Program

Legends & Lore®

Subject

Event, Folklore

Location

7175 Sherman Stedman Rd, Sherman, NY 14781, USA

Lat/Long

42.162697, -79.526209

Grant Recipient

Harmony Historical Society

In the town of Sherman in Chautauqua County, New York, there is an intersection known as Stebbins Corners, or Little America. The crossroads sits on a ridge at one of the highest elevations in the county, and often experiences record high snowfalls over short periods of time.

According to local lore, the name Little America came about after a big snowstorm during the winter of 1935. County snowplow drivers were stranded in Stebbins Corners after their trucks became stuck in deep snow. They took refuge in a little gas station that was located at the intersection. According to the tale, the stranded snowplow drivers nicknamed the area Little America, as it resembled Admiral Byrd’s exploration camp in Antarctica. The name has been used to refer to the area ever since.