From Cheese factory to New York's LARGEST Fish Hatchery.

Sorry. No fishing equipment allowed within the facility.
The Rome Fish Hatchery. The very location of the first cheese factory, in the United States. The Rome Fish Hatchery, is the largest of it's kind, in New York state. It responsible for raising trout, and delivering them my truck, to airfields, that the Department of Environmental Conservation, then restocks waters throughout the Adirondack Park, using aircraft(helicopters) to deploy in remote locations. I witnessed this firsthand at Moss Lake, when we saw a helicopter land on the water. Unfortunately, they didn't bother giving me a ride home.
The visitor center, is small, and very informative. Many information guides, for you to take and read. I strongly urge everyone, going fishing or hiking in the North Country, to stop at the fish hatchery and discover how important this facility is to what we take for granted.
I can remember before the nets and fencing, to protect the pools of fish, that Great Blue Herons, would have a tumultuous feast everyday. And the trees around the facility, would be covered with the herons. Not anymore. Though Great Blue Herons, are creative thinkers, some will wait patiently by the gates, slipping their long beak, into a spot of the water, patiently awaiting it's prey. Some of these birds will even gather in areas along the Mohawk River, awaiting a angler to catch and release a fish.
The hatchery, breeds about 160,000 pounds of Brook, Brown, and Rainbow trout per year. It also has a building dedicated to research of fish diseases and bacteria that threaten trout breeding. The strains of trout from the Rome Hatchery, are disease resistant. This betters their chances of becoming healthy adults.
Harry Ackley, established the Fish Hatchery, in 1915. Prior to that date, The location was America's first cheese factory, established by dairy farmer Jesse Williams, in 1851. Years later, the property housed a grist mill, and horses, for pulling boats on the Black River Canal, between Rome and Lyons Falls. In 1930, the fish and game club sold the property for $1.00, to the state of New York, to develop a fish hatchery.
Today, Rome Fish Hatchery, is responsible for stocking over 350 public waters. Lakes, Rivers, streams, and ponds, in remote areas using ski planes and helicopters. And covers eleven counties throughout Northern New York state.
You can read a short descriptive history at ny.gov titled "Still Raising after all these years, DEC's Rome Fish Hatchery."
Oh. One more thing: I sort of struck this baby snake, on the trail, going from Wright Settlement Road, to the fish hatchery. Convenient if you want to avoid the busy roads. It's only a couple miles. It was playing dead for a few minutes. I released it near a creek. Yip. I was devastated for those minutes.