The Mark Twain connection in Ithaca, NY is that
the Langdons, Olivia's parents, had an apartment
on the commons in Ithaca and she was conceived
there before they left Ithaca, for Elmira,
and Lance's paper at the conference told us of Twain's visit to Ithaca.

just thought it would be fun to mention :)

Jules

> Just to update everyone on the efforts over here in Redding. Below is a
> press release that went out to all the papers in Connecticut this week.
> Making connections has been a lot of fun and hopefully I get a positive
> response from historical societies and town historians via this release
> and
> find connections all over the State.
>
> I've had the best luck with making connection using the Mark Twain
> Project's
> letter search feature. That site is pure gold! I'd bet many States, towns,
> cities could make connections too. If anyone hears of similar projects
> please let me know and I'll link to them.
>
>
>
> Does Your Town Have a Twain Connection?
> Redding Historian Brent M. Colley Wants to Know
>
> April 21, 2010 marks the Centennial of Mark Twain's passing and provides
> the
> residents of Connecticut with a great opportunity to showcase and
> celebrate
> Twain's life in Hartford and Redding, Connecticut throughout the year
> 2010.
>
> Mark Twain (a.k.a. Samuel L. Clemens) called a number of places home over
> the course of his lifetime, however, his years in Connecticut came during
> very significant periods in his life. These years and the people and
> places
> that occupied them are the focus of a very special program Redding
> Historian
> Brent M. Colley is working on for 2010.
>
> Having partnered with The Mark Twain Library and Artist Susan Durkee, Mr.
> Colley is currently securing funding in an effort to place exhibits in
> every
> public library and/or public place that wants to be a part of this
> celebration. The exhibits will include artwork, photos and information
> brochures about Twain's life, his work and his friends in Connecticut.
> These
> Exhibits will be free to the public and free to the libraries and public
> places that display them.
>
> "The most exciting feature in this project, to me, is the opportunity to
> explore the Friends of Twain and make connections to Twain in towns &
> cities
> across Connecticut. To date I've been amazed at the number of people and
> towns connected to his life and I cannot wait to make others aware of
> these
> people and their accomplishments." Said Mr. Colley in a recent interview.
>
> Current connections are:
>
> Easton, Connecticut- Helen Keller
>
> Bethel & Bridgeport, Connecticut- P.T. Barnum
>
> Danbury, Connecticut- Twain had a cat named Danbury and the builders of
> Stormfield were from Danbury
>
> Ridgefield, Connecticut- Cass Gilbert who owned the Keeler Tavern and the
> Knox family who visited Twain a number of times at Stormfield
>
> Westport, Connecticut- Ned Wakeman, who was the prototype for Twain's ship
> captain in Roughing It.
>
> Saybrook , Connecticut- Fenwick (Hall) Hotel where Twain and family stayed
> and where some believe he began writing Tom Sawyer
>
> New Haven, Connecticut- Twain visited New Haven in 1885 and befriended
> Warren McGuinn, an African-American student who was struggling to remain
> in
> school. Twain paid the young man's expenses at Yale and McGuinn went on to
> become a respected lawyer who would later mentor Supreme Court Justice
> Thurgood Marshall.
>
> Hartford, Connecticut- Obviously the Hartford area has many friends and
> the
> Mark Twain House Museum would be a grand showcase for these exhibits.
>
> Vernon, East Hartford, Buckland, Vernon, Tolland, Westford, Ashford, North
> Ashford, West Woodstock, and New Boston, Connecticut- Joe Twichell and
> Twain
> made an amazing trek from Hartford to Boston in 1874.
>
> Mr. Colley feels that merging information about Twain with information
> about
> the "Friends of Twain" in the exhibits of each town and city that has a
> Twain Connection is a great way to promote town pride and Connecticut
> tourism in the future.
>
> "This project's objective is to promote and raise awareness of Clemens'
> time
> in Hartford and Redding, Connecticut. If we can do the same for the towns
> and cities connected with Twain that would be an amazing and welcomed
> bonus.
> I want to work with local historians and local historical societies to
> help
> promote their resources and efforts. Making Connecticut a destination for
> Twain research is my ultimate goal."
>
> Towns and Historians that would like to assist Brent in his efforts can
> contact him at 860-364-7475 or [log in to unmask]
>
> Businesses and Individuals that would like to sponsor these exhibits can
> forward their tax deductible contributions to:
>
>
> Mark Twain Library
> P.O. Box 1009
> Redding, Connecticut 06875
> Attn: The Mark Twain Centennial Project
>
> Further information on the project is available at:
> http://www.twainproject.blogspot.com
>