Raleigh, N.C. — Even through most Raleigh families grow up visiting Pullen Park, many have no idea the park once hosted bears, alligators and wild cats – oh my!
Even people who have lived in Raleigh for decades would likely be surprised to discover that Pullen Park once had a popular zoo.
Even more surprising – part of the historic zoo still remains today, and you've likely walked past it more than once.
Pullen Park had bears, alligators and Jim the Buffalo
When asked about the zoo, even Raleighites who were born more than 70 years ago have said, "I don't remember a zoo."
That's likely because the Pullen Park Zoo opened in the 1800s.
From 1899 to 1938, the zoo was a popular attraction at the park.
"When I came to Raleigh more than half a century ago, there was a zoo on a small scale out at Pullen Park. I do recollect there was a nice bear den and the unusual monkeys," wrote Charles Craven in 1967 in Byways of the News.
Craven wrote, "With automobiles a luxury and paved streets still somewhat rare, Raleigh's chief Sunday afternoon diversion was to take a five-center street car ride to Pullen Park to see the zoo and other attractions."
In those days, long before the arrival of the famous Dentzel carousel and its menagerie of colorful animals, people would visit Pullen Park simply to take in the scenery.
Headlines from the News & Observer in 1902 boasted of the exciting arrival of a pair of minks and a wildcat caught in Wilson County.
The minks were rumored to "draw blood" if given a chance. The wild cat was named "His Wildcatship" according to the article about his arrival, which said, "A procession followed the wild cat to the park, but kept a respectable distance."
In 1918, two bears were donated to the Pullen Park Zoo from the Sudan Temple in New Bern.
In 1935, a rare pair of Galapagos turtles named Cap'n Jack and Hood were presented to the zoo courtesy of Captain John J. London of the US Navy.
Park historians have also found references to Belle the Lioness, meaning at one point the zoo also included a lion.
Old articles describe the park's zoo as having bears, alligators, mink, prairie wolves, groundhogs, deer, monkeys, a lioness and rabbits.
But then in the 1930s, two tragic deaths marked the beginning of the end for the Pullen Park Zoo – the death of the beloved Jim the Buffalo, followed by the death of Wiley Howell, the park caretaker, whose energy and passion had been the soul of the zoo.
Jim the Buffalo - a beloved and forgotten piece of Raleigh history
The zoo's popularity began to dwindle in the 1930s with the death of one of their most beloved attractions: Jim the Buffalo.
A 1934 article marked Jim's death.
The article detailed Jim's story, saying, "Big beast, bought 11 years ago for $125, was a major attraction for the park. Old Jim, the city's 1,800-pound big bull buffalo, for over a decade a big drawing card at the Pullen Park zoo, is dead."
Superintendent Wiley A. Howell had tried for over a week to feed Jim, but the buffalo had refused food.
Employees dug a large grave for Jim the Buffalo in the City Farm – leading one to wonder: Is Jim's grave still marked somewhere in Raleigh today?
Soon after the loss of Jim, the zoo suffered an even larger blow: The death of the zoo caretaker Wiley Howell.
"After Wiley Howell's death, because animals were a big passion of his and he tried to keep the zoo running, and after he died there wasn't anyone to carry on that legacy," said Allora Spruill, Program and Events Manager for Pullen Park, who has been offering history tours every Tuesday in April.
Howell is remembered as the soul of the Pullen Park Zoo, and his memory is honored in his namesake, the beautiful Lake Howell, which is still a centerpiece for Pullen Park.
The only remaining marker of the Pullen Park Zoo hidden in plain sight
After closing in the 1930s, Pullen Park's zoo did open again briefly in the 1960s. Some locals still remember visiting the zoo during its brief resurgence. However, without Howell's vision, the zoo didn't last nearly as long.
The opening of the far larger and more modern North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro removed any further need for a smaller zoo at a local park.
Today, the only remnant of the old zoo is hidden in an off-the-path garden down a small hill in the corner of the park.
The peaceful garden's unusual layout and location does draw a certain amount of attention – one might wonder why such a strange layout and location may have been chosen. The reason: It's a remnant from history, an outline of the foundation from a zoo attraction.
"There's a circular garden surrounded in stones, and that garden is built in the footprint of the old alligator pit," said Spruill.
Rusty, sawed-off metal bars can be seen jutting out of the circle of concrete which was once the outline of the enclosure. The stubs are each one or two feet apart, meaning these are likely from the bars that once protected the enclosure – or perhaps held up the enclosure roof.
There are also curls of seemingly random concrete paths on each side of the garden, which lead to a stairway that leads nowhere. Was this perhaps also part of the original footprint – perhaps the stairway and walkway that led visitors to see the alligators?
With its quiet, colorful flowers, it's hard to imagine the garden once had alligators swimming inside.
The historic remnant is a stop on the history tours offered by the park every Tuesday in April.
Pullen Park is collecting historic photos, offering historic tours
Sadly, there are no more photos of Jim the Buffalo, or Belle the Lioness. There are very few photos from the Pullen Park Zoo at all.
With no photos, it's little wonder the zoo, which was once a major Raleigh attraction, has nearly faded from history.
Pullen Park is celebrating the 100-year-anniversary of their carousel, as well as Raleigh History Month.
There are also precious few photos of other Pullen landmarks – like the giant 'Swiss Cheese' kids loved in the 1980s, and the real, metal airplane the park once had.
To help prevent more history from being lost, the park is collecting vintage photos from the public.
"Whether you have a photo from the 1930s or 1990s, we'd really love you to submit any photos you have taken in Pullen Park," said Spruill.
Your photos could be part of a larger exhibit to preserve memories and history of Pullen Park. If you have photos to share, please email Allora.spruill@raleighnc.gov.
Aside from collecting photos, Pullen Park will be offering tours and unique events all month.
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When Pullen had alligators and bears: Remnants of the old zoo at Pullen Park - WRAL.com
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