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	Our pride and joy Submitted by Jim May, northern illinois "Our fish hatchery was the largest in the state of Illinois and brought a measure of fame (and pride) to Spring Grove. The first thing we'd tell a stranger about our town was usually, "I'm from Spring Grove — largest fish hatchery in the state!" There were eight spring-fed ponds filled with fish, turtles, frogs, crayfish, and freshwater mussels. Weeping willows, hawthorns, and crabapple trees grew in the parkway between the ponds. The fish were hatched and raised here by the Illinois Department to Conservation , and then stocked in ponds and lakes throughout the state. Some of the eggs were hatched in large bottles and tanks inside the fish house, a long, brick building. We'd go inside and watch the tiny specks emerge from little jelly-ball eggs". "...If the glittering waters and flowering trees of the hatchery were the town's worn jewelry, the gems that shone most brightly for me were the weeping willows that grew between the ponds and were nourished by their waters...Their grace and elegance satisfied me completely and since Spring Grove's fish hatchery was the largest in the state, I figured that it must be the only place on earth lucky enough to have weeping willows...The willows were the first thing to turn that springtime misty green color. The weeping willows were golden in the fall and the bare twigs remained yellow in the drab of winter. They were the long-haired maiden-sentinels of our fish hatchery (and our town)". Excerpts from THE FARM ON NIPPERSINK CREEK, by Jim May (August House, 1994), copywrite Jim May 1994. Comments (0) \| Comment on this story
	Memories of Spring Grove Submitted by Ginny, Chicagoland North As I started writing my memories of the Fish Hatchery I paused for a minute and went to where everyone commented about the Fish Hatchery and Spring Grove and I saw my sister Val's comments about the Hatchery I decided that her memories were put in writing beautifully. So please read Val's memories and know that we were a family of five children all with children, and even grandchildren for a couple of us so far. We had wonderful lives and wonderful are our memories of the Spring Grove area. When my children were young we would go to the hatchery almost yearly to visit and talk to the kids about their Grandparents lives after coming to America. Every time my grandmother would come to visit from Chicago, or later in life Florida, I would bring her back to Spring Grove and the hatchery and the wonderful smile she would have remembering all the wonderful memories and stories that she had told us. Everyone is so rushed now, we don't even have the time to remember to tell stories about our families beginnings. That helps to build our children's foundations from the bottom up to wherever they will grow. Please help to preserve this wonderful historical site. Comments (0) \| Comment on this story
	Fish hatchery heritage would be preserved Submitted by art, chicago The village plans to renovate the buildings as a historical museum, and create fishing ponds on the 52-acre spring-fed site. With no motorboats, the fishing experience would be peaceful. Although located in downtown Spring Grove, the site is surrounded by heavy trees and brush, and on several sides by Nippersink Creek. A visit is more of a rural experience than suburban. Comments (0) \| Comment on this story
	First visit Submitted by Tom, North I can remember visiting the Hatchery back in 4th grade when we first moved to Antioch (I'm 45). My mom took my brother, myself and a couple of friends there to see the fish. We lived on a lake at the time, and if I remember correctly, it was her plan to buy some fish to bring home and release in our lake. I don't think we bought them though - at least not that I remember. I do remember the smell though. That was my first visit to Spring Grove as well. It's important to preserve places like this, and others like it. Unfortunately, too many people only want to save well known, or significant places. It's the little places; the Silos, the round barns, old railways, the creeks and bridges that make the landscape of history. I want my children looking back and seeing our history to be more than a few well funded old mansions. I can think of nothing more tragic that standing in the middle of a nice, new subdivision 20 years from now and trying to explain "what used to be here" to my grandchildren. It is sad that that seems to be the path these days as history is ploughed under in the name of development. Comments (0) \| Comment on this story
