CMTS Announces the 3rd Annual Quarry Farm Fireplace Creative Writing Contest

The Quarry Farm Fireplace

The Center for Mark Twain Studies encourages local elementary school teachers to discuss Mark Twain’s legacy in Elmira and the Southern Tier region of New York State.  2nd grade to 6th grade students from local schools are encouraged take part in this writing contest and submit their creative writing stories.  A “local school” is defined as being no more than 25 miles away from Quarry Farm.  Students and teachers are asked to read a writing prompt, choose a specific fireplace tile with images inspired by Aesop’s Fables, and write a brand new story.

The Parlor and Fireplace at Quarry Farm, c.1890.

Quarry Farm is the home where Mark Twain lived for over twenty consecutive summers and is the place where Twain penned The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, and many other important texts. The deadline for the stories is April 24, 2020. 

Three winners from three different schools will be chosen by the CMTS Staff.  Winners will be able to read their stories on the Quarry Farm porch.  Winners will also be able to bring a section of their class or entire classroom (depending on overall size) for a full-day field trip.  The tour of the grounds of Quarry Farm will conclude with Mark Twain’s favorite dessert: gingerbread, vanilla ice cream and lemonade!