UNIVERSITY CITY, MO. In partnership with the City of University City, on Saturday, June 13, 2009, the Historical Society of University City will begin in earnest its celebration of the 100th Year Birthday of its Famous Lions that sit atop of the "Gates of Opportunity" in the University City Civic Plaza, at the corner of Delmar and Trinity. To celebrate the birthday, the Historical Society has embarked upon a series of community art and history projects. The "Roaring Lions of University City" will on Saturday, June 13 is the Society's premier event commemorating the birthday. Nine (9) life-sized fiberglass lions (like the Cows of Chicago) adorned and decorated by selected artists will be secretly placed around University City. At 9 am at the Civic Plaza (home of the Lions), 6801 Delmar Blvd., citizens, guests, neighbors, families and friends are invited to join in a scavenger hunt to find the lions through U City based cryptic clues. The first ones to find all nine lions will receive a special prize.
Artists came from across the region to compete for the opportunity to "dress" one of the Roaring Lions. The artists selected are: William Curtis, Mary Engelbreit, Tracy Dorsey, Sandy Miller, William Barr Sr., Steve Scherrer, Byron Rogers, Beverly Lake Hoffman and Genevieve Esson. The Lions were manufactured by Cow Painters, Inc. Once the scavenger hunt is complete, the Historical Society will reveal to the general public the locations of the Roaring Lions.
The Birthday Bash Committee is also sponsoring a writing contest for secondary school aged children about "[w]hat the Lions have seen over the last 100 years". The grand prize winners will be announced in late June. In the fall, the Committee is also sponsoring an art project at all local elementary schools where kids will receive a free miniature paper mache lion to decorate. The celebration will conclude with a Birthday Party on September 12, 2009, with birthday cake, the reading of the winning essays, the auctioning off of the Roaring Lions and performances by local musicians and dancers. Surrounding municipalities will also join the festivities by giving the Lions birthday banners from their mascots and citizens. The banners will be displayed at the Birthday Party and then in City Hall for the remainder of 2009.
On Sunday, September 13, 2009 the celebration continues with a House and Garden Tour sponsored by U City in Bloom.Previous events this past year included the showing the CALOP movie about the restoration of the Lions, a free summer outdoor showing of the famous lion movie "Born Free", lion readings at the U City Library, lion bookmarks encouraging recycling given to children from Public Works, and of course, a lion-themed Ice Carnival in the Loop last February. It was the Committee's goal to have all the events be free to the public.
The Lion and Lioness were sculpted by George Julian Zolnay and placed upon the entry gates designed by Eames & Young at the top of the Civic Plaza in 1909. The Lions were the brainchild of University City's founder, E.G. Lewis, who was inspired by the City Beautiful Movement , which held as its motto, "[M]ake no little plans for they have not the power to stir men's minds". His vision brought to life in numerous civic buildings and sculptures. Tthis day one of the most beautiful civic plazas in the region. Over the past 100 years, the Lions have kept watch over University City and have become its most beloved icons.
Sponsors of the Birthday bash are: The City Of University City(through in-kind assistance), U City in Bloom, the University City Parks Foundations, Parkview Gardens Association, the Gatesworth, St. Andrews Senior Services, Commerce Bank, University City School District, Washington University, Residents of University Hills, University Hills Women's League, the Regional Arts Commission, the Arts & Letters Commission, the residents of University Heights, the Loop Special Business District, Byron Company, Blueberry Hill, Talx and Plowshare. The Birthday Bash Committee is comprised of Ed Nickels, Petree Eastman, Angela Fitzgerald, Tom McCarthy, Dan Martin, Jessica Bueler, Judy Prange, Jane Schaefer, and Marlissa Hudson. |
