The Booth Society, Inc
Hatchery Happenings Spring 2020
OPEN
The Non-profit Friends group of the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery & Archives
Booth Society, Inc. Promoting, preserving and enhancing Educational Opportunities
Bird Banding 7th Grade Nature Workshop
Junior Duck Stamp Contest
Cultural Opportunities
Maps, documents, history Music in the Booth House
Preserving, photographing archives
Recreational Opportunities
BHSU Students Birding
Fly Fishing Instructions
Hiking
Mission Statement in cooperation with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Carlos Martinez Superintendent
Mitch Adams Facility Operations
April Gregory Curator
for the benefit and enjoyment of the public.
Booth Society Mission Statement The Booth Society is a non-profit dedicated to promoting, preserving and enhancing the educational, cultural and recreational opportunities at D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery & Archives, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, for the benefit and enjoyment of the public.
Booth Society, Inc. Non-profit friends group of D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery & Archives Booth Society
Front Cover: The photo provides a glimpse of the past, present and future of the D.C. Booth Fish Hatchery. Plans for exhibit renovation inside the Von Bayer Museum, the original hatchery building built in 1899, are underway. The barbed wire fence, seen behind the museum, marks the boundary of the newly acquired 64 acre land parcel and the beginning of new conservation and recreational opportunities.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Steve Shuck, President Aleisha Huppler, Vice President Howard Bernstein, Treasurer RaeAnn Mettler, Secretary Jeff Drumm Brett Ewald Andree Brisson Tyler Hemmingson Cheryl Johnson Dillon Haug Carlos Martinez (Ex OfQicio)
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) HATCHERY FWS STAFF Carlos Martinez - Superintendent April Gregory - Curator Mitch Adams - Facility Operations Vacant - Archivist/Historian Vacant - Administrative Officer (AO) Vacant - Park Ranger (Visitor Services) Vacant - Seasonal Bio Tech Vacant - Seasonal Museum Tech
AUXILIARY FWS PROGRAM STAFF
STAFF Joe Nichols - Wildlife Biologist Karen Holzer - Executive Director Terry Liddick - Flyway Biologist/Pilot Nancy Cole - Gift Shop Manager Don Nichols - Part-time Maintenance
Check out our website at www.dcboothfishhatchery.org Like and share our Facebook pages: D.C. Booth Fish Hatchery & Archives, The Pond Shop, Ruby’s Garden
Booth Society Executive Director Report by Karen Holzer The land acquisition project, museum exhibit renovation, and the 125th anniversary of D.C. Booth Fish Hatchery are generating excitement, anticipation, and community support for the fish hatchery. The 2020 - 2021 calendar is quickly filling with events, deadlines, and to do lists. What a whirlwind 2019 proved to be for the Booth Society. Our seasonal RV volunteers arrived in early May, making Volunteer Village in the Spearfish City Campground their home. They were quick to make friends with their neighbors, provide guided interpretive tours at the historic venues, and become exceptional spokespersons for the hatchery. The community support of the fish hatchery cannot be overemphasized. Organizations and individuals continue to come forward with ideas, fundraisers, and donations. They provide the hatchery with the opportunity to grow, improve, and look to the future. The smiles and enthusiasm generated are evident as events and activities occur. We thank each and every one of you for your dedication and support of the hatchery. Your efforts make the hatchery’s successes happen! With the help of Moxie Marketing, the website took on a new look with updated information, graphics and photos. Events, membership, volunteers, projects and the Junior Duck Stamp Contest are featured in an easy to navigate revised format.
