The Haunting of Lemp Mansion

Throughout the latter half of the nineteenth century, as America spread westward, industrial tycoons made a fortune building out the nation’s infrastructure, and growing their already substantial wealth in the process. In St. Louis, Missouri, one of those tycoons was Adam Lemp, whose Western Brewery was among the most productive and prosperous breweries in America. Following Adam’s death, the brewery was passed down to his son, William, starting a dynasty that would last nearly a century.

It seems that, when Lemp passed the business on, he may have also passed on something far more insidious to his descendants that would mark the Lemp family for tragedy. In the decades that followed, the Lemp family suffered one tragic death after another, each one playing out in the Benton Park mansion where the Lemps resided. For more than a century, the residents of St. Louis have wondered who—or what—resided in the mansion that caused so much misfortune, and whether the spirits of the Lemps still walk the halls.

References

Kantrowitz, Marc. 2025. "The beer, scandal and haunted mansion of the Lemp dynasty." South Carolina Lawyers Weekly, October 13.

Linzee, David. 1999. "The lighter side of Lemp." St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 14.

Richmond, Dick. 1982. "At the haunt of haunts." St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 14: 47.

Shepley, Carol Ferring. 2008. "The Lemp family of St. Louis." Voices, October.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 1949. "Charles A. Lemp, ex-brewer, kills self as did three others in family." St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 10: 1.

—. 1922. "William J. Lemp kills himself in brewery office." St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 29: 1.

—. 1904. "Wm. J. Lemp kills himself in grief." St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 13: 1.

St. Louis Republic. 1901. "Frederick W. Lemp is dead." St. Louis Republic, December 13: 13.

St. Louis Star and Times. 1920. "Mrs. Elsa Lemp Wright shoots herself at home." St. Louis Star and Times , March 20: 1.

—. 1922. "William J. Lemp commits suicide by shooting self." St. Louis Star and Times, December 29: 1.

Taylor, Betsy. 2001. "Lemp Mansion, rumored to be haunted, draws attention to St. Louis history." Daily American Republic, October 31: 3.

Walker, Stephen. 1989. Lemp: The Haunting History. St. Louis, MO: Lemp Preservation Society.

Wilkinson, Melissa. 2020. Exploring a Lemp Mansion mystery. March 4. Accessed October 2, 2026. https://www.timesnewspapers.com/westendword/exploring-a-lemp-mansion-mystery/article_14480610-5d8f-11ea-ae8d-d70995bc6099.html.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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