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When visitors enter the new visitors center at the Neosho National Fish Hatchery, they will notice a marker from the Captain Robert Napier Chapter of Colonial Dames XVII Century, Springfield.
On Saturday, members of the Springfield chapter — some of whom live in Neosho — unveiled the marker.
“We try to mark (historical places),” said Fran Black, past president chapter chairman. “Out here in the Midwest, we don’t have anything colonial age, we can mark colonial sites and we had to get this approved through our national organization in Washington, D.C. We are marking the site of Neosho National Fish Hatchery because it is the oldest fish hatchery of the United States of America.”
Congress founded the hatchery on July 12, 1888. Today, it raises rainbow trout as its primary mission, with a secondary emphasis being placed on endangered fish, such as pallid sturgeon. The new 9,500-square-foot state-of-the-art visitor center celebrated its grand opening celebration on Dec. 9, 2010. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service operate it.
“We are totally honored,” hatchery manager David Hendrix said. “We know how much (the hatchery) means to our community, surrounding area and Southwest Missouri, as well as the state of Missouri. We were honored, flattered and humbled that the Colonial Dames would take the time to recognize our hatchery, being the oldest one in the nation still in operation.”
The local chapter of the Colonial Dames was founded in 1999. The national chapter was founded more than 100 years ago, Black noted.
They have placed markers in the area including the Kendrick House in Carthage.
“We have not received permission to mark it yet, but we have our eye on a church in Clever that is very old that we want to mark,” she said.
When visitors enter the new visitors center at the Neosho National Fish Hatchery, they will notice a marker from the Captain Robert Napier Chapter of Colonial Dames XVII Century, Springfield.
On Saturday, members of the Springfield chapter — some of whom live in Neosho — unveiled the marker.
“We try to mark (historical places),” said Fran Black, past president chapter chairman. “Out here in the Midwest, we don’t have anything colonial age, we can mark colonial sites and we had to get this approved through our national organization in Washington, D.C. We are marking the site of Neosho National Fish Hatchery because it is the oldest fish hatchery of the United States of America.”
Congress founded the hatchery on July 12, 1888. Today, it raises rainbow trout as its primary mission, with a secondary emphasis being placed on endangered fish, such as pallid sturgeon. The new 9,500-square-foot state-of-the-art visitor center celebrated its grand opening celebration on Dec. 9, 2010. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service operate it.
“We are totally honored,” hatchery manager David Hendrix said. “We know how much (the hatchery) means to our community, surrounding area and Southwest Missouri, as well as the state of Missouri. We were honored, flattered and humbled that the Colonial Dames would take the time to recognize our hatchery, being the oldest one in the nation still in operation.”
The local chapter of the Colonial Dames was founded in 1999. The national chapter was founded more than 100 years ago, Black noted.
They have placed markers in the area including the Kendrick House in Carthage.
“We have not received permission to mark it yet, but we have our eye on a church in Clever that is very old that we want to mark,” she said.