The hatchery continues to make a strong economic impact on the area’s business community. Visitors arrive from every state and in 2019 from 24 countries including Vietnam, Spain, England, and Pakistan. Visitation in the historic venues continues to climb, with 50,000 people entering the Pond Gift Shop each year. The Booth Society is pleased to be a team player promoting Spearfish and the Northern Hills. We are anticipating making the final payment on the 64 acre land purchase this year. Plans have begun on the exhibit renovation in the Von Bayer Museum. While the project was put on hold during the closure threat, private donations have been given allowing us to begin forward. The year 2021 will be a year of celebration at the hatchery. The D.C. Booth Fish Hatchery will celebrate its 125th birthday, with its beginning traced to 1896. The 150th anniversary of Federal Fisheries Program, the agency that evolved into the USFWS will also be in 2021. People will be coming from across the nation to celebrate 150 years of fisheries work. It will be a huge birthday party lasting all summer long. And . . . it will all be happening at the D.C. Booth Hatchery! Enjoy this snapshot of the hatchery - experience hatchery activities, learn about a new museum exhibit, see the SD Jr Duck stamp winning entry, meet Tommy Trout and Agent Wade, check out the Pond Gift Shop, read about our Distinguished Friends, see a Japanese Peony, learn how old the Booth Society is and so much more. Make plans to visit this year! We’d love to see you!
Land Acquisition Project
Conserving this property will: • Protect the hatchery watershed and ground water supply. • Increase visitor and youth education opportunities. • Enhance wildlife habitat. • Expand existing interpretation signage. • Protect the historic integrity of the hatchery • Secure pristine prairie and scattered ponderosa forest.
The Booth Society, Inc is excited to announce the acquisition of a 64 acre land parcel, adjacent to the hatchery grounds to the west. The Society closed on the land July 31, 2019 with a purchase price of $642,500. A capital campaign began immediately. Community support has been fantastic. Over the past several months, individuals and groups have contributed to the project through fundraising events, raffles, silent auctions, lemonade stands, donations, loose change, and grants. Most importantly, the hatchery’s watershed and ground water supply will be protected. The land is also a great opportunity for land conservation and open space that will benefit the hatchery and the public for future generations. A management plan is being prepared to detail usage, objectives, and long term goals. Information will be forthcoming as plans are confirmed and implemented. Be watching for updates about the land as they are available.
Land purchased July 31, 2019 - fundraising begins! A huge thank you for the land acquisition donations
Stand for the Land Spread the Tunes spearheaded our first fundraiser with music, food, and a silent auction on Sept 30. $15,000 was raised! Pictured above are Zac Eixenberger, Andrew Kliewen, and Ben Schnaible, members of Spread the Tunes.
Homestake NRDA Grant, Black Hills Energy, Private Donors, Silent Auction Items, Individual Donations, Nat’l Fisheries Friends, Donation Bins, Raffles, Memorial Gifts, Nat’l Fish & Wildlife Foundation, and so many more . . .
Black Hills Energy Raffle Lemonade Stand
Donation Bins
Individual Donations
To donate: online at www.dcboothfishhatchery.org/land , mail to 423 Hatchery Circle, Spearfish SD, 57783, or call 605-642-7730 for a credit card donation.
Hector Von Bayer Fisheries Museum Exhibit Renovation The Von Bayer Fisheries Museum located at the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery & Archives will be seeing major upgrades and renovations in the near future. The Booth Society and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are collaborating with a design firm for the fabrication and installation of new interpretative exhibits and a thematic interior. The renovation will not negatively impact the iconic one-of-a-kind historic hatchery building. The upgrades will increase our capacity of serving diverse audiences and generating an increased economic impact to the region. The upstairs living quarters will depict the time the Booth family lived there. Displays explaining fish culture and the National Fisheries history will be available for viewing. A general store/fishing lures exhibit circa 1930s will be on display. There will be interactive exhibits that will explore, engage and inspire visitors. Critical upgrades to lighting, security and layout throughout the museum will also be installed. Thirty years ago, hatchery leaders and Spearfish residents worked to create a museum telling the unique story of our nation’s fisheries work and the Spearfish hatchery. Today we are excited to build on that vision, creating inspiring spaces to tell stories and reflect on conservation. State-of-the-art exhibits will create additional interest and increase visitation to the hatchery, Spearfish and the Northern Hills region. We look forward to this project that will transform the Von Bayer Museum into a place to celebrate our nation’s unique fisheries conservation history.
