Cleveland Metroparks Zoo: A History to 2007 Prepared by Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Staff and Volunteers Cleveland Metroparks Zoo: A History to 2007 Prepared by Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Staff and Volunteers Prior to 1882 the City of Cleveland had no means provided by your honorable body for major park within the city limits, and so it was park purposes.” Even in the embryonic stages that on September 15, 1882, Jeptha H. Wade, of the zoo lack of funds was an administrative Esq. deeded a tract of land of “about 73 acres” problem. lying north of Euclid Avenue and east of The 1888 report showed that a number of Fairmount and Doan Streets. This tract, known animal cages and enclosures were completed, as “Wade Park”, along with fourteen and the animal inventory for that year listed “2 “American Deer”, (probably Virginia White- black bears, 2 catamounts (wild cats), a family tailed Deer) was deeded to the City of of coons, a pair of foxes and a colony of prairie Cleveland and was the birthplace of the first dogs as zoo residents.” The commissioners zoological park in the Forest City. One of the added, “so great an attraction has this been conditions imposed by Mr. Wade along with from the outset, that it has been determined to the gift of the park was that the city must enlarge the collection, and there is now in the spend $75,000.00 within a three-year period for course of construction an Octagon Building, 60 the beautification and improvement of the feet in diameter, intended for the smaller and property. The city met this condition by more delicate animals, monkeys and birds. spending $77,906.08 between 1882 and 1885. This building will be ready for occupancy in Jeptha H. Wade was president of the the spring.” The popularity of a zoo was Western Union Telegraph Company, as well as becoming evident and along with public president of a number of banks and railroads. interest was the need of developing more He was also a director of a number of zoological exhibits and increased funding to industrial companies and was highly respected support them. in the business community. His philanthropic In 1890 the Cleveland City Cable Railway contributions were well documented, and his Company saw an opportunity to increase its gift of land and animals bore witness to his revenue by extending its lines to Wade Park. generosity. City Council, without approval by the park In 1884 a zoo building was constructed. commissioners, passed a resolution to permit The two-floored Victorian Gothic Carpenter the cable rail extension. The assistant city edifice housed deer in the lower floor; the solicitor rendered an opinion that the upper floor was for storage and keeper’s enactment was illegal and the park quarters. The building was considered one of commissioners served notice on the president the outstanding architectural wonders in its of the Cleveland City Railway Cable Company day and for many years young architects “prohibiting....entering or occupying any part visited the building to see it and study its of Wade Park.” In defiance of the notice, the construction. Total cost of the completed cable company deposited construction structure was $4,133.00. materials on the park grounds, but the park There was great interest in the deer and in commissioners engaged legal counsel who the park where they lived. It was estimated requested and was granted a permanent that as many as 5,000 people visited the park in injunction against any further construction a single day in summer. In 1887 the annual activity by the cable company. Had this report by the Board of Park Commissioners company been permitted to extend the rail line included a statement directed to Cleveland into Wade Park, the park would have been cut City Council about “the insufficiency of the into two nearly sinking fund of such city, if there be such equal parts, “destroying its importance of his own as he realizes the integrity and constituting a menace to the insignificance of man as compared with public.” nature’s might; in short, a harmonious The first reference to the animal development of sylvan beauty to which all are department in Wade Park as “the zoological welcome, rich and poor alike, where all may department of the Cleveland Parks” was made find rest, inspiration and pleasure. Such, in in 1890. In that same year the educational and brief, is the design of the park system of natural historical value of an animal collection Cleveland.” was recognized above and beyond amusement In the two or three year period following and idle curiosity of and for the general public. 1890, administrative direction of the zoo The animal inventory for 1890 listed 80 declined somewhat. There were few, if any, specimens exclusive of a flock of 100 doves. animal purchases, and in 1892 the only (The doves were purchased for $.50 each.) improvement reported was the painting of the Among the more notable specimens recorded deer barn and animal cages. There were were two black bears, three alligators, one reports that a cultural center was to be Bengal Tiger, one anteater, one armadillo, two established in Wade Park, specifically, that an coyotes, five red foxes, five prairie dogs, two Art Museum was to be “built upon the wildcats, and fifteen monkeys of at least nine reserved grounds generously given by Hon. J. different species. H. Wade . .” The new park commission president, Mr. J. In 1893 the legislature of the State of Ohio H. McBride, waxed eloquently about the city’s passed the Park Act which stated, “There shall park system: “To the widely famed be a Board of Park Commissioners consisting attractiveness of the Forest City as it has been of five members, who shall be electors of the known in the past with its many thousands of city for which they are appointed. Two of noble trees, adorning the humble whom shall be the Mayor and the President of thoroughfares as well as the magnificent City Council for the time being and three of avenues, given the added charm of a band of whom shall be appointed by the trustees of the verdure extending about it and forming a trustees; if there be none, then by the Court of harmonious union with the great body of Common Pleas of the county in which such water which in itself forms such possibilities city is situated.” for giving enjoyment to lovers of the beautiful; In 1894, with the Board of Park giant beeches, oaks and elms, with maples, Commissioners in authority, the zoo began to poplars and other varieties of forest trees, move ahead again. In the summer of 1894, 81 standing upright in their primitive condition; acres of land, the nucleus for Brookside Park, drooping willows shading pellucid pools, wide the site of the zoo when it was moved from stretches of green lawn with banks of sweet Wade Park, was purchased. Another 68 acres scented varicolored blossoms, tiny streams of in the same area was purchased later. Total crystal clear water running over beds of rock cost of the 149 acres was a little more than and sand; larger streams, flanking deep cool $58,000.00. recesses where summer heat scarce finds itself The public interest in the zoo remained able to penetrate, and passing under arching high. In 1895 it was stated, “No attraction in branches of foliage unrivaled in perfection, and any of the Parks in Cleveland excels in the rustic bridges over which a grand boulevard matter of drawing and retaining popular finds its way; musical cascades that play the interest, the collection of animals and birds in harmonies of nature with a master hand and in Wade Park. The value of this small ‘zoo’ as an all the various keys; depths of ravine, the educator in Natural History is not surpassed magnificence of whose rugged grandeur by anything of the sort in the city, and the size causes the beholder to forget any fancied of the crowds that constantly throng the various enclosures during the summer months food, the cost of maintenance of a larger testifies amply to the esteem of the public for collection would be no more. To dispense with the attractiveness of the collection. .” There this feature of the zoo after it has been so long were 321 animal specimens listed in the installed would doubtless bring forth a protest inventory, 200 of which were doves. Notable from lovers of natural history and from mammals were five wolves, two black bears, thousands of school children who visit the one elk, six deer, a badger and two martens. park.” Subsequent reports shed no light on In 1896 the need for a direct road in to how the recommendation was received, but Wade Park became more important as crowds apparently the building continued to house increased. In order for this to become reality, monkeys, although the quality and quantity Mr. J. Homer Wade, the grandson of the remained basically unchanged. original donor of land for the park, donated There was great excitement at the zoo in additional land at the junction of the park and 1901; on July 16 th Peter Sells of Sells-Floto Doan Street. The access boulevard was then Circus presented a pair of lions to the zoo. A curved directly into the park instead of passing street parade was held to show off the big cats into Doan Street and then entering the park as well as to advertise the circus and its farther on. performances in town. With a bottle of The years of 1897, 1898 and 1899 saw few champagne broken over the cage of each lion, changes made at the Wade Park Zoo.