The Ghosts of Lemp Mansion

By Crusader1307

 Located in St. Louis, Missouri – Lemp Mansion was ''Home'' to The Lemp Family. William Lemp was noted locally for dominating the Market on producing beer in St. Louis until The Prohibition Era of the 1920s. William was born in Germany and emigrated to The US in time to join The Union Army in 1861 (The American Civil War). After The War, William grew His Family and a successful Brewing Company. His Mansion, completed in 1868 (with 33-Rooms, in fact) was placed in the more affluent portion of The City of St. Louis. All was good in The Lemp Family....until a series of personal disasters would cause The Lemp Mansion to become more related to Ghostly Hauntings rather than ''Ale. Williams 1st Son, William Jr. - tried to become the next Head of The Family Business. But an unknown rift gre between Father and Son. William Sr. made it clear that ''Junior'' would not. Enter William Sr's. ''other Son'' – the young Frederick. A ''sickly Child'', William Sr. perhaps could place His ''Empire'' with Him. It wouldn't happen. In 1901, Frederick died of a multitude of illnesses. William sank into a deep depression. Seldom seen or venturing from His Home, William Sr. learned in 1904 – that His best Friend – Fredrick Pabst (for whom the late Son was named for), had died. Pabst (as is known in American History, was a well known and long running Brewery). This was too much for Senior. Later on the day of learning this, He went downstairs to His basement and blew His brains out. So ''Junior'' got The Family Business after all. And that's about all.......

William Junior married a rather ''upwardly mobile Society Girl''. Giving Him a Son, She liked to spend massive amounts of money. At some point, Junior got frustrated and entered into a series of affairs. When ''Wifey'' found out, She divorced Him, refused Him the right to see His Son and got The Courts to give her a huge settlement sum. When the threat of Prohibition hit The US in the early 1920s – Junior found much if His assets dwindling, afraid of poverty, He sold The Family Business for the sum of $558,000 (it was worth much more). With the forced loss of His Business, ex-Wife ''draining'' His Accounts and the similar lack of seeing His Son, William retired to His Study in The Lemp Home – and blew HIS brains out.

William Sr. had yet one more Child. This was a Girl named Elsa. She married well but upon finding that HER Husband was having affairs, filed divorce. This drew Elsa into bouts of severe depression and fits (worthy of committing into a Lunatic Asylum). But in 1920, Elsa and Her soon to be ex-Husband reconciled. She was found dead by a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Many though Her Husband was responsible – not wanting to part with the money that was required with a ''messy divorce''. Although investigated, He was never charged – and Elsa Lemp became a ''suicide''.

William III (Junior's estranged Son), did not liken to The Brewery Business, although He did work in Marketing for the stuff. He suffered divorce, but no other related tragedy. But enter the last Lemp to live in Lamp House. This is Charles. Charles was was the the very youngest of Seniors ''boys''. He tried unsuccessfully to rebuilt the Family name and Business. Unable, He converted His assets into Banking. Charles was by all accounts – strange. Never married and only a pet Dog as His ''companion'' – He did have Household servants. In 1949, Charles too – shot Himself in the head.

The Lemp Home was well noted (having been sold and used for various businesses) – as being a very ''active'' spot for Paranormal Activity. Feelings of depression and anger are ated felt by anyone entering into the Basement or Study (the locations of two suicides). Cold Spots are common, as are ''shadowy figures'' walking thru The Mansion. The ''smell'' of perfume (associated with Elsa) is also experience. Some violence is known as well. Poltergeist-like ''slaps ans scratches'' are a very common experience as well. Although not known – the smell of burning wood is also a very common happening. This is said to be related to Charles, who left detailed instruction to be cremated. A Museum now, Lemp Mansion was last investigated in 2010. The ''verdict'' is STILL the same....''something IS present''.