by Michael D. Wynne
The Alexandria Zoo is probably the oldest branch of the Alexandria City Government regarding entities that are not the usual requirements of running a city government. And like many governmental organizations, a collected recorded history was not kept. Until 2020, the beginning of the zoo by many people was believed in recent years to have started in 1926. Only recently did I realize it started at least as early as 1922, and probably before.
The zoo, according to this author’s personal research, was the brain child of Alexandria resident Dr. Marvin Cappel, a then-very prominent local physician who also served as the Rapides Parish Coroner. He was the person who made our zoo a reality. Dr. Cappel initiated what became our modern zoo working with Robert W. Bringhurst, Alexandria’s then-Commissioner of Streets and Parks from 1919 until his passing in 1949. Dr. Cappel would arrange for the collection and the care of the animals while Bringhurst, with the city resources at his disposal, would construct the cages and provide for their keep.
The zoo’s animal collection initially began with donations of many different species by Dr. Cappel and many other city residents, donations that included: wolves, monkeys, deer, alligators, rabbits, raccoons, a bobcat, a fox, a bald eagle and other birds, all housed in chain-link or iron bar cages. Despite its humble appearance a century ago, the zoo was a popular destination for both Alexandria citizens and out-of-town visitors of all ages. By 1929, the Zoo had removed to its present location next to our city’s nationally famous 3 hole golf course. In 1929, the Elks Club donated two black bear cubs to the zoo. The arrival of two male monkeys and a baboon in 1951 brought the zoo’s primate population to nine. Four years later, a lion named “Gus” made the Alexandria Zoo his home. The snake house and seals were added in the 1960s.
The following articles appeared in the Town Talk regarding the zoo’s origins:
October 13, 1922: There is a brief mention in an article not about the zoo having been formed specifically, but that Dr. Cappel was called “The Zoo Man.” This is the very first mention of Alexandria having a zoo of any sort. As there are no other records showing a zoo existing, October 13, 2022 can be considered the centennial anniversary of the Alexandria Zoo.
January 2, 1923: Two men, A. D. Eglin and J. S. Williams, came across a silver fox in the forest at Woodworth, chased after it and caught it and turned it over to the “City Park Zoo.” This is the first article speaking at any length of the actual zoo existing.
January 19, 1923: This is the first time that the words “Alexandria Zoo” are ever used in the newspaper. This article concerns citizens of Alexandria giving their telephone refunds to a fund that benefitted the city zoo.
February 20, 1923: Funds were accumulating for the “City Park Zoo” in the amount of $122.40 and the donators were listed. The funds were from citizens receiving refunds from the Cumberland Telephone Company. There were several more articles after this date regarding citizen refunds being given to the zoo.
February 24, 1923: Fantail pigeons were donated to the zoo by a Bunkie resident. June 1, 1923: Air rifles used by boys are causing trouble at City Park. A wild duck belonging to the zoo was killed by one.
Dr. Marvin B. Cappel (1889-1929) is buried at Greenwood Memorial Park in Pineville. In his November 11, 1929 obituary, Cappel was listed as having been murdered in his medical office while he was seeing by a disgruntled associate regarding a business arrangement. Sadly, there is no mention of Cappel’s efforts at creating the Alexandria Zoo. A wreath should be laid honoring this great man.
Robert Wilton Bringhurst (1877-1949) is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Pineville. In Bringhurst’s March 8, 1949 newspaper obituary, he was formally credited for, among many other things, the creation of our city zoo.
The 1970s, however, saw tremendous change at the Alexandria Zoo. A full-time zookeeper was hired in 1971. The following year, the &”Friends of the Alexandria Zoo” (FOTAZ) was incorporated and the old cages were replaced with new Behlen wire cages with heated dens for the animals.
Our nationally accredited Alexandria Zoo is considered spectacular among cities of our size around the nation. When have you last visited our local treasure, the Alexandria Zoo?
