former Shattuck House.

Completed in 1909, this house is one of the last three homes in what was one of Wellsboro’s beautiful tree-lined residential sections on lower Main Street.

The Sherwood Motel, formerly the house of Walter Sherwood, Esq. and family, the son of the Honorable Henry Sherwood and US Congressman. The Sherwood House was built circa 1886. It was converted to a motel in 1952. The house is the oldest of the three remaining homes on lower Main Street and is the only one that is still a residence.

Crossing the street again to the corner of Main and Queen Streets you will find the United Methodist Church. This building was completed in 1905.

The Art Deco Arcadia Theater, at 50 Main Street, was built in 1921 for silent pictures. This theater was one of the first in the state to show talking pictures in 1929. The theater is still in operation with four state-of-the-art screens featuring films, which change weekly.

Just next door at 62 Main Street is the Penn Wells Hotel. Wellsboro’s first tavern or inn built in 1816 on this site, and the site has always been occupied by a tavern, inn or hotel. In 1869 A.P. Cone erected a four-story brick hotel. A fire in 1906 damaged the fourth floor so badly that it had to be removed. The building was purchased in 1885 by J.S. Coles and renamed the “Cole House.” A group of local residents purchased the hotel in 1925 when it was closed for extensive remodeling and the addition of a fourth floor. The hotel re-opened in 1926 as the Penn Wells Hotel.

The Tioga Central Train Station was a star of the rail line when it was rebuilt in 1914. Among other things, it boasted two toilet rooms and a “commodious” waiting room. Although now a brewery, the excursion train still picks up passengers here. For information about the excursion train please visit www.tiogacentral.com.

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Courtesy Lahey Family Fun Park

Ski Sawmill Family Resort

T

ake a short, scenic drive south of Wellsboro on Route 287, go through Morris, and just a few miles later you’ll find yourself at 383 Oregon Hill Road and Ski Sawmill Family Resort. This family-friendly, family-operated facility has “something for everyone,” including a vertical drop of 500-plus feet, fourteen trails, four lifts, one tube park, a variety of on-site lodging, and a Snow School where you can purchase ski or snowboarding lessons in an assortment of packages.

Little skiers under six years old can receive a free lift ticket with the purchase of any adult ticket.

Ski and snowboard rentals are an option, as well as helmet or boot rentals. Group rates are also available.

The resort’s Snow School offers beginner and advanced lessons to accommodate a variety of skier and snowboarder skill levels. For beginners, an instructor will teach how to safely ride the T-Bar and the chair lift (there is an art to it!), turn, and stop. You might hear the instructor talking about “pizza” and “French fries”—it means that your skis are either in the wedge position or parallel to one another. Get together with friends for group lessons for skiing and snowboarding, save a few bucks, and have some good laughs. Private lessons are offered to help improve technique and form. The tube slide, which features a seventy-foot drop, includes four runs and one lift, and is available on a first come, first served basis—per-hour ticket sales are limited for safety purposes.

In addition to the winter fun at Ski Sawmill, the resort also hosts the annual Sawmill Traditional Archery Rendezvous program each summer, as well as a Sawmill Mountain Bow Shoot in early fall. They have been holding both events for the past eighteen years, and, for each, participants can look forward to kids’ activities, canoe shoot, ping-pong challenge, adult practice ranges, fishing, 3-D targets, outside shower facilities, food vendors, and secluded camping.

Mark your calendars for these 2021 events.

As with businesses everywhere, Ski Sawmill is implementing COVID-19 requirements, as encouraged by the Department of Health, to ensure the health and safety of staff and guests. This includes social distancing and masking. Indoor eating areas have been minimized, but there are more outdoor seating options. The resort is committed to sanitizing public areas three times a day to help reduce exposure to the virus, and staff will wear masks in the lodge as well.

Find out more at skiswamill.com, on Facebook, or call (570) 353-7521. ~ Ashley Ensminger

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The Great Outdoors Full Service Bicycle and Snowsports Shop promoting Outdoor Fun All Year Round Visit and LIKE our Facebook page: C S Sports Inc 81 Main St • Wellsboro PA 16901 570-724-3858

Open: M,Tu, Th, F: 9:30—6:00; W & Sa: 9:30–5:00 Open: Sundays June, July & August

18-hole design to please any skill level!

—FULL SERVICE COURSE— —FULL RESTAURANT & LOUNGE— —PRO SHOP—

with Certified PGA Professional Shawn Mitcheltree on hand to help you

MANY EVENTS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC DAILY GOLF SPECIALS—Tee times required.

—OUTSTANDING SERVICE— —DAILY LUNCH & GOLF SPECIALS—

(570) 662-3520

18795 US Route 6 Mansfield, PA 16933

www.coreycreekgolf.com

Wild Asaph Outfitters Supplying you with all your equipment, apparel, and footwear for your outdoor adventures.

