Meet a Monkey in Defiance

 

Meet Cesspool.  This pristine skeleton may be viewed in person at the Defiance Public Library in the Local HIstory room, but it's really not Cesspool's.

Cesspool was a gift to Mr. Edward Manley, manager of the J.C. Penney's store when it was downtown on Clinton Street. 

His daughter recalled in a newspaper article:

"Someone gave my father a little monkey named Cesspool, but, not wanting it in her home, my mother told him, 'You're not going to keep that monkey!'  He ended up taking it to the store and somehow it got loose in the store.  

The fire and police departments were called to get the monkey out of a tight space it had become wedged in between two inner walls.  They never did get the monkey out and as far as I know a little monkey's skeleton is still wedged between the walls of Rogliatti's Sports Center and Phil's Hobby Shop(the location of the original downtown Penney's)"

Holgate Avenue was once beset with a loose pet monkey that kept them busy for awhile.   It was running free, and it was hard to catch.  

The Defiance Daily Crescent reported on September 21, 1907:

 "...The little fellow made his appearance several days ago when one of the good housewives was busily engaged at some work in the back yard.  She looked up and beheld the little imp, but did not extend him the usual courtesies of visitors.  Mr. Monkey then proceeded to go down to a poultry yard and frighten the wits out of a flock of ducks.

Friday, he contented himself by breaking into the basement of a neighbor, who was out of the city, and making himself at home therein.  The children of the neighborhood have been in pursuit of the little animal ever since he made his appearance, but he always manages to allude them.

It is thought that the little fellow is the property of the boys at the Waterworks plant, but whether or not his owners are able to capture him remains to be seen."

As it turned out, the monkey's name was Jocko and it was the property of a man named O'Conner who lived near the B & O Depot.  He gave the children much entertainment on Holgate Avenue.  The Defiance Weekly Express reported on September 27, 1907:

"Jocko is very nimble and so far he has successfully eluded the panting youths who have tried to snare him.  Friday, he discovered an open cellar window and to satisfy his curiosity,he investigated the interior.  Turmoil and destruction followed the progress of his flying fingers and feet.  

A crowd of school children espying him just previous to his entrance, followed him taking the window route as the members of the family were not at home.  But despite their active endeavors, Jocko escaped.  Early this morning he raided a front porch, filched a breakfast and with cool assurance, shook hands with the head of the house who, clad in his robes de nuit, investigated the clatter..."

And then there was Philbert - what a thrill it was when he was sent to the city to Chief of Police, Karl Weaner, and fireman, Mick Schultz!  The three year old monkey with the sweet tooth was to be the first animal in the developing city zoo along the canal.  Philbert arrived in town on July 23, 1937, and the Defiance Crescent-News reported:

"You should have seen the way he climbed right on the car wheel when we brought him down from the B. and O. station," the chief related.  "How did we get him?  Well, here are the letters from the man in Cincinnati who sent them.

'.I have a pet ring-tailed monkey which is fairly well-trained and in very good health. If the police department of Defiance is still interested in acquiring a pet of this kind, I'd like very much to give him to you.  Would you let me know as soon as possible whether you are still interested?'

'Dear Chief: In reply to your letter of July 21, I have made arrangements to send my pet monkey, whose name is Philbert, to you via the Railway Express Company.  They assured me they could provide a dog crate in which to ship him off to you tomorrow morning so you should get him by the 24th.

I have had Philbert for close to three years, and so far have found no difficulty in feeding him.  I have fed him most everything with the exception of meat, which I have given him very sparingly.  He loves fruits and sweets of all sorts.

If handled correctly, he is quite docile and friendly, although at times he can become very excited.  I absolve myself of any liability due to any accident that might occur with him in his transmission from the railway station to the place you have arranged for him.  Otherwise I give him to you in fee simple with an unencumbered title.  I am very anxious that he does have a good home and decent care.'

And so, Philbert became the first animal in Weaner and Schultz's Defiance zoo.

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