Silver Lake is a hamlet in

Wyoming County, New York Wyoming County is a county in the U.S. state of New York in the state's western area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,531. The county seat is Warsaw. The name is modified from a Lenape (Delaware) Native American word meaning "bro ...

, United States. It is located on

New York State Route 39 New York State Route 39 (NY 39) is an east–west state highway in the western portion of New York in the United States. It begins and ends at intersections with U.S. Route 20 (US 20) apart. The western terminus of NY ...

south of the village of Perry in the Town of Castile. It is named for the nearby lake to the west, which extends from the village of Perry south to Silver Lake State Park near Silver Springs. Silver Lake's main attractions include its scenery, fishing and boating, and its location near

Letchworth State Park Letchworth State Park is a List of New York state parks, New York State Park located in Livingston County, New York, Livingston County and Wyoming County, New York, Wyoming County in the western part of the New York (state), State of New York. T ...

Geography

Silver Lake is located at (42.701729, -78.021951). Its elevation is . The lake is one of few in the United States that has its inlet and outlet at the same end.

History

Silver Lake was the focus of a legend surrounding a

sea serpent A sea serpent or sea dragon is a type of dragon sea monster described in various mythologies, most notably Mesopotamian (Tiamat), Judaeo-Christian (Leviathan), Greek (Cetus, Echidna, Hydra, Scylla), and Norse (Jörmungandr). Mythology and fo ...

that was reportedly seen in the nearby lake in the mid-19th century. According to an affidavit sworn by four men who were out fishing on July 13, 1855, it was a serpent with glowing, red eyes. The resulting frenzy that came from this story created an immense boom for the nearby town of

Perry Perry, also known as pear cider, is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented pears, traditionally the perry pear. It has been common for centuries in England, particularly in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire. It is also made ...

and Silver Lake. After this incident, about 100 other people claimed to see the giant beast. This phenomenon lasted throughout the summer and was last seen towards the end of the season. Despite the lack of appearance, it remained one of the most popular places in America. One of the main beneficiaries of the sea serpent was A. B. Walker, the owner of the Walker Hotel in Silver Lake. When the Hotel burned down in 1857, firemen discovered the remains of the legend: a large mass of canvas. He had constructed the entire monster in order to attract business to the lake. It was said he got the idea from a Native American legend. The community is home to the

Silver Lake Institute Historic District Silver Lake Institute Historic District is a national historic district located at Silver Lake in Wyoming County, New York. The district consists of and is historically significant because of its association with the Silver Lake Institute, a ...

on the east bank of the lake, listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1985.

Today

Silver Lake has yet to revive the popularity it once had, but it remains a favorite among those in the area. The Perry Public Beach has been recently renovated and hosts Shake on the Lake, a Shakespeare company founded in Silver Lake in 2012. The Pioneer Log Cabin and Museum Is a historic building housing artifacts, and a former schoolhouse is on the grounds, moved from the village of Perry. An annual Pioneer Picnic has been held on the grounds since 1874, occurring on the first Sunday in August. A portion of an Indian Council Tree was relocated at the museum in 1882 from Pavilion, Genesee County, for preservation. One attraction that is bringing people from across Western New York is the Charcoal Corral. It houses mini golf, bouncy castles, an arcade, ice cream and pizza parlor, a performance stage, and the Silver Lake Twin Drive-in Theatre.Charcoal Corral and Silver Lake Twin Drive-In - » Home
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References

External links

1SilverLake.com
{{Wyoming County, New York Hamlets in New York (state) Hamlets in Wyoming County, New York