#145: Lemp Mansion

When I hear people talk about the Lemp Mansion, it is always about how the place is haunted. And it's probably true - at least to paranormal enthusiasts! This historical building has quite a lot of history to it. The Lemp family has always been a dynasty that historians seem to look into the most. The empire started when the first generation Lemp family migrated to St. Louis from Germany in 1838. They ran a grocery and in the process, they brewed a kettle of beer in the back. It would soon become a St. Louis empire, but it didn't last as it became a legendary St. Louis rise-and-fall story. Read on:

• The house was completed in 1868 by German-American Jacob Feickert. 
• The Lemp family moved into the place in 1876.
• Lemp Beer was very popular in the late 19th century, which would soon be surpassed by Anheuser-Busch in later years.
• Three suicides happened at the Lemp Mansion; the first being William Lemp, Sr. (who was the head of the brewing empire at the time) who was devastated by the death of his 4th son, Frederick, as well as his best friend, Frederick Pabst (a Milwaukee brewer).
• The caves underneath the mansion and the Cherokee-Lemp district served as refrigeration facilities by a number of brewers, including the Lemps.
• Three generations lived at the mansion, until 1949 when Charles Lemp committed suicide. From that time to 1975, the place served as a boarding house and an apartment building. 
• Years after showing signs of deterioration, the Pointer family bought the Lemp Mansion and converted it into a bed-and-breakfast type place, as well as for other uses. It is still run by them today.

The Lemp Mansion

The Lemp Mansion sign as seen from Interstate 55

An episode of KETC Channel 9's Living St. Louis, which focuses on the history of Lemp Beer

Lemp Mansion on FB
Wikipedia link (also talks about members of the Lemp family)
Official website

3322 Deminil Place, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63118
Cake artist: Phil Jarvis  (he also decorated the Luvy Duvy's cake)

UPDATE (8/24/2016): The cake is still there.

#144: Chatillon-DeMinil Mansion

• A symbol of the Greek Revival style in St. Louis.
• Henry Chatillon, a famed hunter, built the original section of the building and lived here (along with his second wife) in 1849.
• It wasn't until 1863 when the DeMinil family gave it a more 'Greek Revival' look by making it into a mansion.
• Museum houses several artifacts, all related to St. Louis and its culture, from its origins, the families that lived there to the interstate highway that nearly destroyed the mansion.
• The largest collection of 1904 World's Fair memorabilia on public display is shown in two rooms. 
• Weddings are usually performed here as well.

A far away view of the mansion

The cake, which from what I hear, is suppose to resemble an old-style wedding cake:

Top of the cake

Right side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Left side of the cake

Chatillon- DeMinil Mansion on FB
Official website
Official website (for weddings)

3352 DeMinil Place, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63118
Cake artist: April Morrison

UPDATE (8/24/2016): The cake is still there, however it is located in the back of the place.

#68: Soulard Restoration Group

Since this cake pretty much represents Soulard as a whole, I think I'll share the history of this legendary neighborhood area in St. Louis.

• Soulard is the oldest surviving residential community in St. Louis.
• Named after Antoine Soulard, who was a surveyor for the Spanish government (which ruled St. Louis in the late 18th century), and was a refugee from the French revolution. 
• The land was developed by Soulard, where he started the Soulard Market, which of course still stands.
• Today, the Soulard neighborhood hosts several events, most notably Oktoberfest, and oh yeah, Mardi Gras! 
• The neighborhood consists of several bars, restaurants, residential areas, and the North American headquarters of Anheuser-Busch. Bar and pub crawls are often hosted here.

St. Louis is known to be the second Mardi Gras capital in America, after of course, New Orleans. This is possibly due to its French heritage, or maybe its relations with the Mississippi River, who knows! Nonetheless, tens of thousands of St. Louisans love to party and celebrate in the (often) cold and chilly weather with beads and Cajun/Creole food!

The Soulard Restoration Group has existed since 1972, and has always welcomed members and volunteers. With the help of volunteers, fences have been built, planted trees, painted places and built parks. The group meets every month. Soulard continues to thrive with its special events with many thanks to this group. 

