Stone Zoo History In The Spotlight At Planned Historical Society Event

STONEHAM, MA — An event in Stoneham this week will recall the history of Stoneham’s Stone Zoo via a presentation from New England Zoo CEO John Linehan.

The free event will take place at the Stoneham Historical Society and Museum at 36 William St. in Stoneham at 7 p.m. on Thursday. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. The event will kick off a planned fall speaker series at the historical society.

Linehan runs Zoo New England, which in turn manages both the Stone Zoo and the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston. Linehan boasts 41 years of experience in zoo management at both the Franklin Park and Stone zoos, as noted in a historical society event announcement.

The Stone Zoo itself dates back more than 100 years to 1905, when it was founded by Charlie Price, the historical society said in a history that it shared with its event announcement. Price, at that time, was the Superintendent of the Metropolitan District Commission’s Middlesex Fells Reservation, the society said.

The zoo then got its “Stone Zoo” name in 1969 in honor of former Zoo Director Walter Stone, according to the historical society.