Something's Fishy in Roscoe (and Livingston Manor) - Legends and Lore

The mini-hamlets of Roscoe and Livingston Manor that comprise the town of Rockland in Sullivan County are long-standing rivals; though residents are hard-pressed these days to say why. The rivalry likely started with a high school sports competition of yesteryear, before the days of shared sports teams.
Competitiveness seems to be ingrained not just in the residents, but in the landscape and the waters that flow throughout the town. The most notable waters are the famed Beaver Kill and it's partner the Willowemoc Creek.

Both streams flow through "The Manor" as it it known locally - before meandering into Roscoe and converging at Junction Pool.

There, Roscoe-residents capitalize on a whopper of a fish tale that involves a two-headed trout called "Beamoc." 

The Beamoc tale  involves a migrating trout that has grown two heads caused by the indecision of which stream to swim - the Willowemoc Creek or the Beaver Kill, once it happens upon Junction Pool. The indecision, the legend goes on to say, is due to strange and mystifying currents and eddies at the pool. There the two streams rival for the attention of the fish. The creature eternally swims in the pool, but has never been caught, nor to anyone's knowledge - seen. 


 

An angler wades beneath the Chiloway Bridge, in the Cooks Falls - Horton area - on April 10.

The waters are touted as magical and can certainly cast a spell on an angler. But other visitors have also been known to dip a toe, or hand, into the magical waters - just to see what happens.

But that is just one legend, there is a legend further upstream, in a tributary to the Willowemoc, in The Manor, of the "Love Rock." The Love Rock sits slightly downstream of a bridge that spans Covered Bridge Road,  just outside of the business district.

Every school-aged child that walked that road to and from school, knew the trick of getting the person they had their heart set on as a romantic partner to fall in love with them; say the name of the true love and throw a stone onto Love Rock. If it hits the heart-shaped rock, the object of one's affection will soon be enamored with the stone-thrower.

I rediscovered this gem of a legend last year and gave it a go. It worked! However, the staying power seemed to wear off. I gave it another whirl, this time with a larger stone, to see if it "sticks" longer. On my third attempt, my stone hit its mark. I'll keep you posted on the outcome.

Back in Roscoe, a third tale continues to bring in tourists and legend seekers by the droves. That is the legend of Agloe, a fictional town, that actually was a town and became the basis for the popular teen novel "Paper Towns," authored by John Green.  

The remains of this town-that-wasn't-that-actually-was sits alongside state Route 206, just west of Beaverkill Road, near Hodge's Pond. The site is cleverly marked with a sign and promoted without shame by the local Chamber of Commerce.
There is much more to the Catkills than just hiking or fishing.

* Lillian Browne works as a newspaper and travel magazine editor to fund her adventure habit - which she indulges every chance she gets. She is exploring the world around her, one step at a time, with her dog - Charlie. Follow her on Instagram or on Twitter @browneinwalton