05/28/2026
Hutchinson has a rich legacy of zoo animals in Carey Park. Years before the Zoo was opened on its current site in 1986, a couple of young girls worked to make a difference for their Zoo.
Here’s Ellen Wintamute-Smiley’s story…
“This is a picture of my best friend, Connie Voss. That’s me on the right, at the age of 9. Connie is the tallest. We lived by the park, and it was our playground. We would go and visit the one lion (Oscar). He was lonely. We decided to collect paper for money to start a zoo club. That was 70 years ago. To belong to the zoo club, it cost a dime.”
According to the Zoo’s historical narrative, Connie wrote to TV star Gary Moore, asking him to join the club. He invited her and her family to New York so she could be on his show. In April 1956, Hutchinson Zoo week was launched with Connie’s appearance on the Gary Moore Show. Her Lincoln School 4th-grade classmates watched her on TV as she told of their zoo plans.
Ellen said, “…he [Gary Moore] said he would give us two bears. So, she and I went to the city [Hutchinson] for help with cages and support.” The City Commission started a zoo committee and later took possession of two bears donated by a zoo in Saginaw, Michigan.
“This picture was taken at the airport when the bears arrived. SO Exciting. Such a wonderful memory to have done such a fun adventure.” – Ellen Wintamute Smiley
🗣Do you have a Hutchinson Zoo story you would like to share? Visit our link in the bio or hutchinsonzoo.org for details.
