There’s Something in the Water
The Legend of Lake Champlain’s Sea Monster
AN OVERVIEW
Hidden beneath the waters of Lake Champlain, one of America’s most historic bodies of water, resides something completely unknown to science. Reserved only to oral histories and mysterious sightings, Lake Champlain’s “Champy” bears many similarities to Scotland’s Nessie, the monster of Loch Ness.
To tourists, the chance of sighting this hidden creature, categorized by many as a cryptid – a creature that has never been proven to exist – is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the unseen. To scientists, it could be a link to the Earth’s biological past. To cryptid enthusiasts, Champy is an opportunity to prove the existence of an organism yet unexplained by science.
Nestled on the shore of Champy’s domain, Plattsburgh, New York, is one of many towns near and around the lake that find significance and tradition in the legend of Champy.
“The town of Plattsburgh is not ‘home’ of Champy – he’s a resident,” said Michael Cashman, the Town Supervisor for Plattsburgh Around the lake, Plattsburgh, Port Henry, and even Burlington celebrate Champy, or as the Vermonters say, “Champ,” in different ways.
Regardless of who is hunting for Champy, the cultural significance of the elusive being is indisputable. In Plattsburgh, there is an arcade called Champy’s Fun City. Farther south, in Port Henry, in the town of Moriah, there’s been a “Champy Day” every summer since 1985. The festival showcases Champy-themed activities and vendors in a family-friendly event. Champy is also culturally significant beyond New York State. In Burlington, the Vermont Lake Monsters is a baseball team that takes direct inspiration from Champy himself.
The William G. Pomeroy Foundation documents historical sights and lore across New York. At Cumberland Head, there’s a sign dedicated to Lake Champlain’s elusive resident.
LEGENDARY ORIGINS
There was another name for Champy: Onyare’Kowa, the horned serpent of long-ago Iroquois legends. These giant snakes were prevalent in oral storytelling of the Iroqouis people.
Then came the Europeans, and with them, Samuel De Champlain. Champlain, who explored the waters bordering modern-day New York, Vermont and Canada, was reportedly the first European to document his encounter with the great snake. While exploring America, Champlain frequently published journals of his experiences that were popular to read in Europe. In 1609, Champlain allegedly recorded an encounter with a 20-foot fish in the lake. Contrary to popular belief, there is no proof to support the claim that he described the sea serpent during his travels.
The legends of the Iroquois and Champlain’s popular journals cemented the folklore of Lake Champlain’s monster and continued to fascinate generations. Over the next 300 years, even more sightings would claim the existence of a seemingly non-violent cryptid.
SIGHTING CHAMPY
In 1819, according to the Plattsburgh Republican, Captain William Crumb sighted a monstrous creature while upon the waters of Champlain. The article, “Cape Ann Serpent on Lake Champlain,” garnered great interest in the mysterious creature. In the report, Captain Crumb detailed a large monster – about 200 feet in length – being followed by sturgeons. Nearly 200 yards away, the sea monster allegedly had a white forehead with red features on its neck. Over the next centuries, this account would be one of many that caught the public’s attention.
A similar account dates several decades later when in 1883 Sheriff Nathan H. Mooney reported a sighting to the Plattsburgh Morning Telegram, describing a lake monster. According to his report, Mooney sighted a disturbance in the lake’s surface while patrolling the coast. Upon closer inspection, Mooney determined the creature to be the equivalent of nearly 100 yards, or a football field. With a dark, shimmering body and round white spots – similar to Crumb’s report – the monster traversed gracefully before resubmerging itself into the depths of Champlain.
Perhaps the most prominent sighting, however, is the 1977 Mansi photograph. Taken by Sandra Mansi on the coast of Lake Champlain, the photo captures a long, dark, serpentine figure on the coast. Significantly, the photograph accurately reflects the eyewitness accounts of Champy. The image was so popular that it appeared in countless books, documentaries and articles. Although skeptics doubt the validity of the photograph, claiming it to be visual distortion, editing manipulation or natural phenomena, the popularity of the photo and the lasting impact it has had on Lake Champlain folklore remains key to the continued hunt for the lake monster.
THE SEARCH FOR TRUTH
Around the lake, various organizations and institutions actively engage in efforts to find and document uncharted territory within Lake Champlain. The Burlington ECHO Center, in particular, has collaborated with scientific institutions to study the lake’s ecology. While most efforts primarily target ecosystem stability, habitat conservation and species documentation, the research also contributes valuable information that brings the story of Champy one step closer to being verified or disproven.
Champy remains a cultural cornerstone of the Lake Champlain region and the mystery endures. Despite little scientific evidence of the Loch Ness Monster’s long lost relative, details and documentation of past sightings remain a part of the area’s history. Until further evidence to debunk the creature’s existence is found, the search for Champy will continue.
On the hunt for Champy? Keep an eye out for these signs:
– Champy is described as a large, serpent-like creature, similar to a prehistoric Plesiosaur.
– The Lake monster is typically described as having a dark appearance, with numerous sharp teeth.
– Reports of Champy’s length vary, but range from tens to hundreds of feet.
– Behaviorally, Champy is alleged to be shy and non confrontational, avoiding interaction with humans.
– Most accounts depict Champy as evoking feelings of wonder and reverence.
