Two concrete lions that used to sit outside the front doors of the former House Springs Lions Club have a new home.
The lions recently were relocated to Woodridge Middle School, 2109 Gravois Road, in High Ridge.
Woodridge Principal Shannon Umfleet said sixth-grade math teacher Kierstin Bueter reached out to Craig and Heather Schatz, the new owners of the Lions Club property, 6482 Hwy. MM, and arranged to get the lions moved to the school.
“Bueter actually goes to Advantage Veterinary, where Heather Schatz is a veterinarian,” Umfleet said.
Craig and Heather Schatz own both the old Lions property and Advantage Veterinary Center in High Ridge, Umfleet said.
She said Bueter took her dogs to the clinic for a checkup and asked Heather Schatz about the concrete lions.
Craig Schatz said he and his wife already had been planning to donate the lions to one of the Northwest R-1 District schools.
“There’s a long history between the Lions Club and being the namesake for a number of the schools in the area,” he said.
Umfleet said the lions were moved to Woodridge on Sept. 17.
She said the Streib Co. in St. Louis moved the lions to the school for free.
“(The lions) are extremely heavy,” Umfleet said. “There’s no way any one person can move them.”
Umfleet said she enjoys having a bit of the area’s history at her school.
“We’re just really honored to show community support, keep them in the community and still show them off and show off our pride,” she said.
Schatz said he likes seeing the lions at their new home.
“They fit very nicely,” he said.
The Schatzes purchased the former House Springs Lions Club in July and plan to use the building as an event venue.
First, Schatz said, the 4,200-square-foot building is getting a “facelift.”
“Nothing structural is being done. We’re just giving it a new, fresh coat of paint on the inside now,” he said.
Schatz said it is too early to say when the new business will open.