Spring Grover Fish Hatchery

From the McHenry County (Illinois) Historical Society and Museum.

The Spring Grove Fish Hatchery, located in our village of Spring Grove, was opened in 1914 and was the first fish hatchery in Illinois.  The site was chosen because of the natural cold water spring located there that produced 300 gallons of fresh water a minute.

At the height of operations, the hatchery produced as much as 35 million fingerlings a year.  These were used to stock the majority of the rivers and lakes in northern Illinois.

It was closed and a few years ago, sold to the Village of Spring Grove for a dollar.  Since then, a lot of money has been put into it preserving the holding ponds and building.  The whole site is being turned into a park.

Just this last Friday, June 14th, we  went to the annual Door County fish boil to raise money for the hatchery.

Mighty Good Eating for a Great Cause.  --DaCoot