Waddington revives tale of 'Larry the river monster'

WADDINGTON — 'Lawrence,' the legendary St. Lawrence River monster, has been revived with the 40th anniversary of a book about the creature, and a restaurant has been renamed 'Larry's' in its namesake. 'The True Story of Lawrence the St. Lawrence River Monster,' a fictional book first written by local attorneys Mark F. Snider and Thomas J. Snider in 1986, has been updated with a second edition for 2026. The legend is part of Waddington's local folklore, through the storytelling of the Snider family and local residents who added to the fun by providing additional 'testimonials.' 'It was Mark's idea for the book. My brother is the creative one. We want kids to enjoy searching for Larry, the friendly monster. We also want people to realize Waddington is here. This community is a diamond in the rough,' said Tom. 'We want to encourage people to come here and enjoy our hospitality,' said Mark Scott, owner of Larry's Steaks and Crepes in downtown Waddington, who rebranded his restaurant's name this year from AC Bistro. 'Larry's Steaks and Crepes honors the playful legend of Lawrence the Friendly River Monster, lovingly chronicled by the Snider family,' said Scott. 'The authors describe the monster as a prehistoric aquatic reptile who can be a land dweller as well. The book opens with a story of Tom and Christy's year-old son, Matthew, seeing Lawrence out his bedroom window and the two of them making friends. Several of the Snider family added their stories, including the author's father, Mark H. Snider, who claimed sighting Lawrence many times in the St. Lawrence. 'Perhaps the most thrilling time was while crossing Tracy's Landing to Long Sault Island on a scow. Lawrence nearly capsized our boat along with four of us boys,' said their father. In their mother's autobiography, Betty Snider revealed seeing Lawrence during thunder and lightning storms, and 'imagined the lightning flashes were the result of Lawrence spitting fire from his mouth,' she said. Pat Snider told of the amazing Snider rescue with her husband, Greg, son Gregory and friends while paddling in a storm when when 'a large purple figure began to rise our of the water behind the capsized canoe. It slowly rose out of the water and, spreading its front flippers out wide, engulfed us all and seemed to be guiding us safely to shore.' Dozens of the Sniders' friends added their own 'sightings' to the book. Robert McKnight, Waddington Town Justice, said a large creature rushed at him, knocking him sprawling into brush on his way back to the river. Ron Johnson said the monster 'quite often grabs your waterskis when you go by, causing you to fall and bubbles to come up from Lawrence's giggles.' David and Dianna Alfano said they saw Lawrence behind the dike near the Massena Town Beach, reporting he 'appeared to be swimming leisurely. His back would surface from time to time indicating he was very long indeed.' The fabled creature's legend has grown in serial articles written by Tom Snider in the Waddington Recorder. Mark Scott is publisher of the quarterly newspaper, started in 2002. He is also a former Waddington Town Supervisor,and past owner of the Lake St. Lawrence Boat Tours. 'Mark Scott is very civic minded. He came to me this year with the idea of renaming his restaurant to Larry's in honor of our river monster and to promote Waddington. Also, Mark was the person who started the Waddington Summer Concert Series to draw more people to Waddington,' said Snider.