ALDERSON, W.Va. (WCHS) — If you've ever been to the small community of Alderson in Greenbrier County, you may have noticed the large number of lion statues and symbols all over town.

The citizens definitely have an affinity for the large cats, but the reason is one of the most unique stories you're likely to hear.

Back in the day when the circus came to town via the busy railroad, it was a highlight for the folks in this small Appalachian community.

In 1890 a female lioness gave birth to three cubs while in Alderson. The circus owner knew it would be a challenge for the newborns to survive in captivity, plus he needed the mother to continue to perform.

"The circus was called French & Company's Great Railroad Show," Alderson public information officer Margaret Hambrick said. "Unfortunately, the owner put the cubs in a sack and instructed a circus employee to take them to the river and drown them."

Luckily the wife of a local blacksmith saw what was happening and asked if she could have the young lions. Not wanting to kill the cubs, the employee agreed.

Sadly two of the cubs did pass away, but the third thrived and developed into a full-grown male lion.

The townsfolk dubbed him French, and the rest is history.

French was completely tame, had a house cat as a best friend and was given the freedom to roam around town at his leisure for many years.That all changed one evening when a traveling salesman was walking across the town bridge returning to his lodging after a day of going door-to-door."He heard footsteps behind him," Hambrick explained. "He turned around to look and there was a full-grown male lion."The poor salesman began running, but so did French, thinking this was great sport.Realizing he couldn't outrun the big cat, the salesman leapt over the side of the bridge and into the chilly Greenbrier River.

The salesman wasn't injured, but this event caused the town council to pass a new city ordinance that reads in short "all lions must be on a leash in the town of Alderson."Surprisingly, that law remains on the books to this day.French was eventually sold to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. He was popular with the zoo's visitors, but in May 1894, he was traded to the Barnum & Bailey Circus where he apparently spent the rest of his life as one of the many attractions of "The Greatest Show on Earth."Through the ensuing years the town has embraced the true story of French, and has adorned the town with lions in statue form."We are really branding our little town here in the Greenbrier Valley," Hambrick said. "It's a good story. It's a bit funny. It's positive. It's a great symbol and we're just pleased to have this great brand for our town."