Yankees in the Mist Trivia Quiz

Answer: Mount Desert Island, ME

Mount Desert Island is home to Acadia National Park. It is the third largest island on the US east coast behind Long Island, NY and Martha's Vineyard, MA. The permanent population of the island is about 10,000 inhabitants, but it draws about four million visitors annually. The eastern side of the island is noted for Cadillac Mountain the highest point on the US Atlantic coast. Cadillac Mountain is named for Antoine Laumet the self-proclaimed de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac. He is most famous for being the founder of Detroit, Michigan.

The other answers all have namesakes in other states that are much more prominent, Coney Island and Long Island in New York and Grand Isle in Louisiana.

Answer: Martha's Vineyard, MA

Martha's Vineyard, unwittingly, became a testing ground in 2000 and subsequent years for the mechanics of bio-terrorism, all caused by an outbreak of tularemia (rabbit fever). Tularemia is caused by Francisella tularensis that the CDC (Center for Disease Control) describes as a 'category A' bio-terrorism infection, and F. tularensis as one of the six most likely biological agents to be used by terrorist. The cause of the outbreaks appears to be from direct inhalation of the bacterium. Landscapers who spend a great amount of time using blowers, lawn mowers, and brush cutters had a much higher risk than those that did not. Hence the intense interest of the CDC, aerosolization of biological agents has been one of the major stumbling blocks to the effective use of infectious agents as weapons. As of 2006 outbreaks have occurred every year since the original outbreak in 2000. Studies are continuing.

The other answers are all related to Clinton's numerous scandals. He claimed to smoke pot (marijuana) just once but didn't inhale. Shag (British and Irish slang word meaning sexual intercourse) and smutty (colloquial term for obscenity) refer to the Monica Lewinsky affair. Smuttynose Island itself is not without a bit of scandal. It is the site of a double axe murder. "The Weight of Water", Anita Shreve's best-selling novel, is based on.

Answer: Chappaquiddick, MA

In 1969 Edward (Ted) Kennedy's car, while taking campaign worker Mary Jo Kopeckne home from party, plunged off of Dike Bridge. Ted managed to escape from the submerged car and swim to shore. His passenger was not so lucky. Kennedy did not report the accident to police until morning and not until he discussed the matter first with his lawyer and Mary Jo's parents. He later pled guilty to leaving the scene of an accident after causing injury. Kennedy's actions that night along with his bizarre explanation of what happened, which often seemed impossible to have occurred, has led to many conspiracy theories, from Ted was framed by people who had it out for the Kennedy family to Mary Jo was murdered by Ted to hide some immoral act he engaged in.

It is widely speculated, Ted rejected George McGovern's request to be his running mate and refrained from entering the presidential election in 1976, because of the scandal of Chappaquiddick. In 1980 he took on Jimmy Carter, the sitting president, in the democratic primary for president. Carter's campaign effectively used the melody of the Simon and Garfunkel hit "Bridge over Trouble Water" to remind voters of Kennedy's past.

The other answers all refer to the Chappaquiddick incident. Conspiracy theories flourished in the wake of the incident. Ted ducked a 1972 vice-presidential nomination. "I told him no I wished him the best of luck. I told him I'd help him in every way I could, and I shook his hand. The refusal was flat and firm.", said Kennedy. There was the unfortunate death of Mary Jo.

Answer: Rhode Island

In 1636 Roger Williams was banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony, for his religious views. He founded Providence, at the tip of Narragansett Bay, as a place of religious freedom. One year later Anne Hutchinson, banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for heresy, with others including John Clarke purchased Aquidneck Island from the Native Americans and founded Portsmouth, after consulting with Roger Williams. In 1644 Aquidneck Island's name was changed to Rhode Island. In 1663 King Charles II granted John Clarke a charter for Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, thereby uniting the two colonies.