Ski Sawmill

Fa mily Resort

North Star Outdoor Guides

Home of

Dark Skies Telescope Tours Schedule your private, guided tour today!

All tours take place at Cherry Springs State Park May-Oct.

71 Main Street Wellsboro, PA 16901 570-724-5155

wildasaphoutfitters@gmail.com

Group Lodging • Skiing • Snowboarding Terrain Park • Rentals • Lessons Motel w/Jacuzzi Suites & So Much More

www.skisawmill.com (570) 353-7521

www.wellsboropa.com 31

Courtesy Lahey Family Fun Park

Antiques Around Us

A

ntiques Around Us, at 31 Waln Street, sells—and buys—antiques, vintage items, furniture and household pieces, collectibles, and an assortment of other interesting things.

Owners Andrew and Lauren Allen, who hailed from Chester County until relocating to Wellsboro about two years ago, began their business online. They moved to a booth space in the Lewisburg area for a short time, but when they saw a “For Rent” sign in Wellsboro they were finally able to open their current store location in November of 2019. A month later they were able to expand into the space next door, making even more room for their treasures.

“We like that we get to work with our best friend all day and meet all kinds of people,” Lauren states. “And we get to deal with cool stuff every day. We’ve been lucky to have a lot of people bring things in to us.”

In addition to this storefront, the owners continue to do a large amount of their purchasing and selling online. This was especially useful during the mandated closure of nonessential businesses in Pennsylvania (they reopened for in-store transactions on May 21), but it has also allowed Andrew and Lauren to work with sellers and buyers all over the world through their website, social media, and eBay. The Allens are always looking for more inventory. If they are interested in a piece, they pay cash up front for items or collections, and try to make the buying and selling experience as easy as possible. “Anyone who comes in the store from out of town can have their purchases sent directly to their home,” Lauren explains. They will schedule in-store meetings, and they’re willing to travel to potential sellers to look at what treasures might be hiding in someone’s barn or attic. Andrew and Lauren also find their inventory online and at estate and yard sales.

There are a variety of collections for customers to browse, including artwork, posters, prints, advertisement collectibles from the ’30s, ’40s, ’50s, and other decades, books, glass and pottery, lamps, primitives, toys, tins and cans, tobacciana (tobacco-related) collectibles, scales, and more.

Antiques Around Us is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Or, visit antiquesaroundus.com or Facebook to see a full list of inventory items prior to your in-person shopping adventure. You can also reach them by phone at (570) 948-9559. ~ Ashley Ensminger

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Boutiques & Specialty Shops

KWELL’S ROCFeed, Farm & Pet Supply

570-724-0967 • 877-797-4575 Your Neighborhood Pet Supply Store

We have everything for your pets & farm animals!

1943 SHUMWAY HILL RD., WELLSBORO, PA HOURS: 7:30-5:00 M-F • 8:00-1:00 SAT.

For 116 Years We Have Been the Place to Shop for Your Family and Home!

Dunham’s Department Store 45 Main Street Wellsboro, PA 570-724-1905 www.dunhamswellsboro.com

Draper’s Super Bee Apiaries, Inc.

Honey...How sweet it is!

We produce and sell high quality, natural honey products and much more.

Come take a tour of our facility!

Reservations are recommended for large groups.

Call for details.

Monday-Friday 32 Avonlea Lane 8am-5pm Millerton, PA 16936 Saturday 800-233-4273 8am-1pm or 570-537-2381 www.draperbee.com

www.wellsboropa.com 33

Heckler Design

T

odd Heckler can make what you’re doing look better. The proprietor of Wellsboro’s Heckler Design, he specializes in brochures, logos, and rack cards. You may also have seen his original images on T-shirts, packaging, and book covers. He handles projects for folks who promote outdoor adventuring, and because he hikes and bike too, “I understand what they’re looking for.”

Even before he knew what graphic design was, he knew wanted to do it. “I always knew,” Todd says. “I was drawing a lot, and when I went to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh I was geared more towards graphics than painting. It’s always been what I do.” And it’s why he always carries a sketchbook with him, even though much of his work is now done on computer. For many years, he worked for the local design firm Thomas Vroman Associates. When it closed in 2013, he opened his own design practice.

After a client contacts him, they’ll meet and discuss what is needed. Maybe it’s a rack card for a chamber of commerce, or a brochure promoting a fair or festival. “I try to get a sense of what they’re looking for, samples of things they like so I can have a sense of style or direction, then I get into the design. Usually I can ask them what they’re looking for and I go straight from there. Or I’ll give them design options, they pick one, and we refine it, keep narrowing it down as they have a chance to see the layout of text and images.”

Often clients have tried the process on their own and not liked the results. “It might take a lot of time they don’t have,” he says. “When I do it, it will look good, professional, offer a good image for the public to see.”

