The "The City Of Lions" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just pulled out from my parking space in front of the Lancaster Free Public Library after taking photographs of another ornamental lion's head on an office building located at 135 N. Duke Street in downtown Lancaster.  Seems that the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania is a haven or "pride" for lion carvings, castings and moldings that grace the homes, stores and schools in the city.  All began, as far as I can tell, in 1895 when noted architect C. Emlen Urban placed thirteen lion's heads around the decorative cornice of the Miss Jennie Potts' building in the first block of West King Street.  I recently wrote a story about Miss Potts and her contributions to the city of Lancaster and while taking a photo of her place on King Street noticed the lion heads and did some research on why they were there.  That's when I discovered that the lion has been used quite a bit on Lancaster's buildings.  Lions have enjoyed a prominent role in architecture throughout history.  Ancient Egyptians depicted the lion at rest.  Greeks and Romans used the lion as guardians of their buildings.  Christians used them to depict strength, courage and loyalty while the Chinese used them to indicate supremacy.  I fear that I may have missed quite a few of the lion sculptures in Lancaster, but I will at least share with you what I did find during my trip around the town.  Follow along and see the majestic lion and how it was used on the architecture of the city of Lancaster.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The Miss Jennie Potts Building on West King Street.

The cornice of the building has 13 miniature lion's heads around it. Click to enlarge.

Nearby is the 1910 Hager Building which was one of Lancaster's big department stores. 

 It too has lion heads that protect the shield of the Hager family from harm or mischief.  

On the opposite side of King Street stands the Harold's Building at 4-6 W. King Street which I remember as a furniture store for many years.  It was the home of Lancaster Hisrtory.org for a few years, but now sits vacant.

There are four carved stylized lion heads above the main entrance to the store.  I must admit that the lion's heads do not look as threatening as most other carvings.

In 1898 the Beaux Arts-style Watt & Shand Department Store was designed by C. Emlen Urban.  It stood on the square since then, but today is the facade for the Lancaster County Convention Center and Mariott Hotel.

Above the second floor windows of the corner building are 13 carvings which feature the above lion's head.  

On the corner of West Chestnut Street and North Charlotte Streets sands this grand building known at one time as Stevens High School.  It later was Stevens Elementary and today is known as The Residences at Stevens School.  

At the top of the school can be seen two lion heads that decorate the main posts of the school.  

Near Lancaster's Public Library stands this building at 135 N. Duke Street which is now an office building..

On either side of the front door are two carved lion heads that guard the door of the 1890s Eclectic Style building.  These are my favorite of all that I photographed.

On the East end of Lancaster stands this lion sculpture that is a cast bronze, water-spewing lion that was the creation of Lancaster artist Blanche Nevin who created it in the late 1800s.  The thick, curly mane and quiet repose appear to tame the beast's ravenous appetite.  It is located near Lancaster County Prison in Reservoir Park.  Click on photo to enlarge.