Exploring the Abandoned Auburn Fish Hatchery: A Forgotten WPA Legacy
With the snow finally melted and spring revealing the hidden corners of Maine, a walk through the abandoned Auburn fish hatchery reveals a complex and fascinating piece of history. Tucked away and largely overgrown, this once-bustling hatchery is one of the last remaining signs of an ambitious chapter in the state’s past—one that dates back to the New Deal era and the sweeping reforms of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the Auburn fish hatchery was part of a network of 18 hatcheries built across Maine. These projects weren’t just about fish; they were about jobs, infrastructure, and community resilience during one of the toughest economic periods in American history. The WPA crews, with nothing more than hand tools, grit, and government backing, tapped into the landscape’s natural springs and carved out a facility that could sustain generations of anglers and support Maine’s fisheries.
The hatchery system is surprisingly extensive. In the upper area, a series of small dams, still visibly fed by large springs, show the ingenuity and ambition of the original project. These springs were dug by hand—a staggering thought, given their size and scale. Even in its current state of decay, the engineering is impressive. Stonework and channels built to manage the water flow still hint at the careful planning that went into the site.
The lower section, in contrast, has been overtaken by time. Overgrown and swampy, it pulses with new life each spring—though not always the kind visitors would hope for. With stagnant water and thick brush, it promises a brutal mosquito season ahead. Still, the wild reclaiming of the site adds to its quiet, haunted beauty.
According to a local caretaker of the nearby playground, the hatchery eventually passed from state hands to the city of Auburn for the symbolic price of $1. It’s hard to imagine such an intricate, historic property being sold for less than a cup of coffee, but it speaks volumes about how our values shift over time.
Today, the Auburn fish hatchery stands as a forgotten relic, a mixture of history, nature, and neglect. For those willing to wander its grounds, it offers not only a glimpse into the past, but also a reminder of how even the grandest public works can fade into the background if we’re not careful to remember them.
