November 2024 • Nebraskaland 45
features made Rock Creek seemingly
exceptional for a fi sh hatchery.
Getting a hatchery at Rock Creek
did present challenges, however. The
State Fish Commission in Lincoln
claimed there wasn't enough water
fl owing in the creek to support a trout-
rearing facility, dismissing the idea of
a hatchery in that part of the state.
Frank Richardson, a Benkelman
resident and hatchery supporter,
challenged the Commissioners to travel
the 300 miles to Rock Creek to take
a look. If they still claimed the creek
didn't produce enough water,
Richardson would pay their travel
expenses, buy them a steak, and put $10
in each of their pockets — a substantial
amount of money at that time.
After making the journey and
seeing Rock Creek's potential, the
Commissioners vowed to build a
trout facility there. Shortly after, Gov.
Charles W. Bryan visited the area
and was also supportive of this idea,
helping push the hatchery through
during his fi rst term in 1923.
Construction soon followed.
In this 1950s photograph, Rock Creek
Hatchery assistant Charles Blank
(center) and two assistants, Jerry
Plucker (left) and Elvin Bray, seine
trout fi ngerlings from a circular
raceway for stocking.
NGPC LIBRARY
