Property Record
FISH HATCHERY RD
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | |
|---|---|
| Other Name: | Thunder River Rearing Station - Falls/Dam (DNR) |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 32131 |
| Location (Address): | FISH HATCHERY RD |
|---|---|
| County: | Marinette |
| City: | |
| Township/Village: | Stephenson |
| Unincorporated Community: | Thunder River |
| Town: | 32 |
| Range: | 18 |
| Direction: | E |
| Section: | 5 |
| Quarter Section: | NW |
| Quarter/Quarter Section: | SW |
| Year Built: | 1936 |
|---|---|
| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19912017 |
| Historic Use: | dam/lock |
| Architectural Style: | NA (unknown or not a building) |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Stone - Unspecified |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | Y |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
|---|---|
| National Register Listing Date: | |
| State Register Listing Date: |
| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property named 'Thunder River Rearing Station'. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. The falls/dam structure features an irregular shaped plan configuration, a stone/concrete foundation and a stone/concrete exterior. (See photo code MT 23/17 for a district shot). DESCRIPTION OF COMPLEX: The Thunder River State Fish Rearing Station (32 18E-05) is located in the civil town of Stephenson on Hatchery Road in Marinette County. The Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps programs built this facility to raise trout. Brook, brown, and rainbow trout have all been raised at the Thunder River Rearing Station, making use of earthen ponds that were constructed in 1957. The facility consists of many very similar vertical log buildings which are stained umber brown, with white wood trim details. The highly contrasted color scheme gives the facility a unique "camp-like" atmosphere. The office building (23/3), shop (23/9), garage (23/2), and four rearing station buildings (23/7, 10, 11), were all constructed between 1938-1940. All are in excellent condition. The layout of the rearing station buildings is unique in that the plans for the buildings follow the angle of a larger, stone-lined raceway-- about 15 degrees off of the perpendicular. The larger, stone-lined raceway (23/13) receives its water from a dam in the Thunder River, about 200 feet from the complex. The stones that line this raceway come from the outcropping that lies within the center of the service drive. The rock was originally removed by blasting in the 1930s, but operations were halted because of a blasting injury. The rock was then fragmented by burning logs during the night on top of the outcropping, then dumping cold water onto the hot rock in the morning. The subsequent flat stone pieces were used to construct the dam (23/5), as well as the lining for the raceway. The interiors and exteriors of the rearing buildings are in excellent condition, and remain in their original state. The interiors are left unpainted, bearing testimony to the fine craftsmanship that went into these buildings. |
|---|---|
| Bibliographic References: | A. Wis. DNR Bureau of Fisheries Management PUBL-FM-730 89. B. Cindy Borgwordt, Thunder River State Fish Rearing Station. C. DNR Site File # 00169, 00171, 00172, 00173, 00174, 00175, 00176. D. Date of construction source: DNR. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |