Dr. Mark Farley's Personal Blog

Now most major cities have a "Hitchhiker Annie" story, and St. Louis is no different. Now, the basic premise of every Hitchhiker Annie story goes something like this. It's usually a dark, rainy, or snowy evening, and a motorist is traveling down a desolate road next to a cemetery. The motorist sees a young woman walking along the side of the road and stops to offer her a ride.

The last story I heard was about human sacrifices allegedly occurring at the Seven Gates of Hell. There is evidence to suggest that this actually happened. On June 20, 1990, a Jane Doe was found near the Seven Gates of Hell. She was found in a farmer's field with her sexual organs removed, along with deep cuts in specific areas.

One of St. Louis’ greatest urban legends is the fate of the 1904 World’s Fair Ferris Wheel Axle. There is a staunch belief among many St. Louisans that the axle is buried somewhere in Forest Park. The Ferris Wheel was one of the main attractions at the 1904 World’s Fair. This technological marvel stood over 264 feet tall.

When you visit the Lemp Mansion, be sure to take note of its triangular parking lot. This oddly shaped lot is the only reminder of the Kramer Mansion and Marion Hospital.

One of St. Louis’ greatest sins has been its willingness to tear down its past in favor of something new. This was almost the fate of the Lemp Mansion and Lemp Brewery. In 1956, President Eisenhower signed the Interstate Commerce Act. This revolutionary bill paved the way for the construction of our present-day interstate system. Forever changing how Americans travel and conduct commerce across our vast country. St. Louis’ geographical location made it a prime candidate for

One of the biggest Lemp urban legends concerns the Cherokee Caves.  Ever since I learned about the Lemp Mansion, people have told me it's connected to the Cherokee Caves and that William Lemp Sr. used the caves daily to travel between the mansion and the brewery.