The Big Delights of Small Town New York Quiz

Answer: Ithaca

Ithaca's claim is based on a historically documented incident in 1892. After a hot summer Sunday's work preaching, the local minister asked the local druggist to pour some syrup on some ice cream, and lo, the sundae was born. However, this claim is challenged by the village of Two Rivers, which claims that the local soda fountain owner created the sundae in 1881.

But it appears that the gentleman in question would have been 16 or 17 at the time, and it would have been unlikely that he was the owner of the soda fountain.

Answer: Geneva

Geneva is at the very northern tip of Seneca Lake, the largest and deepest of the Finger Lakes. It is the host of the National Lake Trout Derby. Geneva's claim to be the lake trout capital of the world does not appear to have been verified, but it also does not appear to have been challenged either.

Answer: Waterloo

The origins of the official US Memorial Day holiday go back to the end of the Civil War, when a day was set aside to remember those who had died in the conflict. The first Memorial Day was celebrated on May 5, 1866, in Waterloo NY. Waterloo is the location of the Memorial Day Museum.

Answer: Elmira

Olivia Langdon, sister of Samuel's friend Charles, lived in Elmira. Clemens actively petitioned her parents to allow him to marry her. Samuel and Olivia are both buried in the Langdon family plot in Elmira. Although the more well known of Twain's residences is in Connecticut, Elmira is also the location of one of Twain's studies, which is open to the public.

Answer: Seneca Falls

Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902) was an active abolitionist and promoter of the rights of women. Seneca Falls was the location of the first Women's Rights Convention, at which she presented her Declaration of Sentiments, credited as the source and initiation of the women's suffrage movement in the United States.

In Seneca Falls, you can see the Women's Rights National Monument, maintained by the National Park Service, and visit the National Women's Hall of Fame.

Answer: Auburn

Harriett Tubman (1822?-1913) was born into slavery, but escaped. She helped at least thirteen other slaves to freedom through the Underground Railroad. She was also a spy for the Union Army. Born in Maryland, she lived in Philadelphia after her escape, and rescued her family from slavery in Maryland. After the Civil War, she retired to her family home in Auburn New York and also became active in the women's suffrage movement.

The Harriet Tubman home in Auburn is open to visitors.

Answer: Corning

The Corning Museum of Glass is, according to sources written in 1999, the third most visited attraction in the state, after New York City (1) and Niagara Falls (2). The museum is home to more than 40,000 different decorative glass artifacts and glass art, and extensive exhibits on the scientific and industrial applications of glass. You can also see a demonstration of glassblowing by the artisans of the Steuben Glass studio or make your own glass ornament.

The 18,500 square foot Glassmarket (a personal favourite of mine!) offers a range of glass items for sale, from Steuben and other art glass and crystal to novelties, ornaments, books and (of course) Corningware and Pyrex.

Answer: Seneca Falls

Seneca Falls was visited frequently by director Frank Capra before production began on "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946). A bridge in the centre of town is believed to be the model for the one that George leaps from to rescue Clarence.

Answer: Canajoharie

Webster Wagner (1817-1832), credited with the invention of the Pullman railroad car, lived in the small settlement of Palatine Bridge, on the opposite bank of the Mohawk River across from the village of Canajoharie. The Hotel Webster in Canajoharie was named after Webster.

When the hotel failed, the building was taken over by the Beech-Nut Packing Company. Beech-Nut still operates some facilities in Canajoharie today. The name is taken from the falls near the town and means "the pot that washes itself" in Iroquois.

Answer: Cooperstown

The Glimmerglass Opera Company performs in the Alice Busch Opera Theatre located on the lake in Cooperstown. Often in association with the New York City Opera, Glimmerglass offers four productions every summer, and focuses on new or rare works. There is more to Cooperstown than baseball.