The locals refer to the island as Aquidneck to avoid the confusion that occurs when an island and the state have the same name. Newport, the southern most town on Aquidneck, is home to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. The Breakers is a 70 room Italian renaissance style 'summer cottage' of Cornelius Vanderbilt II. It is the most lavish of the eleven mansions open to the public in Newport.

The other answers are prominent Islands in Rhode Island. Conanicut is the second largest island in Narragansett Bay behind Aquidneck. It comprises the town of Jamestown. Prudence, third largest island in Narragansett Bay, is part of Warwick and is noted for its lighthouse on its eastern most point. Block island, a popular tourist destination, was called "One of the 12 last great places in the Western Hemisphere" by the Nature Conservancy. It is widely held that the term 'Rhode Island' was first used to describe Block Island not Aquidneck. In 1524, after being sighted by Giovanni da Verrazzano, he described it as "about the bigness of the Island of Rhodes". It is similar in shape, too.

Answer: Money Island, CT

Captain Kidd, William Kidd, in an attempt to gain a royal commission as a privateer set out for the Red Sea to capture some pirate ships and return the loot seized to England. After two years of less than fruitful hunting he seized the Quedah Merchant. Unfortunately for Kidd, England's attitude on piracy had changed and Muklis Kahn, an important trading partner of the East India Company, owned the Quedah Merchant. English authorities labeled Kid a pirate and sought his capture. Kidd set sail for New York where he had many influential and wealthy friends that might be able to get him out of his fix. Kidd managed to elude the now numerous pirate hunters and made his way to Block Island, RI. He tried to make arrangements through his friends in New York to negotiate a pardon by claiming he was forced into piracy by his crew.

He was captured without any gold. Later gold worth 10,000 pounds was recovered from Gardiner's Island off the coast of Long Island NY, with the help of John Gardiner to whom Kidd left the gold. Kidd claimed to have 40,000 pounds worth of gold but speculation was it was closer to 400,000 pounds. This has led to many legends as to where the rest of the gold might be. Money Island in the Thimble Island archipelago is just one of many legends. It is approximately 50 miles west of Block Island. Another legend had Kidd traveling up the Connecticut River to bury the treasure. Money Island, CT is not the only Money Island with a Kidd legend, others include Money Island, NC and Money Island, NJ.

Another Thimble Island is named for the captain himself, Kidd Island. The other answers are all Thimble Islands as well, many of which have colorful names.

Answer: Valcour Island, VT

At the battle of Valcour Island, Benedict Arnold, with a rag-tag US navy destined to lose the battle, managed to save the war. Admiral Alfred Mahan wrote "The little American navy on Champlain was wiped out: but never had any force, big or small, lived to better purpose nor died more gloriously, for it had saved the Lake for that year."

Arnold battled the vastly superior British fleet in a narrow passage that prevented at least two of the Royal Navy's larger vessels to be engaged in the battle. By nightfall the American fleet was decimated. The British were just waiting for daylight to continue the battle and board the American vessels. The Americans devised a daring escape, slipping past the British fleet by staying close to shore and muffling their oars that night.

The British at daybreak were back in pursuit of the battered and retreating American fleet. A freshening wind allowed them catch up and they destroyed or captured three American ships on October 13, 1776, two days after the first engagement. It became obvious to Arnold, he would not be able to reach the safe harbor of Crown Point before being captured. If captured the American ships would be put to good use by the British. Arnold ordered the rest of the fleet to the shore, grounding the boats and then setting them ablaze. He made a hasty ground retreat to the safety of Fort Ticonderoga. By October 20 when Arnold reached Fort Ticonderoga with 200 members of his crew, snow was falling and the British were forced to retreat and wait out winter before trying to split America in two.

The other answers are all related to fighting, Spar means to skirmish. An archer is one who uses a bow and arrow and No Man's Land is a term used by soldiers to describe the land between two opposing armies.

