All About Buffalo, NY Trivia Quiz

Answer: He was the first man in US history to be executed via the electric chair

Buffalonian William Kemmler was convicted in 1889 for the hatchet murder of Tillie Ziegler, his common-law wife. On August 6, 1890 in New York's Auburn Prison, following an unsuccessful appeal regarding the legality of his sentence, Kemmler became the first man in US history to die in the electric chair. By all acounts, the execution was unusually gruesome. Kemmler wasn't pronounced dead until eight minutes after the initial charge of 1,000 volts was administered (this voltage level had been tested the previous day on a horse, and was believed to be adequate). Several of the seventeen witnesses remaining in the room when he died reported Kemmler's body catching fire, as well as his veins rupturing and causing considerable amounts of blood to leave his body.

Answer: An outbreak of cholera

During the 1840's, the city of Buffalo became a major railroad hub. This caused a considerable influx of new business, and also made Buffalo a popular tourist destination. It was during this time that the city received its first hospital, its first Catholic Church, and its first federal bank.

These events, among others, made the 1840's a time of great expanse and wealth for the city. In 1849, Buffalo faced a cholera epidemic that claimed the lives of nine hundred people. This outbreak was certainly not the worst that Western New York had seen.

The cholera epidemic of 1932 was far deadlier and had a greater impact on the region's economy.

Answer: Frank and Teressa's Anchor Bar

Prior to the invention of the 'Buffalo Wing', chicken wings were often thrown in the trash or used as stock. In 1964, Anchor Bar owners Frank and Teressa Bellisimo served a dish of deep fried chicken wings coated in Cayenne pepper sauce mixed with margarine.

This base sauce (which also contains vinegar) has since remained the preferred ingredient in Buffalo Wings, although several variations of the sauce have often been used. Why, and to whom, the wings were first served depends on which story you believe. Most accounts involve the Bellisimos' son Dominic entering the restaurant late one night looking for something good to eat.

Another story involves a delivery of wings being sent to the restaurant by mistake. As for which of the spouses can claim credit, Dominic Bellisimo himself has claimed on several occasions that it was Teressa, not Frank, who came up with the idea.

Answer: 43

Because the population was more than twice the facility's intended capacity, inmates at the Attica Correctional Facility were 'victimized' by poor conditions. Following breakfast on the morning of September 9, 1971, a group of inmates being led to their cells against their will (breakfast was usually followed by a trip to the prison yard) initiated a riot.

The ensuing standoff ended on September 13th when guards used tear gas and bullets to combat the prisoners. 43 deaths were recorded, a total that included 33 inmates.

Although Attica is not considered part of the Buffalo metropolitan area, its proximity, plus the number of its employees who live in Buffalo, give the prison strong ties to the city.

Answer: The Wilcox Mansion

Presidential inaugurations are rarely held outside Washington, DC, but such a practice is not unheard of. Perhaps the most famous instance was the inauguration of Teddy Roosevelt, who was not only sworn in outside the nation's capital, but he recited his oath without placing his hand on a Bible.

When news of McKinley's condition reached Roosevelt, he was brought to Buffalo by train and stayed with his friend Ansley Wilcox, a prominant Buffalo attorney. It was at Wilcox's mansion that Roosevelt's inauguration was conducted.

He eventually became one of the most radical presidents in US history. The mere thought of him as President was enough to draw the ire of many of his fellow Republicans. Their fears were met again in 1904 when lack of opposition allowed Roosevelt to win the party's presidential nomination.

He went on to defeat democrat Alton B. Parker in a lopsided vote. Roosevelt's presidency is referred to by many historians and politicians as the point in US history where the Presidency assumed certain powers that Congress once held, placing it at the forefront of the US government.

Answer: San Diego

The Buffalo Braves began play in the NBA in 1970 and relocated to San Diego after the 1978 season. The franchise changed its nickname to the Clippers, and in 1984 the team left for Los Angeles.

Answer: Niagara Falls

Cayuga Island was originally chosen to host the Pan American Exposition. When the Spanish-American War began in 1898, plans for the event were postponed. When the war ended, Cayuga Island was no longer considered. Buffalo and Niagara Falls soon began an intense bidding war for the event. Based on its overwhelming population (at the time) as well as its extensive railroad system, Buffalo was chosen by Congress as host. Ironically, it would be Niagara Falls that supplied much of the power used to light the thousands of electric bulbs that swarmed the city for the Exposition.

This was made possible by inventor Nikola Tesla, whose revolutionary idea of 'alternating current' allowed transfer of electrical power from great distances.

Answer: Monroe, Michigan

Although the area that became Buffalo, NY was first settled in 1789, the town itself was not founded until 1801. Monroe, Mich. (1785), Erie, Penn. (1795), and Cleveland, Oh. (1796) are the three settlements of Lake Erie whose foundings occured prior to that of Buffalo.

Answer: San Diego Chargers

Prior to the league's meger with the NFL, the Buffalo Bills were one of the AFL's most dominant franchises. In 1964 The Bills defeated the San Diego Chargers 20-7 to win the AFL Championship. In 1965 the teams met in a rematch, with Buffalo again winning the game, this time by a score of 23-0.

The two contests were indicative of Buffalo's style of play. The AFL was often dominated by superior offensive teams, but it was Buffalo's defense that allowed the team to succeed. In the 1966 title game, the Bills were bulldozed by the Kansas City Chiefs 31-7, a loss as equally historic as it was painful. That season, the Chiefs and the Bills were not only playing for the AFL title, but also for the right to appear in the first Super Bowl.

Answer: Buffalo Savings Bank

The Buffalo Savings Bank was founded in 1846, and later became known as Goldome. Goldome eventually ceased operations, and its buildings were purchased by Buffalo banking giant M&T. The original Buffalo Savings building became Fountain Plaza, a downtown Buffalo landmark.

Answer: 1848

Millard Fillmore, one of several former US presidents with ties to the Buffalo area, became the US Vice President when Whig party nominee Zachary Taylor was elected president in 1848. Taylor died two years later, and Fillmore became president.

Answer: Jim Lorentz

Game three of the 1975 Stanley Cup Finals was unusual in many ways. The unseasonably warm May weather caused the ice in Buffalo's Memorial Auditorium to fog, rendering portions of the game invisible to spectators. During play, Sabres center Jim Lorentz noticed something flying overhead. Soon realizing the object was a bat, Lorentz swung his stick at the animal and killed it. Buffalo sports fans have taken the incident to heart, regarding it as a curse.

The Sabres won the game on forward Rene Robert's overtime goal, but lost the series in six games.

Answer: Beef on weck

Much of Buffalo's culture is derived from the many German immigrants who settled in the area. It is believed that a German baker, at some point in Buffalo's history, introduced a sandwich consisting of roast beef and horseradish on a kummelweck roll (a roll topped with pretzel salt and caraway seeds). Whatever the debate, beef on weck has become an integral part of Western New York's culinary heritage.

Answer: 463,000

The Blizzard of 1977 paralyzed many areas of the Great Lakes region, most notably Buffalo. At that time, the city's population was estimated at 463,000 residents. The combined metropolitan area (Buffalo and its surrounding suburbs) was believed to appraoch 2,000,000.

Answer: By a decision of the inhabitants in 1808

There are many innaccurate folk etymologies, however.