Lemp Mansion St Louis Mo

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This hotel was actually a home to the Lemp family.  It was built in 1890. The reason the family chose this site was the intent to use the caves that are under the location.     Johann Adam Lemp started the business of brewing  German Lager.   

Adam Lemp is reported to have once child who was William Lemp. He attended St Louis University and worked at the brewery with his father until he left to be a partner with another brewer.  William enlisted in the US Army.  When Adam Lemp passed away William returned to the family brewery and built it into the largest brewery in St Louis and the largest Brewery owned by a single person.  William expanded beer sales Nationwide.  He used innovative ways to market his beer refrigerated.  

William had 8 children.  The oldest was Anna Lemp then was William Jacob (Billy) Lemp.  The third child but second son was Louis Lemp.  The  fourth child but third  son was Charles Lemp. The fifth child but fourth and favorite son was Frederick Lemp..  The sixth child was a daughter who married William Lemp Sr's best friends son.  Edwin Pabst, yes Pabst Blue Ribbon beer.  The seventh child but the fifth son was Edwin Lemp. The last child born to the Lemp Family was Elsa Lemp. 

William Sr was the President of the brewery and his son William Jr.  (Billy) was Vice-President and his second son Louis was the Superintendent.  HIs fourth son Frederick was the one that William Sr was grooming to take over the brewery.  

Billy attended St Louis University like his father and studied the art of brewing.  Mean while Frederick had serious medical problems that the family was not aware of and died of heart failure.  This was a major blow to William Sr. then his best friend Frederick Pabst passed away.  William Sr. went into a state of major depression and committed suicide just one month and 12 days after his best friend died.  

That fall after Williams Sr died William Jr (Billy) took over the brewery as president.  Billy  was married when he took over as president.  After taking over as president the marriage went down hill fast.  Lillian filed for divorce and took their son William III with her.   Billy built another home to stay in and avoided the brewery all together. The Brewery suffered greatly during this time. 

During the time of Billy's divorce and depression it is rumored that Billy ran around with prostitutes.  It is rumored that a child was born out of these relations.  And it is rumored that this child was mentally challenged.  It was rumored that in order to save additional embarrassment to the family, the child was locked in the attic of the Lemp home.  This child has been called "Zeke" by some.  It is reported that he lived in the family home attic and died at the age of 13 from malnutrition and abuse, 

Prohibition hit the US in the 1920's and the Lemp's lost millions.  In that time Billy committed suicide  in the  office that was in the family home.  

The Lemp daughter Elsa whom had been  married filed for divorce. Elsa was granted the divorce but later remarried her ex-husband.  Elsa ended up shooting herself in her married family  home.

Charles Lemp, was the final Lemp family member to live in the Lemp home.  Charles never married and  was not working he family business.   He lived in the home with his dog and a  married couple who were his servants.  

May 10th 1949, Charles killed his dog and committed suicide in the family home Library. 

The last son of William was Edwin.   Edwin died at the age of 90 of Natural causes in 1970.