The Haunting of Lemp Mansion

Episode of Morbid · October 8, 2026 · 47 min

Morbid hosts Alaina Urquhart and Ash Kelley recount the rise and fall of St. Louis's Lemp brewing dynasty, its string of suicides, and the alleged haunting of Lemp Mansion.

Summary

After opening banter about their recent guest episode with Matthew Lillard, Ash Kelley's dismay over the discontinuation of Mama Celeste frozen pizza, and criticism of commentator Megyn Kelly, the hosts turned to the history of the Lemp family of St. Louis, Missouri.

Urquhart narrated how German immigrant Johann Adam Lemp founded Western Brewery in 1840, using the city's caves for lagering, and how his son William J. Lemp expanded it into a national brewing power and built the Lemp Mansion. She described a cascade of tragedies: the 1901 death of William's favorite son Frederick, William's suicide in 1904 after the death of his friend Frederick Pabst, the sensational divorce of Billy Lemp and Lillian Handlan (the "Lavender Lady"), the disputed 1920 death of Elsa Lemp Wright, the collapse of the brewery under Prohibition and Billy's suicide in 1922, the early death of William III, and Charles Lemp's suicide in the mansion in 1949. Kelley remarked that the third generation of a family business often ruins it.

The episode concluded with the mansion's later life as a boarding house, then a restaurant and bed and breakfast under the Pointer family from 1975, and reported paranormal experiences there, including feelings of being watched, a 1982 seance Polaroid allegedly showing Charles Lemp, sightings of a smiling apparition, and guests finding figures in their beds. The hosts expressed interest in visiting and holding a seance.

Chapters

0:00
Intro and Matthew Lillard episode
The hosts open the show and reflect on the popularity of their recent guest episode with Matthew Lillard.
2:06
Mama Celeste pizza lament
Ash Kelley complains about the discontinuation of Mama Celeste frozen pizza and recounts stockpiling fifteen of them.
4:56
Megyn Kelly tangent
The hosts criticize Megyn Kelly's commentary and Kelley recalls being told she resembled her.
7:14
Adam Lemp and Western Brewery
Urquhart introduces the Lemp story, describing Adam Lemp's immigration, his brewery, and the use of caves for lagering.
12:22
William Lemp's expansion
William J. Lemp moves the brewery above the caves, massively grows output, builds the mansion, and prepares to hand off the business.
15:24
Frederick's death and William's suicide
The death of favorite son Frederick and friend Frederick Pabst precede William Lemp's suicide in the mansion in 1904.
19:15
Billy Lemp and the Lavender Lady
Billy Lemp's extravagant marriage to Lillian Handlan ends in a sensational divorce trial and a record settlement.
24:15
The death of Elsa Lemp Wright
Elsa divorces and remarries Thomas Wright before dying of a gunshot wound ruled a suicide amid suspicious details.
28:22
Prohibition and Billy's suicide
Prohibition destroys Lemp Brewing, Billy sells off its assets at a steep loss and shoots himself in his office in 1922.
33:28
The last Lemps
William III's failed revival and early death, Charles Lemp's reclusive life and suicide in the mansion, and Edwin Lemp's natural death in 1970.
38:16
The haunting of Lemp Mansion
The mansion becomes a boarding house, restaurant, and bed and breakfast where staff and guests report ghostly encounters.
Linked moment · 44:23Skip to 44:23 using a listen link in the info box.
44:23
Wrap-up
The hosts reflect on the tale, express a wish to visit St. Louis and hold a seance, and sign off.

People

In the conversation

Alaina UrquhartCo-host of Morbid, autopsy technician and author of the Butcher novels
Ash KelleyCo-host of the true crime podcast Morbid

Discussed

Adam LempGerman-born founder of St. Louis's Western Brewery
William J. LempSt. Louis brewing magnate who expanded the Lemp brewery and built Lemp Mansion; died by suicide in 1904
William J. Lemp Jr.Known as Billy; president of Lemp Brewing who died by suicide in 1922 after Prohibition ruined the company
Lillian Handlan LempSt. Louis socialite known as the Lavender Lady; Billy Lemp's first wife
Frederick LempYoungest son of William J. Lemp who died in 1901
Elsa Lemp WrightDaughter of William J. Lemp whose 1920 shooting death was ruled a suicide
Charles LempLemp family member who lived reclusively in the mansion and died by suicide there in 1949
Edwin LempLast surviving son of William J. Lemp, died of natural causes in 1970
Frederick PabstBrewing magnate and friend of William J. Lemp
August BuschSt. Louis brewing magnate and friend of Billy Lemp
Richard PointerOwner who renovated Lemp Mansion into a restaurant in 1975
Megyn KellyConservative broadcaster and podcaster
Matthew LillardAmerican actor known for Scream, Scooby-Doo and Five Nights at Freddy's

Topics

From the publisher

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.

Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on October 9, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.

Categories: History·Society & Culture·Spirituality