Coming in 2021 150th Anniversary of Fisheries The history of fisheries in the United States will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2021, tracing its beginning to 1871 when the U.S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries was established. It was formed to investigate, promote and preserve the fisheries of America. In 1903, it was renamed the Bureau of Fisheries (USBF). In 1940, the USBF merged with the Bureau of Biological Surveys to become the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. June 21, 2021 will kick off a week of programs, meetings, conventions, and tours
at the D.C. Booth Fish Hatchery & Archives. Attendees will be driving and flying to Spearfish to celebrate events and individuals that have been a part of the Fisheries program. April Gregory, the curator at D.C. Booth, and Carlos Martinez, DC Booth superintendent, are working with other FWS staff on the publication of a coffee table book that tells the story of fisheries history. The book will feature photographs and artwork from the National Fish & Aquatic Conservation Archives located at D.C. Booth.
U.S. Fish Commission Coin, circa late 1800s. This coin is in the national fisheries archives at D.C. Booth.
125th Anniversary of D.C. Booth Fish Hatchery At one hundred and twenty-five years old, the D.C. Booth Fish Hatchery will celebrate its place in Spearfish history during the year 2021. In 1896 Congress established the U.S. Fish Commission’s Spearfish Fish Cultural Station in the Black Hills of South Dakota. During the past century and a quarter, the hatchery has been an active hatchery and a growing tourist attraction.
During the quasquicentennial, the Booth Society will be planning events and activities to celebrate and share its 125 years of hatchery history with the community, its visitors, along with regional and national fisheries groups. Make plans to celebrate history at the hatchery. D.C. Booth Hatchery will be 125 years old! Hurray!
A D.C. Booth truck is loaded with fish to stock at Orman Dam, rural Belle Fourche.
Distinguished Friends of the Hatchery are recognized by the Booth Society for their support of the D.C. Booth through leadership, direction, cooperation, program support, and contributions.
2018 Distinguished Friends Crow Peak Brewery
Doerges Family
Jeff Drumm and Carolyn Ferrell, owners of the Crow Peak Brewery accept the 2018 Distinguished Friends of the Hatchery Award from Booth Society President Steve Shuck.
Doerges family members - Carol, Joe, Heather, Tim, Jane, and Kyle receive the 2018 Distinguished Friends of the Hatchery Award from Steve Shuck, Booth Society president.
The Crow Peak Brewery is a strong community supporter and has truly woven itself into the fabric of Spearfish. They are always ready to help with community events and projects. The business has given their support and donations to the Booth Society for over 12 years. Crow Peak Brewery has been a tremendous help with hatchery events, promotions, and sponsorships. They work with Spread the Tunes Canyon Acoustic music series, providing the beer sold at the event with proceeds going directly to the hatchery. The Brewery is one of the first to line up at the Black Hills Beer Run with samples for the participants, and won the first ever Fan Favorite trophy in 2018.
For not one, but three generations of the Doerges family, the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery is a special place. So special, in fact, that they not only visit but also volunteer at the hatchery, pitching in to help with a variety of tasks around the grounds. Tim and Jane are now teenagers, and frequently volunteer with their parents, Heather and Kyle, and grandparents, Joe and Carol. Kyle built the Little Free Library for the hatchery that is a replica of the historic hatchery building. Heather helps with the gardens. Both Kyle and Heather help with hatchery special events. Joe helps the friends group at events and with IT, while Carol has done data entry and works in the gardens. Carol reflects on their time at the hatchery by saying, “We love coming here as a family, to volunteer, to visit, to relax.”
2019 Distinguished Friends Lynn Tjeerdsma Retired Senior Policy Advisor to Senator John Thune Lynn began his career in Washington D.C. in 1989, serving as a Senior Policy Advisor for Senator John Thune. He was responsible for natural resources, agriculture and energy issues. Lynn worked closely with the hatchery for many years, helping Arden Trandahl secure funding for a revamp of the facility in the early 1990s. During the closure threat from 2013-2017, he helped write and support key language in the Appropriations Bill. He was known for reaching across the aisle and working with various partners on the issues. He made time to meet with April Gregory whenever she was in Washington, D.C., along with personally visiting the hatchery on several occasions.
