Black Flies and Murray’s Fools

By Danna Libbey, Museum Assistant

For any Lake Placid residents or visitors who spend time in the outdoors, the black fly is a well-known companion. These small, biting bugs are a nuisance that is generally considered a tolerable part of recreating in the Northeast wilderness during early summer (1). However, it is worth noting that the black fly population fluctuates from year to year. This explains the indignant denial of some seasonal visitors, insisting that the flies are ‘not that bad’, whereas seasoned visitors and locals may beg to differ. 2019 has been a particularly ‘bad’ year for black flies due to a combination of precipitation, temperature, and other climate factors (2). In honor of these persistent summer inhabitants, we’ll take a journey into history to see their connection to tourism in the Adirondacks.

A time when North Elba was mainly operating as the base for ironworks, the mid-1800’s saw the first influx of outside visitors to the Adirondacks (3). Among those visitors was a man named William Henry Harrison Murray, a clergy-man whose travels from Boston to the heart of New York’s North Woods inspired lectures and writings back home in the city. His sentiments for connecting to wild places and escaping the ills of urban life have been oft-repeated, but he remains an early influence to the modern outdoor movement (4). His most well-known book is called Adventures in the Wilderness; or, Camp-Life in the Adirondacks. First printed in 1869, this influential work inspired conservationists and vacationers alike. In fact, the origin of the very word ‘vacation’ is often attributed to this cultural movement (5).

In this seminal work, Murray described the natural splendor, healing qualities, and endless adventure available to those willing to travel deep into the Adirondack backcountry. Camping “upon a bed of balsam-boughs”, fishing in “luxury…along the shores of these secluded lakes”, and knowing that “all around you is as it was in the beginning” were among the enjoyments to be had.  “A month’s experience among the pines…” was recommended as an “excursion eminently adapted to restore impaired health.” (6). While these celebrations of wildness seem logical now, it is important to remember that ‘wilderness’ has been alternatively viewed as evil, foreboding, and sublime in American opinion throughout history (7).  Murray’s exaltation of wild places was truly remarkable in its time, and sparked a growing trend of visitors to our area (5).

Adventures in the Wilderness makes no mention of Lake Placid, though North Elba is referenced several times. This points to the turning point in history where the Village of Lake Placid was in its infancy, at the beginning of the boom of its tourism trade (3). Murray prefers the wilds of the Raquette Lake and Long Lake region, referring to North Elba as “lumbered…inhabited…and therefore over-hunted” (6). However, the author mentions an important reason to make a stop here: paying a visit to John Brown’s grave. Murray implores his readers to “stop here a day” and honor the “martyr of the nineteenth century”. Indeed, one will “continue [their] journey a better man or purer woman” after contemplating the life of “one whose name is and will ever be a synonyme of liberty and justice throughout the world” (6). Many people today feel the same, and a visit to John Brown’s grave remains one of the most iconic parts of a trip to Lake Placid (8).

While Murray may not have been the biggest fan of Lake Placid, his book certainly had an impact on the birth of the place we know today. The year after it was printed, vacationers flocked to the Adirondacks from Boston and New York City in search of the “Sportman’s Paradise” he described (6). This timeframe coincides with the exponential growth of the Lake Placid Village and its grand hotels, great camps, and classic clubs (3). Unfortunately, that year turned out to be colder and wetter than the previous few, leading to a splendid surplus of black flies later in the summer season (5). Murray had not experienced a ‘bad’ black fly year, and specifically addressed the issue in his guide. “It’s bite is not severe…it is mild and harmless…and disappears early in July”. Going as far as referring to the horrendous description of black fly swarms as a “myth”, Murray assured his readers of their safety from the pest (6). Thus, the droves of visitors at his behest were referred to as “Murray’s Fools” when they suffered the onslaught of the flies (5).

For those of us who spend our Adirondack summers hiking in the High Peaks or relaxing lake side, it is easy to take for granted the beauty and serenity of wild places. It is the presence of our wildlife neighbors, including the black fly, that reminds us that we are not the only ones who call these mountains home. Black flies are important to the ecosystem, forming the basis of the food source for creatures like the dragonfly, who in turn control other insects such as mosquitoes (9). They are also one of the few insects able to pollinate plants in arctic or alpine areas, including those found on the summits of our precious Adirondack High Peaks (10). While it may be bothersome to deal with these flying fiends, we must remember that they are just as much a part of the history of this place as we are. It doesn’t hurt to be prepared with a mesh-head net and other gear for safe and enjoyable outdoor recreation in the Lake Placid area (11). Planning ahead and preparing for your trip can help avoid you becoming one of “Murray’s Fools”.

References

  1. Black Flies – https://www.adirondack.net/hiking/black-flies/
  2. ‘Bad’ Year for Flies – https://www.newyorkupstate.com/outdoors/2019/04/bad-black-fly-season-likely-in-adirondacks.html
  3. Lake Placid and North Elba – A History 1800-2000 Book by Mary Mackenzie
  4. William H. H. Murray – https://localwiki.org/hsl/William_Henry_Harrison_Murray
  5. Birthplace of the American Vacation – https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/where-was-the-birthplace-of-the-american-vacation-5520155/
  6. Adventures in the Wilderness; or, Camp-Life in the Adirondacks by William H. H. Murray –
  7. Wilderness in the American Mind by Roderick Nash
  8. John Brown Farm State Historic Site – https://parks.ny.gov/historic-sites/29/details.aspx
  9. Dragonflies and Damselflies, Black Flies – https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2019/06/welcome-infestations-dragonflies-and-damselflies.html
  10. Flies as Pollinators – https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181009135955.htm
  11. Hiking Safety from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation – https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28708.html