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By Deborah Carl
Lion House Statue Replaced, Finds New Home
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- After 150 years of rain, snow, wind, and blazing
sun, the lion that stood watch on the Lion House balcony has retired to a
more comfortable home in the Museum of Church History and Art. His
replacement is a 900 lb. sandstone replica of the original lion before the
elements eroded many of the details.
The original lion was carved in the early 1850s by William Ward while the
Brigham Young's house was under construction. The new lion was created by
Johann "Hans" Huettlinger and his son, John, of Hans Monuments to look just
old one did when the house was new. It took three years to transform a
1,500-pound block of sandstone quarried near Torrey, Wayne County, into a
900 lb. lion.
"It took awhile, but it was a fun job, a once-in-a-lifetime project," said
Hans Huettlinger, who gives his son credit for doing most of the work. "I
roughed it out three years ago and he finished it. He's better at it than I
am," he said.
Source:
Brand-new mascot stands watch over Lion House entry
Deseret News 13Jun01 A6
By Max Knudson: Deseret News executive business editor
Brand-new mascot stands watch over Lion House entry
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