Program

Legends & Lore®

Subject

Folklore, Legend

Location

6903 Laura St, Lyons Falls, NY 13368, USA

Lat/Long

43.616153, -75.356909

Grant Recipient

Lyons Falls ALIVE

The Black River, running through the village of Lyons Falls, has been whispered about for decades, not for its serene beauty but for the elusive creature that inhabits its waters. In 1951, “Wash” Mellick, a local fisherman, was startled when a huge creature surfaced near his boat. He described a fifteen-foot-long river monster, with a dark brown, tapered body, and fins that resembled outstretched hands and silver dollar-like eyes. Mellick attempted to frighten it away by tossing stones, but the creature merely gazed back, unbothered.

This event triggered a town-wide search with academics, conservationists, and students keen to capture this mysterious beast. The old-timers, on the other hand, just chuckled, recounting sightings of this very same creature over the previous decade, always during an electrical storm. The river’s gentle giant, later named “Lyonesse,” has been sighted several times over the years. This mysterious river inhabitant, neither fearsome nor harmful, has sparked the community’s curiosity, leading to news articles and television specials. With every storm, the locals anticipate another encounter with their beloved cryptid Lyonesse.