Harry Darbee began to tie flies professionally with fishing buddy and grade school classmate Walt Dette, from a room located above the movie theater in Roscoe, New York in 1927. In 1935 the business partnership with Walt and Walt's wife Winnie was dissolved and Harry established the fly tying business of "EB & HA Darbee" with his wife Elsie, who worked for Harry, Walt and Winnie in the former business, sorting materials for the fly tying business and learning to tie flies herself. Harry was native to the local area and his family had deep roots in the Catskill region. Darbee Brook in Roscoe carries the family name. Harry and Elsie ran their business from out of their home in Livingston Manor, a short distance away from the Willowemoc Creek.