Renee Munasifi Past Senior Policy Advisor to Congresswoman Kristi Noem Renee Munasifi was a Senior Policy Advisor for Congresswoman Kristi Noem from 2011- 2017. In her role, she was an adamant supporter of the hatchery. As a team player she worked on the hatchery Appropriations language to keep D.C. Booth open. She spent many hours with then Executive Director April Gregory crafting language that Kristi was able to have included in the House Appropriations language. Gregory comments, “She went out of her way to help navigate things for the hatchery- she was a real mover and shaker. Every year she and Rep Kristi made sure hatchery language was included in the House Appropriations Bill.” Munasifi, who lives in Washington D.C., makes it a point to visit the hatchery with her family whenever she is in the area.
May 16 - A Day of Celebration Fish Culture Hall of Fame Induction Dr. Claude Boyd
Dr. Claude Boyd
In 2019, the American Fisheries Society Fish Culture Hall of Fame Induction honored Dr. Claude Boyd, a world authority on water chemistry and soil management in pond-based aquaculture production systems. The presentation was made by Carl Kittle, Past-president of the Fish Culture Section. A plaque featuring Dr Boyd is displayed alongside other inductees honored by the AFS in the replica ice house on the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery & Archives grounds.
Carlos Martinez, D.C. Booth superintendent, spoke to the crowd gathered on May 16, 2019.
Dedication of Arden Trandahl Collection Management Facility Jeff Trandahl and Carlos Martinez display the plaque that has been mounted on the administration building, officially naming it as the Arden Trandahl Collection Management Facility. Several family members, including Jeff, Arden’s son, were present at the dedication. Inscription on the plaque states, “to honor and recognize the legacy of Arden for his vision and contributions to the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery & Archives”. Arden was instrumental in the the transformation of the Spearfish hatchery and the development of the fisheries archives during the 1980’s and 1990’s.
30th Anniversary of Booth Society, Inc. Top Right: Gregory Gerlich, FWS Assistant Regional Director for Fisheries, presents Steve Shuck, Booth Society president with a plaque honoring the Society for its 30 year anniversary. He thanked the organization for their dedication and years of hard work as the nonprofit friends group of the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery & Archives. Bottom Right: The Booth Society Board celebrates with cake at a board meeting. Four members of the Booth Society board that The Booth Society is the oldest signed incorporation papers in 1989 were recognized. L-R are Madeline Custis, Herb fisheries friends group in the USFWS, and 2nd oldest of the agency. Asleisen, Lennis Larson, and Paul Higbee.
Happy 30th Anniversary, Booth Society!
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Weber Fly Case Display For over twenty years, the Weber Fly Case Display has been waiting for some attention. It is a 4’ x 6’ wooden case with an impressive array of hand-tied fly fishing flies. The flies range from unusual flies like a bumblebee and frog to the more common flies such as caddis and nymphs. The fly case first arrived in Spearfish in 1937 for an Izaak Walton League Convention. The hatchery was the location of a number of fly casting events. The colorful display was a traveling billboard advertising the Weber Company wares to outdoorsmen. After the convention the display stayed at the hatchery. For many years it hung inside the hatching room at McNenny NFH. When McNenny was transferred to the state of South Dakota in 1973, it came back to D.C. Booth. Due to a variety of factors, it has been in storage awaiting conservation treatment so it could be stabilized and be safely put back on display. Exhibiting the fly case helps tie the work of the FWS to people’s outdoor passions. The Booth Society received a donation from a private source for treatment of the object; and the FWS at D.C. Booth was able to match that donation. Two National Park conservators, one who specializes in paper and the other in natural science materials, spent six days meticulously working on the case and flies. They cleaned and stabilized the flies, repaired the paper backings, replaced the glass cover with UV filtering Plexiglas and sealed up holes in the frame. Miraculously, over the past 80
National Park Service Conservators Allison Holcomb and Fran Ritchie and D.C. Booth Curator April Gregory. years, very few pests had gotten into the case to eat the feathers and fur, so only a handful of flies were damaged. They worked with Mitch Adams of D.C. Booth to reinforce the back of the wooden case. All treatments were done in accordance with professional standards and are reversible. Restored and sealed from insects and dust, the incredible display of historic Weber flies is clean, stable and ready for display in the museum!
