Ed Lamy

Ed Lamy wearing some of his medals Ed Lamy, from an unidentified September 7, 1962 obituary

Born: January 18, 1891

Died: September 7, 1962

Married: Jane "Dottie" Hutchinson on August 6, 1917

Children: Jean, Ruth, James and John.

Edmund Lamy was an international speed skating champion. From 1908 to 1910 he was the Senior National North American and U.S. Long Track Champion. He also held records for the broad jump on ice. He was elected to the Speed Skating Hall of Fame on May 20, 1961 at Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was the son of Ferdinand Lamy.

Ed Lamy began his skating career at the age of six. In his first race, wearing a pair of hand-me-down girl's skates, he finished second and was awarded a new pair of skates.¹ He set his first record in 1907, at the mile distance, with a time of 2:58. From 1908-1912, he dominated amateur speed skating. In 1909 Saranac Lake hosted the International Amateur Outdoor Skating Championship as part of its Winter Carnival festivities. Rivals such as Peter Sinnirud of Norway, Lot Roe of Toronto, Canada and O.B. Bush met at the Pontiac Rink to race distances from 220 yards to three miles. Lamy triumphed in all but two distances; the 220 and the backwards 880 that his father would not allow him to enter. For his winning efforts in the 880, mile and three mile, Lamy received championship medals adorned with diamond chips.²

Mr. Lamy's career as an amateur skater sometimes resulted in controversy. In January 1909 after winning multiple races, the mile, two mile, and the mile and a half, at the International Speed Skating Championships in Cleveland, Lamy was disqualified for failure to register with the Eastern Amateur Skating association. Lamy was ordered to return his championship medals so that they could be awarded to the runner up, W. Granger.³ He refused and was banned by the Eastern Amateur Skating Association. Lamy appealed this decision and when the Eastern Amateur Skating Association refused to yield, his case was brought before the International Skating Union of America. This body not only sided with Lamy, they called for the removal of the Skating Association's leader.⁴ Again, the Eastern Amateur Skating Association refused to recognize Lamy as the legitimate champion. As a result, the International Union dissolved the Eastern Amateur Skating Association as a governing organization of skating.⁵ In this instance the International Skating Union supported Lamy, but circumstances were different two years later. In mid-January 1911, Lamy came under scrutiny for his travel expenses and according to Allen I. Blanchard, the president of the International Skating Union, "Lamy is asking exorbitant expenses to attend championships at Chicago, Cleveland and Detroit. Making separate contracts with each."⁶ Controversy continued to dog him a few weeks later when he refused to re-skate an 880 yard race that was declared "no race" by officials because it was skated too slowly (1:33); heats were run in 1:26 and 1:45, but officials informed skaters at the start that the final must be run in 1:30 or less.⁷ The International Skating Union took action against Lamy, suspending him for the remainder of the season.

In 1912, Lamy left the amateur ranks behind and, as a professional, reigned as champion until 1917, when he was defeated by Bobby McLean of Chicago. His years as professional skater generated excitement and numerous records. In a spectacular match race against Morris Wood, the reigning professional champion, Lamy was victorious. In addition to his winning ways on speed skating track Ed Lamy soared as a barrel jumper, setting a world record of 14 barrels or 27 feet 8 inches in 1912. This feat earned him recognition from "Ripley's Believe it or Not." 1919 was another record breaking year for Lamy, he set records for the quarter mile (34.8), three quarter mile (1.55) and three mile (14:15). The latter records were set on the ice in Saranac Lake, while the record for the shorter distance was established in nearby Lake Placid. Remarkably these records still stood at the time of his death in 1962.⁸

Ed Lamy, lock tender

Ed Lamy had a flair for showmanship. In races where he held a large lead he was known to skate the final lap backwards. From 1916-1919 he skated in the popular "Hip Hip Hooray" show at the Hippodrome in New York City. His skating act, performed with his brother Ernest, incorporated barrel jumping and a clown routine. While skating in the show Lamy met his wife Jane Hutchinson, a former childhood vaudeville circuit chorus girl, who appeared as a ballet girl in "The Ladder of Roses."⁹ He also appeared as a stunt double for the actress Norma Talmadge in the silent film DeLuxe Annie. This film was shot at Caribou Bill's camp on Edgewood Road in Saranac Lake. In the film, a "Yukon" movie, Lamy, disguised in fur hat and coat, eludes a pack of wolves (Caribou Bill's huskies) by leaping across a wide break in the lake ice.

Ed Lamy's athletic prowess wasn't limited to ice sports. He also excelled in guideboat races, bowling, swimming, basketball and baseball. In early 1911 he briefly began a career as a professional baseball player with the Cleveland Indians farm team that participated in the Ohio and Pennsylvania League. A broken collarbone, occurring the week prior to reporting time, prevented him from joining the major league. He was also a fine marksman, as demonstrated at a 1928 championship trap shoot, where he scored 98 out of 100.¹⁰

St. Bernard's Cemetery

After retiring from professional speed skating in 1923, Lamy was employed by the Village of Saranac Lake and then spent twenty years manning the locks on the Saranac waterways. In February 1962 he was King of the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival. Upon Lamy's death of an abdominal aneurism in September of the same year, Saranac Lake village mayor, Alton B. Anderson issued a proclamation of mourning in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise declaring “Monday, September 10, 1962 shall be a day of mourning for Ed Lamy, that flags shall fly at half-mast and that all people mark the passing of our King of Sport with appreciation for his athletic prowess, and recognition of his true humility in the midst of greatness.”

His son James Ernest won an Olympic bronze medal in bobsledding in 1956.

Edmund Lamy's name is listed on the War Memorial at the corner of Church Street and Lake Flower Avenue in Saranac Lake, as well as in Essex County's Honor Roll of those serving in the World War of 1917-18 (shown there as "Edmund A. Lamy," Saranac Lake).

The Lamy Cottage was at 95 River Street, next door to the Boy's Club; the site is now the boat launch at Riverside Park.

Lake Placid News, March 18, 1976

From An Explanation of River Street Plans

by Howard Riley

The home right on the lake shore is the residence of Mrs. Edmund Lamy and her daughter, Eugenia. That building and the large, vacant adjacent lot, belonging to George Riebel, will be the area of the boat launching site. This is a project of the Environmental Conservation Department.

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