History of the Pine Grove Zoo

Around 1879, a gentleman named Frank Foster was "squatted" on a piece of land just to the west of Little Falls and was awarded it's first Homesteaders Deed. At this time, Little Falls was a major lumber milling center for the entire Northwest. Although the land changed hands many times, it was never lumbered. On September 13th 1907, a deal was made with the current owners of this land, L.M. Roberts, and E.F. Shaw by which the City of Little Falls came into possession of a 55-acre tract of land now generally called 'Pine Grove Park'. This deal was spear headed through the cooperation of Mr. Charles Vasley, then Mayor, and Mr Milton Williams. The original cost of the land was $4,100 of which $270 was supplied by the City of Little Falls and $730 raised by smaller donations from the public. The balance of $3,000 was donated by the following: M. Williams, $1,000, A.Davidson, $1,000, Charles Weyerhaeuser, $500, and R. Musser $500. This parcel of land was then deeded to the City of Little Falls, "for enjoyment , pleasure and benefit of the people of the area."

On July 20th and 27th of 1910, two fires caused by sparks from the railroad, threatened to destroy the park, but quick thinking and reaction from the park neighbors saved the stand of White Pines, only seeing the eastern half of the park burn. At that time there were no animals at the park, and only lowland grass was lost. The next week at the city council meeting it was decided to put roads through the park as "fire breaks". These are the roads that are still present today.

It was decided to introduce a "Zoo" in the Pine Grove Park, and in June 1913 two Great Horned Owls were bought and donated by the current Park committee. The birds attracted considerable attention and the committee was urged to keep on with the animal additions. By September 1913, two deer were acquired from the City Park of Mankato. The next summer, 1914, a Cow Moose was added, which attracted automobile tourists from all parts of the state and nation. With the growing interest with the animals, other animals soon followed, including peaFowl, goats, squirrels, porcupines, woodchucks and raccoons. The next large animals, who have had representation ever since, were two Elk brought to the Zoo from Yellowstone National Park March 9, 1915.

After the war broke out in April 1917, to keep costs to a minimum and to make it more manageable for the current zookeeper, Thomas Dewey, it was the opinion of the park committee that the animals that could not roam in large enclosures were "not to be replaced when they escaped from their cages."

In 1926, Milton Williams, one of the original major donors, passed away. As a memorial to her husband, Mrs Williams requested that a huge rock from their property be moved closer to the park, the rock which measured approximately 4'x5'x7' in size was pulled with a team of horses. As they moved closer to the park, the rock was just too heavy for the horses to pull. A gas-burning tractor was finally used to push the large rock the remainder of the way to rest among the majestic white pines. The rock has a plaque on it in memory of Milton Williams: "The Lord is thy Keeper, Earth Changes but the Soul and God Stand Sure."

Stone Pillers were erected on either side of the main gate in 1932.

Added to those in 1940 was a complete stone wall along the south border of the park. The W.P.A. workers did this work, and was one of many projects done at the park.

Here is a picture of the shelter house nestled in among the stand of white pines.

Also added was a granite gathering area called "Council Circle". This granite circle was used for many years by the Boy Scouts for meeting and bon fires until the fire risk to the park became to great.

The first black bear came to the zoo shortly after World War II. A number of cages were installed around 1954 with four more added in 1976. With these cages came a variety of animals including cougars, bobcats, fox, opossum, monkeys and wolves.

In 1990 some people got together and decided to strive to make the zoo portion of the park a better place for the animals. This early form of the Zoological Society worked very hard to change the perceptions of the zoo and educate as many people as possible to what the zoo could be. This group became and official organization in 1999 by filing letters of incorporation with the State of Minnesota.

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