Marine Villa in St. Louis, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
International Shoe
Cherokee-Lemp Historic District
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 23, 2019
"Lemp Brewing Plant Sold at 'Eight Cents on the Dollar.'" headlined at a St. Louis Post-Dispatch article reporting the sale at auction of this huge brewery complex on June 28, 1922.
The passage of the Eighteenth Amendment — Prohibition — had virtually shut down the brewery. The Lemp Brewing Company experimented with the production of a non-alcoholic brew, named Cerva, for a short time. Brewing Cerva, however, required only a small portion of the huge facility and was not profitable. William J. Lemp, president of the brewing company and grandson of its founder, decided to liquidate the operation.
"Going, Going, Gone" echoed through the empty bottling house, site of the sale, as the complex was auctioned in 6 units. Before Prohibition, the complex was valued at $7,000,000 and employed over a thousand men. The 1922 sale price was only $588,5000. A woeful Lemp described the low sale price saying, "It's something aweful."
International Shoe Company purchased the first unit of the complex that was auctioned. Having merged with Peters Shoe Company and Roberts, Johnson and Rand, International Shoe was the nation's largest shoe producer. Eventually the company became the owner of the entire complex, using it as a supply depot and factories where shoe accessories like boxes and laces were made.
In 1966, after International Shoe became Interco, it began leasing space to individual companies. Interco sold the 14 acres in 1992. The letters "ISCO" on the smokestack recall that International Shoe Company owned the brewery complex for seventy years.
Erected 1999 by NiNi Harris. (Marker Number F.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Missouri, St. Louis, The Cherokee-Lemp History Walk series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 28, 1922.
Location. 38° 35.534′ N, 90° 13.071′ W. Marker is in St. Louis, Missouri. It is in Marine Villa. Marker is on Cherokee Street west of South 18th Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1801 Cherokee Street, Saint Louis MO 63118, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Wagon House (within shouting distance of this marker); The Bungalow (within shouting distance of this marker); The Lemp Brewery (within shouting distance of this marker); The Corner Store (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); 1901 Cherokee (about 300 feet away); 1905 - 09 Cherokee (about 400 feet away); The Simon Complex (about 400 feet away); Origins (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Louis.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 23, 2019
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 30, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 474 times since then and 68 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 30, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.