Program

Legends & Lore®

Subject

Folklore, Legend

Location

6951 Wesley Rd, Silver Lake, NY 14549, USA

Lat/Long

42.700676, -78.023024

Grant Recipient

Silver Lake Institute

In the community of Silver Lake in Wyoming County, New York there is a local legend about a lake monster that turned out to be a hoax, which is still remembered and celebrated to the present day.

In 1855, the owner of the local Walker Hotel concocted a scheme to entice more guests to board at his establishment. Taking inspiration from local stories attributed to the Seneca Nation about a large slug-like monster that once lived in Silver Lake and perished after a thunderstorm, the hotel owner and a group of his friends secretly designed and built an elaborate serpent using wire, painted canvas, and bellows. They floated their creation in Silver Lake and used the bellows and attached hoses to make the monster rise and fall in the water.

After releasing the monster during a few moonlit evenings to frighten fishermen and residents, the hoax worked to create a widespread rumor about a sea serpent living in Silver Lake, despite this not being a sea. News spread and people came to get a glimpse of the creature. The hoax lasted until 1857, when Mr. Walker’s hotel burned, and the charred remains of the creature were discovered.

Locals still enjoy telling this story, and the community holds an annual Sea Serpent festival and parade. The festivities include the creation of replica sea serpents. One will also find sea serpent art installations throughout the hamlet created by local artists out of wood and metal, in homage to the original hoax sea serpent, now fondly recalled and celebrated.