Sometimes the ideal solution to what the client wants doesn’t present itself right away. When he’s puzzled, he’ll take to the woods for a few hours of hiking or mountain biking. “I solve problems—design problems—out there,” he says.

A growing part of his business is designing and formatting books for self-published authors.

Often he also designs the covers. “That’s fun,” he says. “Usually an author has an idea for the cover but doesn’t know how to make it work. Give me some ideas and I run with it. I’ve done quite a few books [in the series of ] Ninja Raccoons by Kevin Coolidge,” a local author who needed book formatting rather than illustrations.

See examples of Todd’s work at hecklerdesign.net, and reach him at HecklerDesign@gmail. com or (570) 439-2223. ~ Karey Solomon

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THOMAS T. TABER

Museum

of the Lycoming County Historical Society 858 West Fourth Street | Williamsport, PA 17701-5824 Phone: 570.326.3326 | Fax: 570.326.3689 www.tabermuseum.org

We invite everyone from everywhere to come “Experience Bradford County!”

Museum | Archives | Library

lchs History & Heritage

Join us for our…

• Sunday Afternoon Society Programs

• Local History

Coffee Hours

• Children’s Events • Frequent New Exhibits

Adventure Awaits

All Under One Roof...

PostcardLike Streets

SMALL ANIMAL • LARGE ANIMAL

Dr. Marshall Rosanelli Dr. Seanna Brown Dr. Rachel Chase Dr. Kelly Hill Dr. Keitha Olthof Dr. Greg Cook Dr. Meghan Skelly Wellness Exams • Sick Pet Exams • Acupuncture • Portable Digital Radiology • Online Store • In-House Bovine Pregnancy Testing Medical Boarding Pet Cremation Services Customer Pet Portal • House Calls Available Fully Stocked Pharmacies Pet Supplies: Tick & Flea Medication Food, Toys & Treats • Shampoo & Conditioner

SERVICES OFFERED: 24-Hour Emergency Service for Established Clients • In-House Grooming Suite

W W W. T R OY V E TC L I N I C . C O M

Fairs & Festivals

Kayaking & Hiking

www.visitbradfordcounty.com 570.265.TOUR Follow us on

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Courtesy Lahey Family Fun Park

Enchanted Hollow

F

ull disclosure—I love the Faerie Shop. While its official name is Enchanted Hollow, I’m not alone in thinking of it by its unofficial moniker. Bunny Lockett, who owns and runs the eclectic shop with her mom, Willow, remembers early on in the business’s incarnation it was called Wildflowers Boutique. But even then, nearly twenty years ago, people called it the Faerie Shop. Customers would write checks made out to the Faerie Shop. “And the bank would take them, because they knew it was us,” Bunny laughs.

The mom/daughter duo opened the small precursor to Enchanted Hollow in October of 1998 in Westfield. The people were very nice, says Willow, and the sales were good, “but we realized we couldn’t grow there.” Several folks had suggested a move to Wellsboro; there was nothing available on Main Street, but there was a side street corner building, the former Calico Restaurant, that needed some new life. They bought it, made a whole lot of renovations (including the addition of a very cool spiral staircase), and opened in October of 2000. For eight and a half years, “we did great back there, but people would get lost trying to find us,” Bunny says. “And, we got calls all the time for fresh flowers.”

Since then there have been a couple of more moves and name changes, but, for the past several years, Willow and Bunny have settled in as Enchanted Hollow in a comfortable, historic downstairs space in a big building on the corner of East Avenue and Main Street. While fresh flowers are still not in the inventory, what you will find in this airy, faerie, smell-good, feel-good spot (Willow says they didn’t know it at the time they agreed to take the space, but “there were spirits all over the place here”) are all manner of sparkly and glittery things, gauzy, floaty clothing (think Stevie Nicks), Tarot cards, candles and incense, witch balls, jewelry, home décor, books, healing stones and crystals, handbags, fragrances, spiritual readings, and Reiki sessions. “Our shop has slowly evolved into what we’re doing at the moment,” says Willow matter-of-factly. “It’s just me and Bunny, having a good time.”

Sadly, one of the Enchanted Hollow tribe passed away recently. Luna Cat had spent about seventeen years as the feline “star of the show” at the store, and she is greatly missed. But, as they say, one door closes and another opens. Janelle Lockett will soon be joining her mother and sister in an upstairs store they will be calling “Above the Hollow” Bunny describes it as a slightly “edgier” retail experience that may include some music-related components.

You can get your own new ideas and beginnings at 6 East Avenue from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Or, find Enchanted Hollow at enchanted-hollow.com, on Facebook, or at (570) 724-1155. ~ Gayle Morrow

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Boutiques & Specialty Shops THE FARMER’S DAUGHTERS Primitive, Country & Farmhouse Decor

11719 Rt. 6 • Wellsboro, PA 570-724-1966 • Mon-Sat 10-5

Extraordinary Chocolates by Extraordinary People!

