Elmira College Students Hike Up To Quarry Farm for Mountain Day

Posted on by Center for Mark Twain Studies
Elmira College Mountain Day participants next to the Mark Twain Study at Quarry Farm (c.1920)

Dean Anstice Harris instituted the Mountain Day tradition at Elmira College in October of 1918. The day is not a designated holiday, but rather a day in which classes are cancelled, allowing students, faculty, and staff to engage with each other in memorable and less formal ways.

In early years, students, faculty, and staff enjoyed a picnic lunch and hiked to Quarry Farm and the Mark Twain Study on East Hill. They also participated in games, planting projects, relaxing, and enjoying the colorful foliage. In recent years, Mountain Day has been more campus-oriented. After a number of morning activities, a picnic lunch is served to the entire campus community, and the remainder of the day is spent enjoying the fall weather, games, and outdoor events.

Yesterday, Dr. Charles Lindsay, the President of Elmira College, declared Mountain Day. Elmira College continued the Mountain Day Tradition by running and hiking up the steep climb of East Hill. While the Mark Twain Study is now located on the Elmira College campus, the students, faculty, and staff made the trek and had the opportunity to relax on the Quarry Farm Porch and enjoy the view of the Chemung River Valley.

Elmira College students at the Mark Twain Study before the East Hill trek
Director Lemak talks about the importance and purpose of Quarry Farm
Elmira College community at Quarry Farm