When William Lemp purchased the large, impressive structure at 3322 DeMenil Place in St. Louis, the 1860s-built home became the family refuge and a small branch of the family brewery. Through his hard work, Lemp turned the structure into a stunning Victorian home.
In the 1970s, Dick Pointer wanted to open a restaurant - a place where he could earn a living, teach a trade and make memories with his family. When he discovered the then-vacant Lemp Mansion, he purchased it and once again transformed the home into one of the most beautiful structures in St. Louis.
Now, Lemp Mansion Restaurant and Inn welcomes visitors to its entertainment, paranormal and holiday-themed events year-round.
"Lemp Mansion really is a place full of history," said Matt Bell, manager of Lemp Mansion Restaurant and Inn. "The Lemp family was very well known in their time, and since the home has been turned into the restaurant and inn, the physical building and the story around it have become quite popular again."
The Lemp family first arrived in St. Louis when Johann Adam Lemp immigrated from Eschwege, Germany, in 1838, Bell said. He soon built a grocery store at what is now Delmar Boulevard and 6th Street, selling groceries and homemade beer made using a recipe handed down by his father. The beer became so popular that within two years he decided to close the grocery business and become a full-time brewery owner and operator.
His son, William Lemp, began a massive expansion of the brewery after his father's death, starting with the purchase of Lemp Mansion, according to information provided by Bell.
Over the years, the 33-room home was refurbished and updated. Throughout the home, even today, are beautiful carvings, wood work and ornately painted ceilings, mantles made of fine imported woods, tall ceilings and large windows that allow certain views of the Lemp family's brewery.
Said to be haunted by several members of the Lemp family, most paranormal activity is experienced in the stairway, the attic and the entrance to the old caves that used to run under the home.
It is believed William Lemp had a child hidden away in the home because he was not born to his then-wife. That child, sometimes called "Monkey Face Boy," is believed to have a strong presence in the home, still today, according to an article about Lemp Mansion on the Legends of America website.
Bell said he has heard people calling his name and doors have opened and closed for no reason.
In 1901, Frederick Lemp died at the age of 28. After his death, his father, William, rarely left the home; and after William's best friend and business partner died, he took his own life. Over the years, three more members of the Lemp family killed themselves, several of them in the mansion, Bell explained.
After the Lemp family sold the home, it served as a boarding house and then as office space.
The mansion now hosts hundreds of events year-round.
"There are many reasons people come to see us," Bell said. "Whether it is to enjoy the restaurant, spend the night or take a tour, we have guests come to visit us from all over the world."
In addition to hosting parties and weddings, Lemp Mansion puts on a regular dinner theater event. Overnight visits are usually easy to book, Bell said, though he suggests booking weekend stays several weeks out, especially around holidays.
The mansion's busiest time of year tends to be Halloween due to its paranormal appeal, though the home is also a favorite winter getaway for many.
The restaurant's annual all-you-can-eat Thanksgiving dinner is now a holiday tradition for many, Bell said. The restaurant and home provide the setting and feast for a memorable family meal. Holidays are also a great time to take a tour of the mansion, as its decorations are sure to soften even Scrooge's heart.
Christmas stories, poems and a history of Lemp Mansion are a big hit with many, especially those familiar with the home for other reasons. The regally-decorated mansion also appears in the backgrounds of family photos, as some feel the stately home radiates holiday joy once the season approaches and the home is transformed into a holiday haven for all to see and experience.
"We have guests who choose to stay here for a variety of reasons," Bell said. "Some want the experience of staying in the mansion. Others want to investigate or try and experience the paranormal events themselves."
The Pointer family purchased Lemp Mansion in 1974 for about $40,000. The then-vacant home was in dire need of repairs, but in 1976, the restaurant opened in the basement of the home. In 1982 the main floor was finished and they began renting rooms for overnight guests in the 1990s.
The restaurant sits in the basement of the mansion, the suites on the upper floors, and is known for its Sunday family fried chicken dinners.