Fish and Wildlife Staff at work around the hatchery loading fish, cleaning raceways . . .
V
isitors
V
enues
Historic Booth House
Underwater Viewing
Fish Rail Car #3
Yellowstone Boat
Von Bayer Fisheries Museum
V
olunteers
Volunteers are our Hatchery family. Some spend a couple months with us, others live in Spearfish and work with us year round. Each of them shares a little of their heart with D.C. Booth, remaining a part of us for years to come. Their dedication and love of the hatchery truly inspires!
V
ision
Our vision is to preserve and conserve the D.C. Booth Hatchery, creating opportunities for our visitors to experience history, the outdoors, wildlife, and open space in a relaxed setting.
Feeding Fish and Underwater Viewing All time favorite activities at the hatchery!
35,000 scoops of fish food bagged and sold. 48,000 quarters deposited in the dispensers.
Let’s go feed the fish!
Education Outreach Bird Banding with Dr KC Jensen
School groups from five states and tribal schools visit each year to learn about the hatchery, fish and nature.
Spearfish seventh-graders participated in an all day nature workshop. Two of the sessions, one led by the U.S. Forest Service and one by D.C.Booth staff, were held on the hatchery grounds.
Introducing Agent Wade and Tommy Trout Agent Wade Agents of Discovery brought Agent Wade to the hatchery. USFWS implemented an interactive app available for free to be played on the D.C. Booth Hatchery grounds. While on the grounds, visitors can download the app, answer the questions and learn about fish, the historic venues, and nature. During the summer of 2019, D.C. Booth placed first in a six week competition measuring increased participation in comparison to other FWS Agents of Discovery facilities across the nation.
Tommy Trout Tommy Trout loves attending Hatchery and community events. He has taken photos with Santa, danced at Canyon Acoustics, played with Sasquatch, participated in the Fourth of July parade, watched the Chinook bonfire, met visitors at Booth Day, watched the fish swim in the underwater viewing area and followed ducks around the grounds.
Thank you to our friends in the community —
Black Hills Annual Beer Run Costumes, 5K run, beer = FUN!
What a crew! Volunteers in orange T-shirts are everywhere!
Theresa Bibler visits with the TV camera man, sharing information about the Black Hills Beer Run.
Sigma Tau Gamma from BHSU
GMC Cadillac Wine Tasting
Sasquatch Baseball Fundraiser!
Spearfish Lodge #18 & SD Masonic Charities Charles Nicholas & Claire Armstrong
THANK YOU! ArtHomeSpearfish
Community Friends Hot Rods for Hatcheries Sidney May
Drive 4UR Community White’s Canyon Ford
Canyon Acoustics
Spread the Tunes The Canyon Acoustics Concert Series are sponsored by Spread the Tunes, a local nonprofit, in the City Park each summer. Proceeds benefit the Hatchery. Great people gathering together to listen to great music, benefitting a great cause.
Tommy Trout joins the fun!
Community $$$ support *free family attraction *youth programs *special events *outreach programs *visitor services *tours *educational exhibits & displays *promotion *advocacy
South Dakota Jr. Duck Stamp Contest Conservation Through the Arts The 2019 South Dakota Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program received over 420 pieces of artwork from students, kindergarten through high school. Judging was held art the Snappers Club on March 26. The contest connects youth with nature through science and art. It teaches awareness, increasing respect and appreciation for natural resources. The contest is sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Booth Society, the nonprofit friends group of the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery and Archives, coordinates the South Dakota contest.
