"Books About Tioga County

Kevin Coolidge

I love Tioga County in the autumn. The days are still warm; the nights cool, giving birth to vibrant fall colors. The hills seem almost alive, and the threat of colder weather is a promise on the wind. I anticipate the coming winter nights with a chilling North wind knocking upon the door and frost etching patterns on the windows. Curling up under a thick pile of blankets with one of my favorite local books in hand. Tioga County has enough books available to keep me reading all season long…

Pioneer Life, or Thirty Years a Hunter by Phillip Tomb: Known as the Pine Creek deer slayer of the Alleghenies, Philip Tome was a pioneer farmer who turned to deer hunting for survival. Hunting the headwaters of the Pine, Kettle, Sinnemahoning, and Allegheny Rivers, he shot with a .45 caliber Kentucky-style Flintlock rifle and practiced fire hunting, stalking, hounding, and stand hunting over salt licks. He also captured elk and hunted panthers and bears. The early beginnings of hunting conservation can be seen in Tome's changing emphasis from the kill to the outdoor experience. In addition to his reputation as a hunter, he was an interpreter for Seneca Indian Chiefs Cornplanter and Governor Blacksnake. An American classic recently reprinted by Stackpole Press.

Flatlanders and Ridgerunners by Jim Glimm: James York Glimm was born a city boy. So when he took a position at Mansfield University in the heart of the mountains of Northern Pennsylvania. He was unprepared for the weather, the animals, and getting only three television stations, two of which didn’t come in. He was ignorant, an outsider--yep, a flatlander--As he explains in the introduction to his now beloved book. Folkales from the mountains of Tioga County Pennsylvania. Recently reprinted by University of Pittsburgh Press.

Wood Hick, Pigs-Ear & Murphy by Bill Pippin: The historical story of Galeton Pennsylvania and the surrounding area. This is a great local history with some great photos of our areas logging days, Prohibition, and up until 1976. Unfortunately, this book has gone out of print and in harder to find. Copies usually start around forty dollars. If you have one, take care of it.

Of Woods and Wild Things by Don Knaus: Don’s a local guy writing about hunting and fishing and growing up in Tioga County. Though a work of fiction, there’s more than a hint of the autobiographical. The stories follow a young man through his life from novice fisherman and hunter to seasoned woodsman. There’s fishing and forests, hunting and hiking, camping and canoeing, but the stories are about more than woodcraft and the outdoors. It’s about family and friendship, memories and mentoring, youth and yearning and a rite of passage that is becoming all too uncommon in our modern society.

Birds of Pennsylvania Field Guide by Stan Tekiela: Maybe you don’t get into the woods as much as you used to, but you still love sitting by the window with that pair of binoculars you got last Christmas. There’s also a companion CD so you can learn the songs and sounds of our feathered friends.

Wellsboro’s Own Railroad by Richard L Stoving: The complete story of the railroad running through Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, from its humble beginnings as the Fall Brook Coal Company in 1859, and continuing as the Fall Brook Railway, the New York Central, Penn Central, Conrail, the Wellsboro and Corning and finally, the Tioga Central. Detailed history, plus RARE photos of FBCC steam locomotives, NYC steam and diesel, PC diesels and more.
Woodcraft and Camping by “Nessmuk”:by George W. Sears, better known as “Nessmuk”. Written at a time when woodcraft and woodlore were vital skills. This book contains instructions for roughing it, camping, hiking, fire making, cookout, shelters, and miscellaneous wood lore. This book has remained a cherished classic through four generations of readers.

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod a poem by Eugene Field and illustrated by Johanna Westerman: The statue of this famous trio adorns the Green of Wellsboro.(There’s also a sister statue in Denver, Colorado)This is a great illustrated book of this classic Dutch lullaby.

Bear Hollow by Rod Cochran: It’s 1954 and times are a changing in Pennsylvania’s Steam Valley. The company town owner, a tanner and strip mine operator, learns of virgin timber and soft coal on remote Bear Mountain. Tensions grow when his rival, a forester and returning war hero, outbids him for it. Bear Mountain, however, is the domain of a renegade trapper. A half-breed squatter, the vicious former WWI scout will allow no one to log or mine "his" land. In Steam Valley live three attractive women...vying for the love of two strong, competitive men. There is much to gain, and loves and lives to lose.

Short Hikes in Pennsylvania’s Grand Canyon by Chuck Dillon: Describes 44 short hikes and weekend backpacking trips. The hikes range from two to six hours, and the short backpacking trips can be completed in a weekend. Special features and topography summarize each hike. Be sure to check his other book on Potter County as well as his pictorial, Pennsylvania’s Grand Canyon: A Natural & Human History.

The Bucktail series by Bill Robertson and David Rimer: Of all the unusual combat units of the Civil War; none was more colorful than the Pennsylvania Bucktails. The trials and tribulations of the Bucktails have been captured in an easy and fun- to- read series for children and adults. William P. Robertson is himself a Civil War buff and re-enactor, and his enthusiasm and technical expertise shows through his writing and photographs. Robertson does most of his own photography and there are several great photos of fellow re-enactors, which bring the books and time period to life.

So many books; so little time, and I didn’t even have room to list all the books Tioga County has to offer. Brrr...It’s time to throw another log on the fire, make a hot cup of tea and hunker down with a good book…

Kevin Coolidge

Kevin works at from my shelf books in Wellsboro PA. Check it out at www.wellsborobookstore.com. Be sure to check out his cat’s new book Hobo Finds a Home-A children’s book about a barn cat, who wanted more out of life, illustrated by Susan M.Gage.