Candles, Curtains, Flags, Florals, Antique & Repurposed Furniture, Dixie Belle Paint & Much More!

11724 Route 6 Wellsboro, PA 16901 1-800-371-1082

M-F 10am-4pm • Closed Sat & Sun www.highlandchocolates.org

Sneakers • Boots • Dress Shoes 85 Main Street • Wellsboro, PA

(570) 724-2646

& Located in the historic “Shattuck House”

Featuring Homemade Hand Dipped Ice Cream & Italian Ice We also offer: Sundae’s, Floats, Banana Splits, Milkshakes and more….

Come join us in our lovely parlor or sit a while on our front porch!

HOURS: Noon to 9 pm daily While you are visiting don’t forget to check out Highland’s Chocolates!

80 flavors of Olive Oils & Balsamic Vinegars

Stop in for tastings and samples!

ASSORTMENT OF SEASONINGS, RUBS, SPICES, SALTS, PASTAS, AND MORE WE ALSO OFFER CUSTOM LASER ENGRAVED WOOD GIFTS AND OTHER SPECIALIZED GIFTS created by Local Wood Craftsman

You won’t want to miss this shopping experience!

570.948-9558

17 Main Street, Wellsboro, PA

75 Main Street, Wellsboro, PA

www.wellsboropa.com 37

Courtesy Lahey Family Fun Park

Canine Chic

“I Tiers.

probably have one of the best jobs ever!” says Ann Grenier (above with fiancé Jim Frew), owner of Canine Chic, a mobile dog grooming service based in Mansfield. Passionate about animals and their coiffures, she brings care and comfort to four-legged friends in the Twin

She learned by apprenticing with a groomer in New York, and then, starting in 2007, had a grooming shop in Mansfield. She left to take a job in oil and gas fields, but when that job ended in late 2018 she decided to return to doing what she loves. She considered opening another shop, but she knew the noise and barking upset many dogs. Worse, some of her clients arrived carsick and distressed. Instead, she had a large, state-of-the-art mobile grooming studio built by a company in Indiana, and began her on-the-road service late last year. The van she brings to her clients’ doors (or doghouses) has everything a storefront salon would have—and a few amenities she wouldn’t otherwise enjoy. “I love it,” she says. “You’re not stuck in four walls and the dogs like it better. It’s more relaxing for them.”

Once she arrives at a client’s house, having already previously consulted with the owner, she’ll take her charge on board. The pet “parent” has to remain outside for insurance reasons, “and, honestly, they behave a lot better without their parent around,” she says. Just maybe there’s another reason— Ann talks to each dog as she works, “as if I expect them to answer me.” And they must be taking in at least part of the one-sided conversation, because even if they’re not especially fond of being bathed, or don’t appreciate the fact that they leave smelling better, at least by human standards, repeat clients are invariably happy to see her.

One of her most challenging clients is a furry, excitable Newfie, who, when Ann first met her, had a very matted coat. Her owner has to give her calming medication first, which can make it hard for the animal to cooperate. “We have to take our time. If she starts to get nervous, we love on her and play with her. She’s so big and you don’t want her to get upset.” After that first visit, her owner texted Ann to tell her the animal was considerably happier. “If dogs are unhappy with getting bathed, I talk to them, stop and pet them or play with them. It can be on the dog’s schedule. So I tell clients I might be half an hour early or late.” She has a range of natural and specialty products at her disposal, including a special shampoo for skunk-odor abatement. Thankfully she hasn’t had a reason to use it yet.

Services she offers include hydro massage, doggie facials, tooth brushing, ear cleaning, nail trimming, cuts and trims, and a range of animal supplements she’s found her own dogs thrive on. To find out more, check out caninechicgrooming.com or call (570) 404-9982. ~ Karey Solomon

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Boutiques & Specialty Shops Canyon Country Fabrics HOURS: Tues, Tues, Wed. & Fri. 9-4; Thurs. 9-7; Sat. Sat. 10-3; CLOSED Sun. & Mon. 664 KELSEY ST., WELLSBORO, PA 16901 • 570-724-4163

Now Offering...

QUILTING CLASSES

Call (570) 724-4163

For All Your Quilting Needs!

73 Main Street • Wellsboro, PA 16901

570-948-9299

Hours: Mon-Sat. 9:30am-7:30pm; Sun. 10am-6pm

PAT T E R S O N FA R M S Terry Patterson—Owner 4th Generation • Still Going Strong pattersonmaplefarms.com

CALL US TO SET UP A TOUR FOR YOUR FAMILY! See the largest privately owned maple producer in PA.

