Echoes of the Past

What's the story of these cat faces?

Some fifty years ago, this article appeared in our local newspaper.....

"Some new 'cats' are causing some curiosity.  Two 'cat heads' peering out from a concrete dike near Decorah on Highway 9 have shown up near the William Beard farm.  The faces were painted by Barbara Beard on two street lids which cover the openings of two ducts leading to the Upper Iowa River."  (from Echoes of the Past, FIFTY YEARS AGO, Decorah Newspapers 8/4/2011)

If anyone can share memories or information about them, please leave comments.