The Asheville Monkey (12-1)

106 years ago, on July 16, 1916, a flood changed the City of Asheville's landscape. The rising waters of the Swannanoa and French Broad Rivers went to heights never been recorded. Soon after the flood, a monkey was bequeathed by the late Cornelius Vanderbilt to a friend in Asheville. Many thought this was to establish a zoo for the city. The 1916 City Council of the day took up the discussion of the monkey business. It is very similar to the council's handling of business at present. But, as in the best-laid plans of monkey and man, the enterprise went sideways. Was this the beginning of the mysterious Asheville Monkey?