Maple Syrup • Maple Sugar • Maple Cream • Maple Crunchies • Maple Candy • Maple Coated Nuts Maple BBQ Sauce • Much More!

OPEN ALL YEAR!

Our very own all natural grass fed beef & eggs now available call to place your order.

119 Patterson Road Westfield, PA 16950

(814) 628-3751 OPEN HOUSE

Annual in March!

Visit our website for more information.

www.wellsboropa.com 39

Bruce Dart Photography

W

hether it means wearing a stuffed animal on his head to get a toddler to smile, or drifting 400 feet above the landscape in a power parachute to see it at its most magical, photographer Bruce Dart will do whatever it takes to capture people—and nature—at their best.

“I photograph people for a living but do the other stuff for fun,” he says. A self-described “people person,” he delights in helping subjects feel at ease in front of the camera, and he’s had long years of practice at it. Many of his portrait subjects are high school seniors. Invited to bring props that visually sum up their proudest achievements, many bring sports gear or musical instruments. One year, he says, there were a lot of guitars, another, a great many saxophones. “I enjoy people. Putting subjects at ease comes pretty easily,” he says, despite having once been a shy kid himself.

On one occasion, when parents brought their son to the studio, everyone was visibly riled, having argued on the way there over the parents’ insistence their son be photographed in a necktie. Bruce talked to the boy, who eventually agreed to be photographed dressed formally in the clothes his parents wanted, promising he could be photographed afterwards in a change of clothes he preferred.

To everyone’s astonishment, after the first photographs, the boy changed into two different sport jackets—with two different ties.

Often, to break the ice, Bruce will ask kids whether they’ve studied physics. “I say ‘pay attention because I flunked it in high school and I have to deal with it every day,’” he jokes. “You never know when it [the subject you might have disliked in school] comes in handy. I took typing in high school and hated every second of it. And I worked for a decade in public relations at Mansfield University [his alma mater] when I typed every day—that was before computers. One never knows.”

These days he spends a lot of time on the computer, developing and editing photos. Or working on one of the numerous newsletters he produces for various organizations. He’s known for his civic engagement—much of his picture-taking serves a variety of organizations that help the community.

“I’m involved in most of the groups around—I’ve lost count!” he admits. He and his father built the veterans park in Mansfield. And in addition to continually augmenting his education by attending seminars, he’s given so many classes himself he was awarded a Photographic Craftsman degree from the Professional Photographers of America in appreciation of his service.

These days he photographs everything except weddings—after more than 500, he hung up his tux and turned back to portraiture and landscapes. Reach him at photosbydart.com and at (570) 6623919. ~ Karey Solomon

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A “Wonder-ful� Place to Experience!

The Town Located along scenic Route 6, quaint and quiet Wellsboro offers a unique experience to all visitors. The town boasts distinct shops that appeal to all ages and genres, eateries that cater to all tastes, and lodging provided through hotels, motels, beautiful Victorian style bed and breakfasts, and various rentals.

The Canyon Minutes from town, one can enjoy Pine Creek Gorge; a Natural National Landmark.

The Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania provides 47 miles of scenic beauty within two State Parks (Leonard Harrison and Colton Point), hiking, backpacking, bicycling, rafting, canoeing, kayaking, and birding. There is something for adventurers of all levels and interests.

The Rail-Trail The canyon also hosts the Pine Creek Trail; 62 miles of flat-grade surface, the length of the canyon. USA Today named the trail a Top 10 Bike Ride. The trail offers year-round access through cross-country skiing, horsedrawn wagon rides, and an equestrian trail.

The nearby Asaph area offers intermediate and advanced mountain biking.

For more information visit www.wellsboropa.com www.wellsboropa.com 41

Courtesy Lahey Family Fun Park

Support Our Local Restaurants

W

e all have to eat, but sometimes we just don’t want to cook. It’s true that right now our dining out options are not what we might prefer. However, local restaurateurs are stepping up to the plate, the breakfast/lunch/dinner plate, that is, and offering an assortment of dine-in, dine-out, try-it-at-our-sidewalk-tables, take-it-home, take-it-anywhere-you-want possibilities.

Dumpling House, 31 Main Street: The Dumpling House has a few outside tables, and you can, as always, get all your favorite Hunan, Cantonese, and Szechuan selections to go. There is no inside seating at this time. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Call (570) 724-4220 or go to wellsborodumplinghouse.com.

Fox’s Pizza Den and Terry’s Hoagies, 7 Charleston Street: All the regular yummy stuff continues to be available. Inside seating is limited to eight, but there are no limits to how many pizzas, strombolis, subs, or tempting appetizers you can get to go! Don’t forget to check out the daily specials. Fox’s is open Sunday through Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Call (570) 948-9180, go to foxspizza.com, or Facebook.

