Forgotten Symbols and nameless beauty

Special Report by Joey Spencer Date: March 31st 2010

In front of the main entrance to the Roswell P. Flower memorial library

stand two proud lions. They have stood their post, guarding and beautifying
the front entrance, for over one hundred years.

Placed on the portico of the library in 1905 by a Mrs.Taylor, who was re-
sponsible for not only bringing the lions to our community, but also the
installation of the marble fence that surrounds the entrance to the library. A
couple of mishaps brought some minor repair work to the lions. A chipped
K-9 tooth in 1925 due to a falling tree, and in 1982 a broken tail that was
promptly re-attached.

These two proud and beautiful marble masterpieces have stood and bared A symbol of Watertown’s
witness to over a century of change in Watertown. Strength and character for
105 years.
From the hey-days of Frank Winfield Woolworth's Five and dime, through
the onslaught of our north country weather these lions have never failed to
stand their post, allowing us all to be just a little more dignified in their
presence.

Through the years there has been what one could call a lapse in due re-
spect. For one hundred and five years, these two, that have come to symbol-
ize the strength our cities citizens, and the honor of our principles, have
gone nameless. Forgotten it seems, to have been bestowed with fitting mon-
ikers that would at once symbolize our appreciation for their tireless guardi-
anship of our communities knowledge and history, while demonstrating our
adoration for their part in making downtown Watertown as beautiful as it
is.

As a life long resident I have grown up with the "library lions" and I too
Questions or comments? Email us
have taken their presence for granted at times. I believe the time has come
for Watertown to repay our standing guards for their one hundred years of theweeklystash@mail.com

service. Name them, give what they symbolize the respect that it deserves. Or call 315-523-6143