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 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.

Sitting on top of the highest point in Bellefontaine Cemetery is the Lemp Family’s Mausoleum.  Built in 1902 for the staggering cost of $60,000, equivalent to over $2.1 million today.  The Lemp Family Mausoleum is the largest in Bellefontaine Cemetery, with a total capacity of thirty-two internments, of which eighteen are currently occupied.  

The Lemp Brewery ceased beer production in 1920 due to the enactment of Prohibition. The gates were chained, and the buildings lay dark and silent for the first time in their history. In 1921, William Lemp Jr sold the rights and the recipe of Falstaff Beer to Papa Griesedieck, owner of the Consumer Brewery, for $20,000. The sale of Falstaff Beer was the final coffin nail for the Lemp Brewery, ensuring that beer would never again be brewed at the complex.

Many people in the paranormal community believe these shadow figures are evil, mostly because of their color. In many metaphysical beliefs, black is linked to evil.

On Tuesday nights, we host a Facebook Live Chat using the MaMa Ouija Board. I am writing this blog to answer the most common questions.

Through the years, I discovered that pendulums are best used for asking questions that have binary answers.  By binary, I mean "YES" or "NO.