July 24, 2000
With a Pull, Mayor Williams Unveils Two New Lions on Taft Bridge
(Washington, DC) Fulfilling a campaign promise, Mayor Anthony A. Williams pulled the covering off two new lions on the south end of the Taft Bridge at Belmont Road, NW on Monday morning.
"Once again the Taft Bridge Lions will be enjoyed by thousands of our citizens and visitors as they motor, walk and jog along Connecticut Avenue," said Mayor Williams. "We're working with our citizens, communities, and federal partners to make this city a better place to work and live, and I look forward to welcoming the other two lions at the north end of the Taft Bridge."
The lions are the work of artist Reinaldo Lopez and Professional Restoration, a local company in southeast. Lopez used the original lions with additional research to build two sets of molds--one with an open mouth, one with a closed mouth--for the recasting. They are by Roland Hinton Perry (1970- 1941) of New York who also did the Neptune Fountain in front of the Library of Congress. Apparently the original cost was $25,000; the present contract is for $753,000, 80% federal funds and 20% DC.
The original lions graced the bridge from shortly after it opened in 1908 until they were removed for repair in 1993. When it became clear that they could not be restored, the new Williams Administration decided to recreate them, leading to today's events.
