This story originally appeared in the September 2024 issue of Town&Gown magazine.
Many visitors and locals are fascinated by the big trout in Bellefonte’s Talleyrand Park. The fish can be found lurking beneath the cool waters of Spring Creek, in particular under the suspension bridge or between the falls (dam) and Veterans Bridge on High Street. Through the efforts of the Talleyrand Park Committee (Bellefonte Historical and Cultural Association), the suspension bridge was completed in 1986 to connect to the “Island.” Today’s trout, some as large as Lake Erie steelhead, let the spring-fed waters glide past them in their protected pools (sorry, no fishing allowed in this area), bringing smiles to all ages just like they did a century ago.
The trout have been a well-known attraction to the area since the 1920s. Vintage photos of spectators along South Water Street are evidence enough. The Big Trout Inn took full advantage of such visitors at its location just across South Water Street from the falls. The Big Trout Inn was established circa 1929 and had a diner-style counter, a liquor license and eventually a “Tourist Home” for guests. For nickels and dimes, folks could even buy small cups of hamburger to feed the fish.
When Thomas Edison visited Bellefonte in August 1929, the Democratic Watchman reported that “one of the first questions he asked … was whether the big trout are still in the creek. And before leaving, on Saturday morning, he had his chauffeur drive out on South Water Street, where they all got out and watched the trout being fed chopped beef. … Mrs. Edison also tried her hand at throwing in some of the meat.” According to the newspaper, “the big trout in Bellefonte’s natural fish preserve [no fishing allowed in the 1920s as well] … eat more meat on an average day in the week than any ten families.” In 1946, the Centre Daily Times reported that “annually, thousands of tourists come to watch and feed the exceedingly large trout in the streams below the spring.”
Bellefonte’s fascination with trout goes back even further, of course. Folks should also take notice of our fish weathervane atop the cupola of the Centre County Courthouse. Hand-drawn sketches of the courthouse even include the fish on maps dating back to about 1818. The four-foot copper fish is actually a relic that was put on the courthouse when it was first constructed in 1805. The fish weathervane at the heart of Bellefonte’s public buildings and grounds is a symbolic connection to Spring Creek, its wildlife and our big spring. Bellefonte’s big spring is the official origin and namesake of our town, roughly translating to “beautiful fountain.”
Even before Bellefonte was founded, General Philip Benner, a Revolutionary War veteran and founder of Rock Iron Works in what is now Benner Township, wrote a letter in the 1790s boasting that in the Spring Creek watershed, “I can get, any day I choose, venison and trout as much as I can destroy. I can, against sunrise and sunset, catch four or five dozen trout. John Hastings and I caught 12 dozen in about two hours.” Talk about native brook trout! What a perfect symbol for the Pennsylvania state fish.
Out of 13 state fish hatcheries run by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, three are in Centre County: Pleasant Gap, Bellefonte (Fisherman’s Paradise) and Benner Spring (Shiloh Road). One of Bellefonte’s governors had something to do with this early on. In 1866, according to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, “a convention was held in Harrisburg to investigate pollution in mountain lakes and streams, and the stopping of spring shad runs by dams. Governor Andrew G. Curtin signed the law that named James Worrall Pennsylvania’s first Commissioner of Fisheries, thus establishing what is now the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
In 1986, the mayor of Bellefonte, Jim Kerschner, came through with a campaign pledge to bring back the “big fish” that people would travel for miles to see back in the 1920s. Forty-six rainbow trout were donated and stocked by Gene Stocker Jr. The Houser Vending Co. donated a fish-feeder machine as well. This started an annual tradition. The following year on “Fish Day,” Stocker donated 50 more trout, including browns and dozens of gold palominos ranging from 15 to 25 inches. At this time, they estimated some “250 of the large trout can be spotted from the High Street bridge and along the stone wall in Talleyrand Park.” The festivities were celebrated with fish dinners. These stocking efforts and “fish feeds” continued through the 1990s, sponsored by organizations like Historic Bellefonte Inc. They evolved into the Big Spring Festival that has continued to celebrate our water resources more recently.
Anglers come from all over to enjoy the Spring Creek Watershed, but you don’t have to put on waders to see some of the biggest trout around when you’re in Talleyrand Park. Next time you’re strolling through the park, maybe crossing the bridge, take a look at the trout whose ancestors entertained and inspired folks for generations. Even when you walk near the courthouse, we walk in the shadow of giant trout, and their history runs deep here. T&G
Local Historia is a passion for local history, community and preservation. Its mission is to connect you with local history through engaging content and walking tours. Local Historia is owned by public historians Matt Maris and Dustin Elder, who co-author this column. For more, visit localhistoria.com.
Sources:
Arbutina, Chris. Centre Daily Times (State College, PA). May 4, 1987.
Crawford, Robin. Centre Daily Times (State College, PA). April 24, 2001.
“Fish Tale.” Centre Daily Times (State College, PA). August 25, 1986.
Meyer, Dorothy. Centre Daily Times (State College, PA). Dec. 17, 1974.
“PFBC Chronology.” PA Fish and Boat Commission. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 2024. fishandboat.com
“Talleyrand Brochure.” Talleyrand Park Committee: Bellefonte Historical Cultural Association. http://www.bellefontearts.org/TalleyrandBrochure.pdf
“Thomas A. Edison Spent Night in Bellefonte.” Democratic Watchman (Bellefonte, PA). Aug. 2, 1929. https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn83031981/1929-08-02/ed-1/seq-8/
Valsechi, Leon. Centre Daily Times (State College, PA). Jan. 15, 2017
