ALDERSON W.Va. (WVDN) – French, the Alderson Lion, made a surprise appearance at the 4th Annual Fall Festival in Alderson on October 4.
Designed, sewn, and assembled by local artist and seamstress Meg Chamberlain, this latest version of “French” made its debut at the festival, delighting kids and adults alike. More photos of French and festival visitors can be found on Alderson Main Street’s Facebook page.
Many readers will remember that a lion cub, born while a circus was in town, was saved from death by the wife of an Alderson blacksmith and raised by her for almost a year. His exploits while roaming the streets of Alderson have been the subject of numerous articles, multiple chapters in the Alderson History Highlights books, two full books, and one play.
For more on the story of French, there are publications at the Alderson Artisans Gallery which explain why the Town of Alderson still has an ordinance on the books requiring residents to keep their lion on a leash! Fascinating history and true story.
