At 1 p.m. this coming Tuesday, Sept. 15 in the Deane Center lobby at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro, the free one-hour Golden Afternoons program, open to men and women ages 65 and older, will feature a presentation by Zack Buck about Nessmuk’s Sporting Goods located across the street at 91 Main Street.

Free light refreshments will be provided. 

“My wife Tracy and I are the owners of Nessmuk’s Sporting Goods in Wellsboro,” Zack said. “On Sept. 15, I will be talking about how we got here, the things we’ve done in the past and our plans for the future, as well as the impact we have had on our community and the impact the community has has on us.” 

“We held our grand opening for Nessmuk’s Sporting Goods on October 4, 2024, almost two years ago. In our store, we provide information about George Washington Sears who wrote under the pen name, “Nessmuk”, lived on Central Avenue in Wellsboro, died on May 1, 1890 at the age of 68 and was buried in the Wellsboro Cemetery on Nichols Street.

This year marks the 205th anniversary of Nessmuk’s birth on Dec. 2, 1821. He was a pioneer conservationist, poet, adventurer, canoeist and outdoor writer, and a fierce critic of the human impact on the natural environment as evidenced in his extensive writings in “Forest and Stream,” the forerunner of “Field and Stream.”

Nationally, Nessmuk is known as the author of “Woodcraft” about camping. Published in 1884, it became the “Bible for outdoor recreation” and is still in print today. “Woodcraft” was also a source for the early Boy Scout movement. 

On Saturday, Aug. 22, the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association honored Nessmuk with readings from his various works and a plaque dedication at Nessmuk’s Sporting Goods.

Those planning to attend Zack Buck’s Sept. 15 Golden Afternoons program are asked to RSVP by visiting the Deane Center’s website at deanecenter.com. For more information about Golden Afternoons, call the Deane Center at 570-724-6220.