“Improving The Community One Project At A Time”
PO Box 117 - Alderson W Va. 24910
© Alderson Main Street 2014
A LION TO WATCH OVER YOU
In keeping with the "lion" theme in Alderson, a quilt square featuring a lion was installed on the Renaissance
Building at the stop sign just before the July 4 festivities. Look up to see his kindly eyes following you through town.
Sponsored by Alderson Main Street, coordinated by Judy Lewallen with color advice from Vivian Pranulis, and hung
by the crew of Bowyer's Tree Trimming, Removal and Stump Grinding Service, the lion is perched high to watch
over the town. Workers Junior Bostic, Edgar Tincher, and Jamie Yates used the bucket truck to lift the sign and
secure it to the side of the building.
Alderson Main Street President Betty Thomas said, "We really want to thank Leonard Bowyer for donating his
crew's time and equipment to hang this square."
This lion complements several others that have joined the three installed earlier by Alderson Main Street. Individuals
have been adding lions to their gardens, porches, and lawn displays. If the original Alderson lion was still around,
he would find lots of company.
Alderson's lion leash law dates to 1890, according to one account, when a travelling circus, "French's Great
Railroad Show", came to Alderson along with an expectant lioness. She delivered 2 live cubs and the circus
manager intended to drown them. Mrs. Beabout, wife of the town's blacksmith, rescued them and one thrived. Leo,
or "French" in some accounts, was well known and accepted around town. However, a visiting salesman was so
frightened by Leo padding across the bridge behind him that he jumped into the Greenbrier River prompting the city
council to pass an ordinance requiring that lions be kept on a leash!
Mayor Travis Copenhaver said, "It is great to see so many people getting into the spirit and adding lions to their
yards. I noticed that some of them are sporting red, white, and blue leashes so they are in compliance with the
law!" (Click on photos for larger view)