Answer: Spectacle Island, MA

For much of its recent history Spectacle island was a spectacle and not a pretty one. In the early part of the 20th century an incinerator on the island burnt the trash from Boston. From the time the incinerator shut down in 1935 until a bulldozer was lost in the trash in 1959, Boston's garbage was dumped on the Island. It remained an eyesore until 1992. Much of the dirt and debris from the big dig (the re-routing of route 93 under-ground, at the time the most costly civil works project in the world) was use to cap the landfill. The island grew to 85 acres from its original 49. The island has been replanted and has become one of the jewels of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area.

The other answers are named after animals and are part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area also.

Answer: New Hampshire and Maine

The dispute over ownership of the land the navy shipyard sits on is recent. Maine passed legislation that all family income is to be accounted for when collecting income tax. New Hampshire has no income tax. A New Hampshire resident that worked at the shipyard had to pay Maine income tax and if the spouse worked, even if she worked in New Hampshire, she must have her income taxed by Maine as well. This outraged many New Hampshire residents in particular Victor Bourre who collected much of the evidence used by New Hampshire to make its case in the US Supreme Court.

In 1977 New Hampshire entered into a concent decree with Maine over lobster fishing. The border was set as the middle of the river. This proved to be the undoing of New Hampshire's case. In an 8-0 decision the Supreme Court dismissed the case without actual hearing New Hampshire's evidence based on the theory of judicial estoppe. Judicial estoppe means a party must argue the same side of a case in all courts, it can't argue one theory in one court and another opposite theory in another. In this instance New Hampshire in 1977 argued the border was the middle of the river, it could not argue later in the US Supreme Court the border was at the edge of the river.

Seavey Island was the site of the Treaty of Portsmouth that ended the Russo-Japanese War. President Theodore Roosevelt won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in arranging the treaty. The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is the oldest continuously operating shipyard of the Navy.

Answer: Nantucket, MA

Nantucket is widely known from the often bawdy limericks that begin "There once was a man from Nantucket", which is surely one of the most common opening lines in poetry. This can be attributed to the fact limericks were often told by whalers and a large number of whalers sailed out of Nantucket. The fact Nantucket was easy to rhyme and lent itself to puns certainly helped.

Nantucket from 1800-1840 was the third largest city in Massachusetts and the "Whaling Capital of the World". Herman Melville wrote, "Two thirds of this terraqueous globe are the Nantucketer's. For the sea is his; he owns it, as Emperors own empires."

The other answers all sparkle, glitter or shine.

Answer: Mohegan Plantation, ME

Mohegan Plantation is a small island community approximately 12 miles off the coast of Maine. A plantation is a designation for a governmental entity that fall somewhere between a township( unorganized territory) and a town.

None of the others are islands, although up until the hurricane of 1938 Deer Island was one. It is now the site of a massive wastewater treatment facility that is the second largest in the US and serves 43 local communities including Boston. The wastewater is discharged though a nearly 10 mile long pipeline that is two feet in diameter into the Atlantic Ocean. The long off shore discharge has had a dramatical improved the cleanliness of Boston Harbor.

Presque Isle's name is derived from a French phrase meaning almost an island. The Aroostook River and Presque Isle Stream form a peninsula in the area.

Island Pond is a village in the town of Brighton VT. It is the birthplace of Rudy Valle. It was home to the Twelve Tribes, which developed out of the Jesus movement of the 1970s. In 1984 amidst accusations of child abuse and child labor law violations, state police and social works seize 112 children in a pre-dawn raid. Eventually all charges were dropped. Frank Mahady, the presiding judge commented, the State of Vermont's "authorization to seize 'any and all children under the age of 18 years old' was broader in scope (though admittedly less Draconian in purpose) than that of Herod the Great."

Answer: Matinicus Isle, ME

Mantinicus Isle is 20 miles from the coast of the Maine's mainland. The ferry between the island and mainland runs approximately once a week. It has through out its history relied on 'frontier justice'. "By the time law enforcement gets here, they've settled their own business, and usually, it's knock-down, drag-out," says Donna Rogers, a local historian.

