Guild-y American Places Trivia Quiz

Answer: Cow Tipping Capital Of The World

Although it would be quite amusing to see fields of helpless cows trying to maneuver themselves into a standing position, there is no such place as the Cow Tipping Capital of the World. The Bratwurst "capital" is Sheboygan, Wisconsin for their large production of bratwurst. The Snowmobile "capital" is Eagle River, Wisconsin for their snowmobile tourism industry. The Toilet Paper "capital" is Green Bay, Wisconsin for their large production of paper products (including toilet paper).

Trident87 penned this capital question. (Please
note: no animals were harmed in the making of this
question!)

Answer: It is home to Andover and Bates University, and Colby College

Although New York State is home to Cornell University, the three institutions named are in Maine. Brotherhood Winery, Washingtonville, NY, was founded in 1839, and is the oldest winery in the US. The Travers is run at the Saratoga racecourse, Watkins Glen hosts a NASCAR event, and the Olympics were held twice, in 1932 and 1980 at Lake Placid. And yes, New York has its own versions of Paris, Troy and Mexico!

Ertrum contributed this New York minute.

Answer: Wye Oak

The Wye Oak succumbed to the elements and collapsed during a severe storm in 2002. The quiet giant had stood its ground since the 1500s. At the time of its demise it was over 31ft. in circumference and stood 96ft. tall.

Justawful provided the tragic tale of this mighty oak, although we're not entirely sure Wye.

Answer: Virginia Is For Lovers

The original advertising concept, created by Richmond, Virginia advertising firm Martin & Woltz, incorporated various features that were being advertised as travel destinations. For instance, an ad for Virginia's historical attractions would read, "Virginia is for history lovers." A beach-related ad would read, "Virginia is for beach lovers." The agency thought an all-encompassing slogan would be simpler to identify and changed the slogan to the more succinct, "Virginia is for lovers." The slogan, which continues to be used, was first introduced in 1969.

Polaris supplied this lovely question.

Answer: no one attended his burial in an unmarked pauper's grave

Joshua Norton was born in England in 1819, moved to South Africa, and then to America with a considerable sum of money as a younger man. He invested in the rice market hoping to cash in on the influx of Asians, and then it crashed leaving him without much. In 1859 he declared himself Emperor Norton I and sometimes included Mexico in his realm. Some stories say he thought he truly was the progeny of the Bourbon family and really destined to rule. Frequently making proclamations about daily life, including the need for the Oakland Bay Bridge, the League of Nations and airplanes, he would survey his empire each morning, eat freely and be received graciously during his inspections. He wore a uniform with an ornate beaver skin hat with a peacock feather. When he died he had little money, but a subscription was taken and estimates of at least ten thousand people attended his burial. When his grave was transferred in the thirties, many more attended. His well-known dogs Lazarus and Bummer were guaranteed seats beside him at theatre performances around town. Mark Twain did write an epitaph for one of them. One of Norton's most famous edicts forbade anyone to use the term "Frisco", or pay a fine of 25 dollars. He also abolished the Democratic and Republican parties.

The other Californians who are members of the Quiz Makers Guild offer special thanks to Bruyere for highlighting the life of this most important historical figure and providing the timely reminder that one should never call it "Frisco."

Answer: The Husky State

UConn, the state university, has a husky mascot. Connecticut is called the Constitution State because of the Connecticut Compromise, proposed by Roger Sherman, which led to a bicameral legislature. It's called the Nation's Arsenal because it is or was the home of Colt, Remington, Electric Boat (submarines), Pratt & Witney (jet engines), Sikorsky (copters), etc. Finally, it's called the Nutmeg State because Connecticut peddlers were notorious for substituting little wooden balls in place of the expensive spice--still a problem for many a goodwife today.

Nutmeglad, beloved founder of the Quiz Makers Guild, submitted this question.

Answer: The Shining

"The Shining" is set in Colorado and its story takes place in the fictional Overlook Hotel, which is based on a real, similarly situated hotel in that state. King's Maine-based books are also often inspired by real places, such as "Pet Semetery," which King reportedly based on an actual pet cemetery he once visited in Hampden, Maine. For those of us who live in or spend time in Bangor, Maine, Stephen King is a frequent sight in and around the downtown area. Tourists can often be spotted staring wistfully through the bat-shaped black iron gates that stand in front of his house on West Broadway Street.

This question was submitted by gretas, who, believe it or not, used to date a boy whose family once lived in the house that now belongs to Stephen King.

Answer: Ohio is the 7th most populous state in America

Ohio DOES rank 7th out of 50 states in population--that is kind of a surprise, I guess. A fellow from Ohio is sometimes credited with inventing hotdogs in 1900, but they had been introduced at Coney Island (in New York) in the late 1800s. The state is not terribly poor, either. It has many defunct factories, but it hasn't set any records for poverty. Bette Midler was born in Hawaii. Ohio is full of both contemporary and historical things to notice. We're called the Birthplace Of U.S. Presidents. In Canton we have both the Pro Football
Hall Of Fame and the McKinley Monument (the burial place of President William McKinley). The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame is located in Cleveland, Ohio.

Gatsby722 provided this snapshot from Middle America.

Answer: Jefferson

Northern California and southern Oregon have made numerous attempts to combine into a single state and secede from California and Oregon. On November 27, 1941, a California Highway Patrol officer found a group of armed men blocking the highway north to Oregon about 30 miles south of the Oregon border at Yreka. He had encountered the "patriotic rebellion," in which disgruntled citizens of northern California and southern Oregon proclaimed the independence of the State of Jefferson. The leader's original plan was to secede every Thursday until the grievances of Jefferson's people (principally the sad state of highways in the region) had been addressed. Being patriotic citizens of the United States whose disagreement was with the states of California and Oregon, the leaders of the movement suspended their rebellion on the outbreak of World War II in December of 1941. The "San Francisco Chronicle" ultimately received a Pulitzer Prize for their coverage of the uprising. Headquartered in Ashland, Oregon but broadcasting as far south as Redding, California, Jefferson Public Radio is probably the most significant and long-lasting effect of the rebellion. This National Public Radio station began broadcasting from the Southern Oregon State University campus in 1969 and now serves a 60,000 square mile area with a population of one million and serves as a reminder that kindred spirits know no border.

Uglybird crafted this revolting question.

Answer: Modern Times

Modern Times was known to its detractors (of whom there were many) as "The Sodom of the Pine Barrens". The community of roughly 150 residents was carved out of the pine barrens in 1851 by two social reformers, Josiah Warren and Stephen Pearl Andrews. In addition to free love, the community also practiced an early form of what would later be consider communism: necessities, such as clothing, food, shelter, and land, were sold at cost; making a profit was unheard of. Citizens were essentially permitted to do anything they wanted, so long as their actions caused no harm to anyone else. For the thirteen years that comprised its existence, Modern Times was actually crime free. The advent of the Civil War marked the end of this utopian society; in 1864, the residents voluntarily (albeit reluctantly) dismantled the experimental community, which was given the more conventional name of Brentwood (after a place in Essex, England), which it bears today. The community's founders might be pleased to know that free love, as such, is alive and well in present-day Brentwood; sadly, affordable housing and crime-free communities are much rarer commodities.

Jouen58 submitted this free spirited question.