Thank you to our judges, Bruce Speidel, Bill Grainger, Shawn Bawden, Laurie Root and Joe Nichols. Thank you to the volunteers helping with the contest. The 2019 winning conservation message submitted by Erika Symens, age 13 of Amherst, SD Jane Doerges, age 15, of Spearfish won “Preserve the present for the well being of the future.� the South Dakota Jr Duck Stamp Contest Best of Show. Her artwork Art, Birds, Conservation, competed with other state winners in a national contest in April of 2019. Contest, Prizes, Fun!
South Dakota Jr Duck winners were honored at a luncheon at the Snappers Club in Spearfish SD. Pictured above and to the right are some of the winners.
FREE & Open to All South Dakota Students (K-12) The Junior Duck Stamp Contest provides students with the opportunity to learn about biology and express their knowledge of the beauty and diversity of wildlife through art
Thousands of dollars in prizes for South Dakota winners Art Supplies, Educational Books and DVD’s, Fine Art Prints, T-Shirts, and more!
Proudly coordinated on behalf of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service by the Booth Society
Contest Deadline March 15th - every year!
For more information contact Karen Holzer, SD Jr Duck Stamp Contest Coordinator at director@dcboothfishhatchery.org 605-642-7730 ext 221 423 Hatchery Circle, Spearfish SD 57783
Tables and tables of artwork were spread out sharing artistic talent and conservation knowledge. In 2019, over 420 entries from South Dakota students were judged.
Jo Powell, a local educator, explains techniques for drawing ducks at the Grace Balloch Memorial Library. The workshop was held in preparation for the Jr Duck Contest.
Junior Duck Stamp Contest
Natalie and Lydia Schutz were first time participants in the Jr Duck Stamp Contest.
Conservation Through the Arts
Keep the Hatchery a Free Family Attraction! Your membership and donations - enhance visitor services for 160,000 visitors annually. - preserve wildlife habitat. - support the Land Acquisition Project. - administer the Jr Duck Stamp program. - provide youth educational programs. - help maintain the Fish Rail Car, Museum, and Booth House. - assist with fisheries archives and history preservation. - support volunteer programs. - help renovate Von Bayer Museum displays & exhibits. - promote Spearfish and the Northern Hills. And . . . keep the Hatchery a free family attraction!
Together we can make a difference!
the generations endowment fund Established by the Booth Society in 2004, the Generations Fund is an endowment with the South Dakota Community Foundation to ensure the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery exists as a free family attraction for generations to come. Donate to the D.C. Booth Fish Hatchery-Generations Fund online at: www.sdcommunityfoundation.org Click ‘Donate Now’, search ‘hatchery’ Thank you. Your tax-deductible gift to the Generations Fund will help ensure the future of D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery. Booth Society, Inc. - D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery and Archives - 423 Hatchery Circle - Spearfish, SD 57783 -
Share a story about your experiences at the hatchery. To celebrate the 125th anniversary of the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery & Archives in 2021, we are gathering memories and stories about your experiences at the hatchery. It may be a recollection from a childhood visit, a story during the time you volunteered here, attendance at an event, what you learned as a Hatchery Helper, the list is endless . . . Jot down your memory and email to dcboothfishhatchery@gmail.com or mail to Booth Society, Inc., 423 Hatchery Circle, Spearfish SD 57783. If you have a photo to share, that would be great. We will be publishing a collection of hatchery memories for the 125th Birthday! We would love to hear your story! The Booth Society reserves the right to publish, select, edit and market submissions for the publication.