In the 1750s the first white settler Ebenezer Hall reached an agreement with the local natives that he could clear the island for farming, but not any of the other nearby islands. When Hall decided to clear some adjacent island by burning, the natives took their grievance to the authorities in Boston. They warned if he was not removed they would take the matter into there own hands. When Hall continued to defy them, they killed him.

In 2005 Maine Lobsterman netted 65 million pounds of lobster worth 301 million dollars. One of the densest, most productive, lobster grounds is off the coast of Mantinucus Isle. Skilled lobstermen can earn in the 100,000s of dollars. Anyone with a Maine lobster license can fish almost anywhere in Maine's waters, but the lobstermen of Mantinicus defend their territory from outsiders with ferocity. They have been known to cut trap lines and even ram an outsider's boat. It is common for them to carry guns and they have been known to use them. Maine State Police have occasionally tried to intervene in the so called 'trap wars', but the general vastness of the area and often poor visibility made it nearly impossible to gather the necessary evidence to mount a case.

The other answers are all named after food crops.

Answer: Cuttyhunk, MA

Poocouhhunkkunnah is interpreted to mean "lands end" or "point of departure".
Cuttyhunk is the last of the Elizabeth Islands off the coast of Cape Cod. In 1902 Rev. Edward Everett Hale was the first to link Cuttyhunk to Shakespeare's "The Tempest", when he discovered similar word patterns and phrases in diaries kept by Gabriel Archer and John Brereton. They were two gentlemen adventures on Bartholomew Gosnold's 1602 expedition of the area. Martha's Vineyard was named for Gosnold's infant daughter who dies a year later and the Elizabeth Islands were named for his wife. The town of Gosnold, which Cuttyhunk is part of, is named for the explorer himself. It is from accounts of bountiful catches of a particular fish that the region got its name. "a great store of Cod-fish, for which we...called it Cape Cod," wrote Archer.

There is an obvious avian connection with the other answers. Bird Island is a tiny island in Buzzard's Bay with an automated lighthouse. Eagle Island is the site of polar explorer Admiral Robert Peary's retirement home. Swan's island is named for Colonel James Swan of Fifeshire, who purchased the island in hopes of starting a colony in 1786. Swan never lived on the island.

Answer: House Island, ME

Fort Scammel, named after Alexander Scammel, Adjutant general of the Continental Army who died in the battle of Yorktown, was built in 1808 on the west side of House Island. The Fort was rebuilt in 1862 as preparation for the US Civil War.

As a quarantine station the island was considered ideal by immigration officials enforcing the Emergency Quota Act enacted in 1921. The island was secure so all of it could be used, instead of detainees being regulated to a small area under guard that was the norm for many other detention areas.

The other answers are dwellings too. Flat is a British colloquialism for an apartment and crib is hip-hop slang for house/apartment; it is the place that you live.

Answer: Peaks Island, ME

Peaks Island is part of Portland Maine. The island had thriving summer theaters. The Gem Theater, where Ford worked as an usher in his youth, featured many famous performers. George M. Cohen was known to try out his productions in the local theaters before taking them to Broadway. Jean Stapleton and Martin Landau made their professional debuts at the Greenwood Garden Playhouse that in addition to the Gem was one of three such theaters that once existed on the island. The Gem burnt down in 1934. Many hotels and other building were lost to fire in 1936.

The other answers are all Boston Harbor Islands and are, also, linked as nautical terms. A fathom is 2 yards or 6 feet, and a spinnaker is a special sail made for sailing down-wind

Answer: Abnecotants Island, MA

Abnecotants Island is located in Squam Swamp, which comprises a large section of the northeastern quadrant of Nantucket.

All the others are related to titles. Great Captain Island, named after Captain Daniel Patrick one of the first settlers of nearby Greenwich, is the southern most extent of Connecticut and all of New England. It is home to the Great Captain Island Lighthouse. It has fallen into disrepair, but a restoration is scheduled to begin in 2007-08.

Pirate Captain William Frey was publicly hung on Nixes Mate in 1726 as a warning to other sailor not to turn to piracy. Frey and two other pirates are buried on the island.