The Lemp Mansion - St. Louis, MO
Lemp insignia in the basement, rest of floor was solid block.
Atrium room, impressive art on the walls.
Ceiling of main dining room
History:
The story of the Lemp family begins with Johann Adam Lemp who left Gruningen,
Germany in 1836. He made his way to Saint Louis Missouri , and owned a local grocery
store. He also brought with him from Germany the taste for lager beer which he would
brew himself , and sell at his store. The beer sold very well , and 1840 set up operations
dedicated to the brew of his popular beer called Western Brewery. The brewery
continued to grow, and utilized the cave systems under St. Louis to keep the beer cold.
Adam Lemp died Aug.8 1862 leaving the brewery to his son William J. Lemp.
Under William’s leadership the brewery soon grew to the largest outside of New York
using such innovations as refrigeration, and refrigerated rail cars to extend distribution.
In 1892 he founded the William J. Lemp Brewing Company with himself as president,
and son William Jr. (better known as Billy) as vice-president. William Sr. also had
another son Frederick in 1873, whom he had hoped to be the one to take over after
he had died. Frederick suffered from a number of health problems, and died of heart
failure on Dec. 12 1901.
William Sr. was devastated , and became very depressed to the point of with drawing
from public life. He still ran the brewery operations, and was able to travel from mansion
to brewery through a tunnel that connected the two using the cave system. Also in the
caves were a vaudeville theater, bowling ally, and swimming pool that was heated using
hot water piped in from the brewery. At one time there was even a spiral staircase that
was located on Cherokee St. that lead to the theater. Then on Jan. 19 1904 his close
friend Frederick Pabst died sending him further into depression. On Feb. 13 1904
William entered his room, and shot himself in the head with a 38 caliber pistol.
The story of the Lemp family begins with Johann Adam Lemp who left Gruningen,
Germany in 1836. He made his way to Saint Louis Missouri , and owned a local grocery
store. He also brought with him from Germany the taste for lager beer which he would
brew himself , and sell at his store. The beer sold very well , and 1840 set up operations
dedicated to the brew of his popular beer called Western Brewery. The brewery
continued to grow, and utilized the cave systems under St. Louis to keep the beer cold.
Adam Lemp died Aug.8 1862 leaving the brewery to his son William J. Lemp.
Under William’s leadership the brewery soon grew to the largest outside of New York
using such innovations as refrigeration, and refrigerated rail cars to extend distribution.
In 1892 he founded the William J. Lemp Brewing Company with himself as president,
and son William Jr. (better known as Billy) as vice-
another son Frederick in 1873, whom he had hoped to be the one to take over after
he had died. Frederick suffered from a number of health problems, and died of heart
failure on Dec. 12 1901.
William Sr. was devastated , and became very depressed to the point of with drawing
from public life. He still ran the brewery operations, and was able to travel from mansion
to brewery through a tunnel that connected the two using the cave system. Also in the
caves were a vaudeville theater, bowling ally, and swimming pool that was heated using
hot water piped in from the brewery. At one time there was even a spiral staircase that
was located on Cherokee St. that lead to the theater. Then on Jan. 19 1904 his close
friend Frederick Pabst died sending him further into depression. On Feb. 13 1904
William entered his room, and shot himself in the head with a 38 caliber pistol.