D.C. Booth Fish Hatchery & Archives So many ways to show your support . . . -
Buy a membership for yourself or someone else Treat a child to a Small Fry Membership (t-shirt & fish food) Donate to the Land Acquisition Project Give to the Von Bayer Fisheries Museum Renovation Support Hatchery activities Contribute to the Endowment Fund with a personalized Brick Feed the Fish - Give in the Donation Bins Bring visitors to the hatchery - Tell others about us Shop in the Pond Gift Shop Support D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery & Archives with a membership or donation to the Booth Society! Your membership and donations will help keep the hatchery experience alive for 160,000+ visitors each year. Donate at www.dcboothfishhatchery.org or mail to Booth Society, 423 Hatchery Circle, Spearfish SD 57783
Memberships ___ Rainbow - $25
Name
___ Brown - $50
_______________________________________________
___ Brook - to $249.
Address ______________________________________________
___ Cutthroat - to $499. ___ Golden - to $999
City, State, Zip Code ____________________________________
___ Trophy - $1000+ ___ Youth Small Fry - $15 (T-shirt & fish food)
Email ________________________________________________
___ Land Donation
Pay by check or credit card, cc number _______________ exp _____
___ Endowment Fund ___ Personalized Brick - $100 Endowment Fund
For information about the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery & Archives, email dcboothfishhatchery@gmail.com check our website, or call 642-7730 ext 221. Donations are tax deductible - the Booth Society is a 501(3)(c) nonprofit organization.
___ License Plate Decals -$20 ___ Memorials
The Booth Society Inc. is a non-profit group dedicated to promoting, preserving, and enhancing the educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities at D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery and Archives - in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - for the benefit and enjoyment of the public.
Hatchery Events
Father’s Day Brunch
Booth Day Fun Hot dogs, Spin the Wheel, Fly Fishing Demos, Planting Seeds, Origami Fish, and more. . .
Annual Meeting
Hatchery Holidays — Music from the Booth House Ruby Booth’s love for music and entertaining were showcased during Hatchery Holidays held the first week in December. Tours of the house were given and musicians entertained as visitors enjoyed the elegantly decorated 1905 historic home. As a music teacher, Ruby taught at the Spearfish Normal School. After she married D.C. Booth and they lived at the hatchery, she gave piano lessons in the living room. Ruby welcomed all ages into her home in the early 1900’s including children, ladies groups, community leaders and D.C.’s official hatchery visitors.
Hatchery Holiday festivities included Ruby Booth, portrayed by Aleisha Huppler, greeting guests; Violinists Carly Winterstein and Lucy Cole; and the Booth House decked in festive holiday decor. Over 800 visitors toured the Booth House, listened to music, enjoyed holiday treats and shopped at the Pond Shop.
Ruby’s Garden & Weddings a perfect match! May through September Ruby’s Garden provides an enchanting setting for your wedding ceremony. Nestled behind the Booth House, the garden features an oval lawn bordered by a rustic flagstone walkway and landscaped flowerbeds and shrubs. Call 605-642-7730 x205
Ruby’s Garden on Facebook
Our dedicated staff and volunteers are on hand to make each occasion go smoothly.
Northern Hills Master Gardeners work year round in Ruby’s Garden
Two of the Northern Hills Master Gardeners’ projects in Ruby’s Garden included the addition of the Japanese Peony, with its history traced to Spearfish gardens in the early 1900s, and an Herb Garden such as Ruby Booth cultivated when she lived in the Booth House.
Pollinator House
Did you know? • • • • • • • • •
Over 3,000 students visit on field trips each year. 5,300 museum scavenger hunts were completed in 2019. The Fish Rail Car is the most frequently visited historic venue. Visitors came from all 50 states and 24 foreign countries in 2019. You can play Agents of Discovery, an interactive mobile game at D.C. Booth. 1.8 million archival items from across the nation are in storage at D.C. Booth. Ruby Booth gave piano lessons in the Booth House. 50,000 trout are stocked from D.C. Booth each year. Two additional U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service employees are based out of D.C. Booth National Fish Hatchery. Terry Liddick, Migratory Bird Biologist and Pilot assists with waterfowl breeding population and habitat survey in the United States and Canada. Joe Nichols, a wildlife biologist, serves as a private land wildlife biologist with the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.