Harland’s Family Style Restaurant, 17 Pearl Street: A Wellsboro tradition since 1986, Harland’s is open daily from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. and offers hungry visitors delectable menu options like breakfast all day, the 21-Bun Salute (that’s twenty-one different burgers), steaks, and seafood, including a Friday fish fry, plus innovative daily specials. There is a new take-out menu, so you can enjoy your meal at home or maybe at Packer Park, but even at 50 percent capacity there is plenty of inside dining space. Call (570) 724-3311 to order, and find the daily specials listed on Facebook.

Johnny’Z Hot Rod Café, 17½ Crafton Street: You can still enjoy your favorite nachos, tacos, spuds, wraps, and burritos, but, due to space limitations, no more than six persons may occupy the shop at any one time. Staff will be masked and maintaining social distance while that’s required and, unless health issues prevent you from doing the same, they’d appreciate it if you would also comply. Johnny’Z is open 11 a.m. to 7p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, offering take-out and a temporary local delivery service. Call (570) 723-1221, go to johnnyzhotrodcafe.com, or Facebook.

Native Bagel, 1 Central Avenue: It’s pretty much business as usual at the Native Bagel, which makes it easy to enjoy one (or two) of their thickly frosted cinnamon buns—just the kind of

42

indulgent, decadent comfort food these times call for. The business is following Centers for Disease Control guidelines to help keep everybody safe, so seating is limited and masks are required, but the same friendly service and delicious homemade bagels, cookies, soups, salads, and sandwiches are still available, as is take-out and delivery. Call (570) 724-0900, visit thenativebagel.com, or go to Facebook.

Penn Wells, 62 Main Street: The historic Mary Wells dining room and new outdoor courtyard seating area are open. The dining room is open Wednesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The courtyard is open 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Reservations are encouraged. Consistent with Pennsylvania regulations, the dining room is operating at 25 percent capacity and alcoholic beverages are available only when accompanied by a meal. Carry out and pick-up are available.

Call (570) 724-2111 or go to pennwells.com.

Red Skillet, 104 Main Street: The fun, innovative, and delicious food you’ve always loved at Red Skillet—think local beef, rad na Thai, pesto tortellini, or a chicken avocado sandwich—is still here. You can get it to go; outside seating is available; inside seating capacity is limited, but there is overflow possible into the adjacent lobby. Adult beverages are available with food.

Catering is an ongoing option. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mondays, and 10 a.m. through 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Call (570) 787-4545 or visit redskillet.net or Facebook.

Steak House, 29 Main Street: Since 1957, the family-owned Steak House has been a Wellsboro dining destination, and that hasn’t changed. The dining rooms are operating at 25 percent capacity, so reservations are suggested, but there is now some outside seating. Most menu items are available for dining in or taking out, including luscious ice cream drinks like mudslides or piña coladas. Hours are still 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Call (570) 724-9092 or find out more at thesteakhouse.com and on Facebook.

Timeless Destination, 77 Main Street: If you’ve always wanted to enjoy your Timeless Destination lunch or dinner seated outside, now you can. “Or, you can come in and have a good time,” says manager Terrance Tatum. Of course you can take your pizza, chicken piccata, or crab-topped ravioli home to savor. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Call (570) 724-8499 to order; Terrance suggests making reservations as seating capacity is limited at this time.

Tony’s Italian Cuisine, 3 Main Street: Homemade garlic knots, anyone? Subs? How about the “Tony Special” stromboli, pizza, pasta, fish or chicken dinners? All the good things you love— including cannoli and tiramisu—are still available at Tony’s. You can dine in—seating capacity is limited at this time—dine outside at the café-like sidewalk tables, or get your Tony’s favorites to go and enjoy them at home or maybe on The Green. Visit tonysitaliancuisine.com or call (570) 724-2090. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and 10:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Wellsboro Diner, corner of Main Street and East Avenue: It’s still the “Famous Wellsboro Diner,” with the familiar breakfasts, lunches, and dinners that Diner fans know and love. It is a cozy space, and so if things are full inside, you may need to wait outside for the next available table. Please have your face mask in use. You can get your favorites to go. The Diner is open on Sunday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. the rest of the week. Call (570) 724-3992 or find them on Facebook.

Wellsboro House, 34 Charleston Street: Hungry for a South Philly cheesesteak? This is the place to get one. Dinner options include Louisianna-flavored catfish, pasta, and steaks, and there are sixteen beers on tap—made right across the street. The inside is spacious, so even with limited seating you can enjoy your meal in this historic spot. There is seating outside, too, or you can get your mahi-mahi to go! Don’t forget the brewery across the way in the equally historic train depot. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to close, and Friday and Saturday, noon to close. Call (570) 723-4687, visit thewellsborohouse.com, or find them on Facebook. ~Gayle Morrow

www.wellsboropa.com 43

Courtesy Lahey Family Fun Park

Dumpling House

Y

ou’re in a very rural, very small town in northcentral Pennsylvania. Your stomach growls, and you plan to check the local eating establishments. Someone in the group says, “I feel like Chinese.” You smile, thinking that was a fat chance in Wellsboro. Well hold your horses. Wellsboro hosts a highly regarded Chinese restaurant right on 31 Main Street. It’s called the Dumpling House.

