Perry History Bite--The legend of the Silver Lake Sea Serpent is firmly established as the leading bit of folklore of Perry and Silver Lake. It seems like the great hoax of 1855 goes on and on. One star-lit summer night in July 1855 a bunch of fishermen were out fishing from a boat on Silver Lake when they saw what was believed to be a long, rough surfaced log in the water. Much to their surprise the “log” began to move clumsily along. Quickly retreating to shore they spread the alarm that a sea serpent was in the lake, even though none of the them had ever seen one! Rumors spread, but in that day embellishments of the monster took place by newspapers and cartoonists. With these rumors came a flood of curious people, with some wanting to capture the monster. Business boomed in hotels, liveries and concession stands. Finally, in autumn, the excitement died down. In 1887 a fire burned the Walker House in downtown Perry. Inside was found what appeared to be the remains of a contraption that could be the sea serpent. Apparently hotel owner A.B. Walker, wanting a gimmick to stimulate business devised a plan with a crony to build a device with coiled wire, painted canvas, some air hoses and a bellows. This plan worked then and now a commemorative Sea Serpent Festival brings business to Perry each summer. (from Perry, NY As It Was and Is)