Because we care, we sell reusable collapsible tote bags in the Pond Gift Shop. switched from plastic to paper bags for fish food. package merchandise in paper bags for customers. encourage reusable water bottles. recycle plastic, cardboard, paper, printer cartridges. increase awareness through Pond Shop merchandise solar panels on the grounds produce 18,400 KW annually. recycled in 2019: 1,000 lbs of aluminum, 40 lbs of mixed batteries, 1,500 lbs of cardboard, 6 tons of yard waste was composted, 500 lbs of mixed paper, 1,500 of lbs mixed metal and 4,000 lbs of single stream recyclables in 2019. City of Spearfish supports Visitor Services at D.C. Booth
Announcing
Rainbow Trois Beer Handcrafted in the Black Hills .BOOTH D.C
HA
T C H E RY
ALCOHOL 6.5% by VOLUME
Handcrafted in the Black Hills The three breweries in Spearfish have collaborated to create a speciality Pale Ale beer. Funds from beer sales will A Collaboration Beer To benefit Raise Funds For The the D.C. Booth D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Fish Hatchery & Archives Hatchery. We are excited! D.C. BOOTH HISTORIC NATIONAL FISH HATCHERY & ARCHIVES
• • • • • • • •
The Spearfish hatchery has always been a popular tourist attraction and provides a positive economic impact to the region. The City of Spearfish and area residents are committed to ensuring the facility maintains visitor services. As a result, the the City Council created the Hatchery Advisory Board to assist with funding and historical, cultural and educational development. The board evolved and eventually became the Booth Society, Inc., which was incorporated on April 11, 1989. Subsequently, the public voted to approve Hospitality Tax with the intent of providing perpetual funding for three primary Spearfish attractions including the recently renamed D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery. Today the City’s Parks, Recreation and Forestry Division continue to provide in-kind support and the Hospitality Tax remains a vital source of funding. Thank you City of Spearfish!
Welcome to
The Pond Gift Shop
Stop and visit with Nancy for the latest on new products, fun gifts and great ideas! D.C. Booth, Spearfish & Black Hills memorabilia T-Shirts, scarves, bandanas Stickers, magnets, caps, mugs & postcards Artwork by Local Artists Specialty jelly, syrups, pickles, Black Hills honey Home Décor’, Gifts, Unique jewelry Kids crafts, games, toys, stuffed animals Area history books Quick Guides on birds, fish, weeds, animal tracks, wildflowers & butterflies FISH FOOD! And so much more!! Your purchases help support the Booth Society, enabling the fish hatchery to remain a FREE place to visit.
The Pond Gift Shop with Gift Shop Manger Nancy Cole was featured on the front cover of the 2018 March/April issue of a national souvenirs and gifts magazine catering to tourist attractions.
Pond Gift Shop Facebook & Instagram Open May – September or by appointment anytime: 605-642-7730 x205
This newsletter was written and published by the
!
Booth Society, Inc. D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery & Archives 423 Hatchery Circle - SpearQish, SD 57783 (605)642-7730 ext. 221 www.dcboothQishhatchery.org
PRESORTED! STANDARD! US!POSTAGE!PAID! PERMIT'#56' SPEARFISH,!SD! 5778350550!
Hatchery Happenings is produced by the Booth Society and its content and articles do not necessarily represent the of7icial views of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Upcoming Events Sat, May 16 - Booth Day Sat, June 6 - Hot Rods For Hatcheries Car Show Mon, June 15 - Sasquatch Game Sun, June 21 - Father’s Day Brunch Wednesdays, June 24 thru Aug 5 - Canyon Acoustic Series Sun, Sept 27 - Black Hills Beer Run TBA - ArtHomeSpearfish Thurs-Sun, Dec 3-6 - Hatchery Holidays Coming in 2021 June 21 - 27, 150th Anniversary of Fisheries May - September, 125th Anniversary of D.C. Booth
Enjoy all four seasons at the Hatchery —
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter