From 1938 to 2006, the Federal Fish Hatchery at New London developed from a surveyed hundred-acre site into a major fish-production facility. In 1938, the U.S. Commission of Surveys studied the site, the dam and mill site were purchased for $14,000, land for fish ponds extended a mile downstream, citizens contributed $1,300, and some easements were donated. In 1939, the New London Mill was dismantled to make room for hatchery buildings, and a W.P.A. transient camp for 140 workmen was built on land intended for future hatchery residences. In 1940, Herbert Toppel was appointed foreman, A.M. McIntire became superintendent of construction, a temporary office operated in the Farmers' Store, extensive earth-moving began on ponds and dikes, Leslie Bennett became hatchery superintendent, and W.P.A. workers constructed the hatchery. By the middle of April 1941, the hatchery was in operation with 10,000,000 northern pike eggs incubating in the first week, all eight ponds were used that first year for walleyed pike, largemouth bass, crappies, and bluegill sunfish, a goodwill banquet for 125 people thanked those who had given time and money, the brick office at street level was ready for occupation, and later an aquarium opened to the public. In 1942, for the first time in history, 30,000 northern pike were raised to fingerling size and planted in Minnesota lakes. After World War II ended in 1945, the local Izaak Walton League campaigned to complete the hatchery as planned and promised. In 1949, it was proved for the first time to doubters that fish could be raised in water from the Mill Pond. In 1950, federal funds of $150,000 were appropriated for ten more ponds and another employee residence. In 1954, production reached 2,300,000 fingerlings of assorted game fish and about 15,000,000 hatched fish. In 1966, the U.S. Senate approved federal funding of $121,000, and in 1968 a new building near the ponds opened for additional hatching and laboratory facilities. In 1979, plans called for laying a two-third mile pipeline from a well near pond eight and building a well house. In 1982, there was a rumor that the hatchery would close because of lack of federal funding. In 1996, an act of congress transferred ownership of the hatchery and land from the USFWS to the Minnesota DNR. In 2004, the wooden part of the hatchery building below street level was demolished, and in 2006 the brick office and aquarium building were razed.