The Defiance City Zoo

A zoo in Defiance?  Why not?  In the 1930s, Mike Schultz, who was eventually named zookeeper, Police Chief Karl Weaner, and fireman, Raymond Schultz began a city zoo "on the old canal property at the rear of city hall," according to one source.  
It seemed to be the project of the local fire department, but animals were donated to the zoo from many folks, both local and from afar.

Silver pheasant

One of the first animals obtained by Weaner and Schultz in 1936 was a hoot owl.  Later in 1937, a pair of silver pheasants were added, along with a pair of lovebirds.  The lovebirds were first housed in a cage in the police station, and were obtained from a friend of Schultz in Connersville, Indiana.

A local newspaper reported on November 13, 1937, that an enlarged cage was ready for "Tom" and "Jerry," two bears at the city zoo that were donated by the Hi-Speed Oil Company.  Their cage was made from steel railings from the old Second Street bridge.  Also a pair of foxes were given a hollow log as part of their new home.  In December, a black raccoon was donated by the Defiance Fish and Game, and Wayne Traxler of Delaware Bend donated a goat.

Black raccoon

In 1938, the Toledo Zoo encouraged
the Defiance group to start a zoo membership drive for the local zoo.  Nice membership cards were given out and punched at each zoo visit.  The local newspaper reported that 
"Considerable expense is involved in feeding and caring for twenty animals and twenty-five birds.  The zoo now numbers two black bears, three monkeys, two raccoons, two badgers, two foxes, two coyotes, one gopher and six guinea pigs.  Several beautifully plumaged pheasants are included among the birds"

Eventually that year, four alligators, a pair of bluejays and another monkey came to live at the zoo.  Fred Seghist, game protector of Fulton County, presented the two badgers to Mike Schultz.  Forrest Bidlack of Continental sold the zoo a rhesus monkey, named "Maggie," eleven months old.  At that time the zoo had one ringtail monkey, "Philbert," and three females.  Paul Degler, Clarence, Elmer and Charles Retcher, of Holgate, donated another fox.

Badger

At one time, the zoo had a lion cub that eventually was sent to Toledo Zoo when it became too large.
Still, in 1938, new animals were added and a new cage was built for a squirrel colony. But news of the zoo tapered off after that.  How and when the zoo met its demise is unknown right now.  

Rhesus monkey

Maybe someone can provide more information on that.  Please comment or email if you can!