The Dumpling House is one of many fine eateries in Tioga County in general, and in Wellsboro in particular. It is run by the hard-working couple Tsao Ya Fu and his wife Yu Chih (known locally as Gary and Yuchi). The two have been serving local diners and tourists at the Dumpling House for over twenty-two years. In fact, Gary, Yuchi, and their super Chinese fare have become a Wellsboro institution.

Gary got his training in a culinary arts school in New York City that specializes in Chinese cuisine. His training is visually displayed and gastronomically evident in the yummy food. The menu is a rather intimidating 160 items. Gary explains, “Most people start with one of our dumpling choices. We are, after all, the Dumpling House. The next time they come in, they will probably try a chicken, beef, or pork-based selection.” Local folks make the Dumpling House a regular stop. Most customers are amazed at the reasonable prices. Out of town visitors are even more amazed at the delicious fare that Gary and Yuchi offer. Visitors can be overheard saying, “I was surprised that this little town would have a Chinese restaurant.” Or, “I was anxious to try this Chinese place in Wellsboro. And I was very pleasantly pleased with the excellent food that is served.” And, “I was shocked [in the best possible way] at the prices.”

Normal hours, in normal times, for the Dumpling House are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Summer time allows for dining outdoors while watching the shoppers stroll Main Street. The business does a lot of take-out service, especially in COVID-19 times. The door swings in and out constantly as customers pick up their orders. Note that Dumpling House menus can be taken out for future reference—and for ordering take-out. Call from home or your motel room and, by the time you get to the Dumpling House, you can pick up your eats.

Gary and Yuchi’s charm and warmth bring people back time and time again. They will make you feel like a friend in minutes. You’ll like them. And you’ll love their food. Call (570) 7244220 or go to wellsborodumplinghouse.com. ~ Don Knaus

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Great Eats

QQ

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WWW.THESTEAKHOUSE.COM www.wellsboropa.com 45

Courtesy Lahey Family Fun Park

J & D Kettle Corn

J

oe and Donna Widger have missed seeing folks at the festivals they’ve been attending for the last nine years since they began this venture known as J&D Kettle Corn. Due to the pandemic, they haven’t been at a fair since last December. But now, with some businesses open and schools starting, they’re hoping to get out some and also help with fundraisers.

That’s the only way you’ll get some of the best Pennsylvania kettle corn around.

In the mid- to late 1700s, Europeans brought the treat to America, where the Pennsylvania Dutch kept the tradition alive. In the 1900s you stopped seeing it around as much, but this century has seen a resurgence of interest in the sweet and salty treat. When Joe retired from real estate he needed something fun and not time-consuming—and if they could make a little money at it that’d be fine, too. He saw folks selling kettle corn at the Maple Festival, and they looked like they were having fun. So… Joe and Donna are certified as Pennsylvania Preferred, meaning not only is the corn popped in PA, it’s grown here. “Our corn comes from Lancaster County,” says Joe. And not just any corn, but mushroom corn. Don’t worry, it’s called that because of the shape, not the taste. “It pops bigger and better, and blows the chafing off so it’s less fibrous,” he explains.

Used to be, people used copper kettles, but now Joe and Donna use a 160-quart stainless steel kettle over a portable gas burner. They put in corn oil and, after the test kernels pop, add the rest of the kernels. After twenty-five percent pops, they add the sugar and stir constantly so it doesn’t burn. Joe makes a point of sharing this secret: “It’s not the same thing when you don’t cook the sugar onto the corn.” Then they put it in a sifter to remove unpopped kernels and the chafing, and lightly salt it before bagging. It takes two-and-a-half minutes to pop ten to twelve cups, enough for nine or ten medium bags.

“In eight hours at a busy fair,” Joe says, “we pop about sixteen fifty-pound bags of corn kernels.

We have a few workers to help us. It takes four people to keep up when we come to Dickens weekend.” Will they be at Dickens this year? “If it happens we will be there,” Donna affirms.