	A Reminder of Spring Grove's Past Submitted by RoadDog, Spring Grove The whole area around Spring Grove is rapidly changing from a rural agricultural one to a populated suburban one as Chicago continues to sprawl along the US-12 corridor. Keeping and maintaining the Spring Grove Fish Hatchery, even if fish are no longer raised here, will help the newcomers keep in touch with Spring Grove's heritage. After all, we do have that stage prop from Chicago's Lyric Operahouse in our downtown park. That is an interesting story in itself. The plans to turn this into a park will go a long way toward making the environment out here even better. I was happy to see all the people out there. It was even hard to find a parking place and the Goldfish crackers that were given out was a nice touch. There should be an article in today's Northwest Herald about both the hatchery and McHenry's Petersen Historical farmstead. Comments (1) \| Comment on this story
	save the hatchery Submitted by deb, spring grove I plan to visit the open house, and am inviting some friends Sept. 16 1-4pm. Spring Grove is an awesome community and every bit helps. I would love to see the hatchery help Spring Grove and the surrounding lakes. There's nothing better than a good fishing day with the kids on the lake. Comments (0) \| Comment on this story
	Fox River Chain O'Lakes Submitted by Ingrid from the FWA, Fox River Chain O'Lakes The Spring Grove Fish Hatchery is a huge part of the Fox River Chain O'Lakes history, vitality and fisheries. Our area boasts some of the best fishing in the country and several Professional Trails have recently hosted their events here for muskie and walleye and other game species--many televised on ESPN! The Fox Waterway Agency has made several resolutions in support of the the Spring Grove Fish Hatchery and hopes that one day it can be restored to its former and proper significance. Comments (0) \| Comment on this story
	Skating on the Ponds Submitted by Laura, Spring Grove Each winter when the ponds froze, all the kids in town would go to the hatchery to ice skate. Thomas McCafferty, the superintendent of the property, would leave the doors open on the ground floor of the fish hatchery building where the holding tanks were so we could warm up. Mr. McCafferty and his family lived on the second floor of the building, so after we were done skating, he would come down and lock the doors. My father, Matt Nimsgern worked under Thomas McCafferty for sixteen years, from about 1938-1950. In 1967, my brother-in-law Robert Lent became the custodian of the hatchery until the early 70's. - Larry Nimsgern, McHenry, as told to Spring Grove historian in 2002 Comments (0) \| Comment on this story
	Spring Grove Fish Hatchery Submitted by Val, Northwest Illinois My father was born in 1920 in the tiny three-room house next to the Spring Grove Fish Hatchery. This hatchery was at one time part of the Wieland Dairy property owned by the Wieland family, and my grandfather kept the dairy machinery running smoothly. Grandpa Fredericks had learned his trade on huge merchant ships as he worked his way to America from Germany around 1900. My grandmother also loved the dairy and the beautiful fish hatchery ponds that her windows looked down upon. As she raised my father and aunt, she collected many wonderful stories of the flora and fauna she watched in the flowage of the Nippersink Creek that provided the water for the fish hatchery. My favorite story was one in which she was hanging her weekly wash outside to catch the beautiful breezes that swept over the hatchery hills. She accidentally let three five-dollar bills blow out of her apron pockets as she took clothes pins out of her pockets. She was terrified because that was a weeks salary from the dairy, and she had to buy food for her family with the money Grandpa had given her. She ran down to the hatchery ponds frantically searching for the money and she eventually found all of it caught in the pond weeds and shallow pond bottoms. It was like a miracle to me that she saved her family from starvation! As a special education teacher today, I tell my students that wonderful story of loss and salvation. I use it as a story of why we shouldn't give up. They love the story that teaches them about our history in Spring Grove, and the fact that people used to dry their clothes outside in the fresh air. It is a wonderful way to teach history and help them make their own life connections to loss and perseverance. Please help is preserve this wonderful and historical site for our growing community. Comments (0) \| Comment on this story
	A Whale of a Tale Submitted by Jean, McHenry "In the 1920s when I lived in Spring Grove, there was a huge tank at the entrance to the fish hatchery that held a large Wisconsin sturgeon. It weighed several hundred pounds and gained the reputation of being a whale through the imagination of a few young boys. One day someone stole the fish and they never found out who did it." -Jean Miller Green as told to Spring Grove historian in 2002 Comments (0) \| Comment on this story