The cake, of course has a Mardi Gras theme. Rich Brooks made sure this was 'family-friendly' as some parts of Mardi Gras have adult-themed nature. Rich believes Soulard is a great place to live and be aspired. (He regularly does art shows and displays his work at the Soulard Art Market (SAM).)

Left side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Right side of the cake

Top of the cake

Soulard Restoration Group on FB

Soulard Wikipedia link

Soulard Official Website

1911 S. 12th Street., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63104

Cake artist: Rich Brooks

#67: Clementine's

• Bills itself as 'St. Louis' oldest gay bar' (or LGBT)
• Since 1978, Clementine's has been one of the Midwest's oldest LGBT bar
• Has a cafe inside called Oh My Darlins (possibly named after the old song 'Clementine')
• Known by critics as a typical Soulard-style dive bar
• Has a patio in the back of the place as well as many dart machines inside.

The cake (pictures were taken from its newer location, the Soulard Art Market), which focuses mostly on a special event which takes place in Soulard - the Barkus Pet Parade:

Left side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Right side of the cake

Top of the cake

NOTE: On a sad note, Clementine's closed on September 29, 2014. The cake is now placed outside the Soulard Art Market (SAM). Pictures and details coming soon!

Clementine's on FB

2001 Menard St., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63104
Cake artist: Earl Miller  (he also decorated the Powell Symphony Hall cake)

#66: The Sweet Divine

 *PUBLIC VOTE WINNER*

I'm usually out of the loop when it comes to small St. Louis businesses, and I should be keeping up! The Sweet Divine is fairly new, as it has existed since 2012. It started out in south city on Kingshighway, but because of popular demand - not even a year later, they moved to a bigger location in Soulard! In addition, they have a very popular food truck which makes its way to several events.

The Sweet Divine was started by Jason Seibert and his wife, Jenna. Jason's grandfather was a baker for over 40 years, and Jason was able to use his old recipes and make money off of them. Several types of cakes, cookies, and, well...anything that's baked can be found here at its amazing Soulard location. They have made into a coffeehouse-type atmosphere as well, so several guests can relax and enjoy their sweets.

A look inside the sweets shoppe. Look at their boutique-style boxes

The bakery gained national exposure when it was featured twice on The Food Network's Cupcake Wars. They were declared the winner on the show's 'Angry Birds' episode.

The 'sweet' sides of the cake:

Back side of the cake

Right side of the cake

Top of the cake

Left side of the cake

The Sweet Divine on FB
Official website

1801 South 9th St., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63104
Cake artist: Linda Kurdi

#65: Historic Trinity Lutheran Church

While doing my north Soulard cake run, I stumbled across this church. Looks are deceiving; this place has more history than man can count.

• Founded in 1839 by Saxon immigrants, it is the oldest Lutheran congregation on the West of the Mississippi River.
• Its present location was built in 1864, having moved from their Lombard Street location (from 1842).
• Statues of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are present here, and several pieces of biblical memorabilia are on display
• Services are conducted in both English and German languages.
• Its elementary school is the oldest continually operating of its kind in St. Louis.

Historic Trinity Lutheran Church on FB
Official website

812 Soulard Street, ST. LOUIS,MO, 63104
Cake artist: Mark Hurd

#64: Soulard Market

• The oldest Farmer's market west of the Mississippi River, as it was founded in 1779!
• It wasn't until 1795 that Antoine Soulard was given the land from his father-in-law, Gabriel Cerre, which included the market. The land would be the subject of a long legal battle starting in 1803 when the land was purchased by the United States.
• There have been two buildings for the market since 1841. They have nearly been destroyed by a tornado in 1896.
• Open Wednesday through Saturday, year-round
• Several locally-grown and made foods are sold at the market, such as produce, spices, dairy products and meats.

Soulard Farmers Market

Rudy Commons memorial plaque

Soulard Market on FB
Soulard Farmers Market (Official website)
Soulard Market (Official website)

730 Carroll St., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63104
Cake artist: Kathy Koerper