If you want to contact them about a fundraiser, call (570) 549-2021 or message them on Facebook. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait for the next fair. One thing’s for sure—when things get hoppin’, they’ll be poppin’. ~ Lilace Guignard

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Great Eats

7 Charleston Street

570-948-9180 OPEN Sunday - Thursday: 10:30 am — 9 pm Friday & Saturday: 10:30 am - 10 pm

DELIVERY • CARRY-OUT • DINE-IN

www.wellsboropa.com 47

Courtesy Lahey Family Fun Park

Slippery Elm Reflexology

D

aryl McCullough has been helping people in Tioga County with their illnesses and injuries for over fifteen years—but it helps if you aren’t real ticklish. He learned of reflexology, an ancient practice that uses nerve endings in the feet, hands, and ears, in his early twenties when his mother had problems with her sciatic nerve. “I thought it was a scam—placebo effect,” Daryl explains, “so I eventually went with her. I saw so many people coming into the office barely able to walk, and then they left upright.”

So, he got certified and also completed training in herbology. The herbs complement his specialized and effective form of reflexology that is far more than a foot rub. He enjoys educating clients about the herbs readily available in their backyard—like plantain, ground ivy, red clover, and that pesky dandelion—and how they can be used to heal. He once made most of his own herbal remedies, but now he’s too busy. While he sells a broad range of supplements and natural health items at his office, he is not a distributor for anything and there’s no minimum purchase.

Growing up and raising a family here, Daryl likes the rural, natural way of life. As we talk on the phone he apologizes for the rooster crowing—“I keep trying to get away from him, but he keeps following me.” He says people here are open-minded, though they often come to him after trying many other approaches. “I do not diagnose, cure, or treat any disease,” he clarifies. “I help your own body to heal itself using the old ways and in harmony with nature.” Reflexology is not a substitute for other competent medical care.

Daryl often sees folks for back and neck pain, kidney failure and stones, tremors, sciatica, neuropathy, breathing, digestive distress, thyroid function, shoulder and knee issues, hormone/pregnancy issues, post-surgical pain, nerve pain, weight loss, and assorted other problems. Obviously not everyone finds what they’re looking for here. Daryl says, “With my unique method I do help an overwhelming majority of those who come to me, I just can’t help everyone. I do routinely get people who’ve tried everything else only to find this simple healing method works, even on decades-old injuries! This is a very powerful therapy when applied correctly.”

Recently he moved his Westfield office into Wellsboro at 5½ East Avenue, right behind the diner.

Now he’s more accessible to visitors whose migraine or inflamed knee threatens to ruin their weekend. The best way to make an appointment is via slipperyelmreflexology.com, but you can also call (814) 367-5797. He has free parking, and he has been able to stay open throughout red and yellow phases of the coronavirus shutdown. ~Lilace Guignard

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Becoming A Local

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Serving Tioga and Potter Counties! www.wellsboropa.com 49

Courtesy Lahey Family Fun Park

`

High-Speed Internet Comes to the Mountains

I

n 1935, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Rural Electrification Administration into law as part of his New Deal relief program. The government hoped to build a stronger economic infrastructure in rural areas by financing electrical service and getting basic utilities to all Americans. For a variety of reasons, it didn’t work. One year later, 75 percent of Pennsylvania farms still had no electricity. The government reorganized its plan and, within five years, underserved rural residents united into fourteen electric cooperatives organized under the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association.

Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative incorporated in Mansfield during the fall of 1936 as one of those fourteen. Today it provides electricity to parts of seven counties: Tioga, Potter, Bradford, Lycoming, Clinton, McKean, and Cameron.

In 2019, the Center for Rural Pennsylvania and the Federal Communications Commission reported that approximately 800,000 of Pennsylvania’s citizens (6 percent of the population) don’t have high-speed Internet access. This past spring, Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative launched an ambitious, six-year program to change the state of poor Internet connectivity in north central Pennsylvania. Through Tri-Co Connections, its telecommunications subsidiary, the cooperative is bringing fiber-optic broadband to its membership across 5,000 square miles.

Internet access first came to homes and businesses in north central Pennsylvania through phone lines. Known as dial-up, this type of access faded in the mid-2000s with the rise of broadband, a wireless service using radio waves. Broadband uses routers to connect computers into a network, and modems that send signals between this network and the Internet. Cable broadband uses cable television wires to connect customers who share bandwidth, which is the capacity to process and transfer data. Most Internet users in north central Pennsylvania have access through satellite service or DSL. Transmitting signals through unused telephone wires, DSL-based broadband goes directly into consumers’ homes. Its speed is often adversely affected by the distance between the home and the Internet Service Provider station, and by the weather.

On April 7, Tri-Co Connections connected a Potter County family with 100 Mbps of broadband service, marking the first phase of an $80 million plan to bring fiber-optic service to all Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative members within the next five to six years.

Eighty-four years after its founders brought electricity to their communities, Tri-County has become the first of the rural electric cooperatives to bring what has become another utility denied to underserved populations because of cost and access: high-speed Internet.

To read the complete version of this story, visit issuu.com/mountainhome/docs/june_2020. ~ Carrie Hagen

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Our Neighbors

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