![]() What I found interesting about the ladder was that the steps on the ladder were completely covered with calcite deposits, which leads me to believe that the cave is still alive. ![]() We found another way, though, as Chris found an old ladder. When we tried, the whole thing fell apart at once, like something out of a cartoon. Wanting to reach the upper chamber, I told Chris that we should attempt to prop the fallen wooded stairs that were lying to the side back up against the wall. In one room, there was some sort of split level entrance, with one part going to an upper chamber and one going to a lower, and of course flooded, chamber. ![]() One of the rooms led to a large machine that we decided must have been some kind of cooling unit. We assumed that this had something to do with the spring. Louis talks about the spring that was once located in the cave, and Chris and I noticed that the water was clear and moving. There were a few lower chambers of the cave, but they seemed to be completely full of water. I couldn't believe I was doing it! The wooden staircase led to a small chamber with brances off in three directions. One always hears about the caves that lie under the city, but that seems almost like another realm of existence, one normal people will never get to see. Descending the old stairs into the cave is an experience I'll never forget. As we entered the first building, Chris almost immediately found the entrance to the Comsumer's Brewery Cave. Walking into the place was amazing, as the tall buildings seem to circle in around you on all sides. What I noticed as Chris and I approached the site was how massive it was! I c ould not believe that I had never noticed it before, since it is located right off of Interstate 55. I'd appreciate it if anyone could shed some light on this for me. Chris said that this was because they were both arms of the same company. Another interesting point is that the Lemp Beer crest that is still visible on some of the buildings at the Lemp Brewery is almost exactly like the Falstaff Crest. I know that most of the Falstaff Breweries began closing in the late 70s, so I can only assume that this one was no different. What I'm not sure about are exact dates: when Falstaff took over or when the plant eventually shut down. I do know that eventually the brewery came under control of Falstaff and was known as Falstaff Brewery No. At that time, in 1911, it became known as the Griesedieck Brother's Br ewery. Brewing Company, Consumer Brewing Company (for which the cave is named), and then back to the Griesediecks. In 1877, Stumpf sold the brewery to Thamer Brewing Company, and it contined to change hands throughout the years: A. The first brewery on this site was called Stumpf's Brewery, and was built in 1853. I could never have imagined how amazing our day was about to become. As we drove to the brewery, I expected a small and rather uninteresting building. Ever since I read that book, it has been a desire of mine to set foot into one of the many histo ric caves that stretch beneath the streets of St. Louis, he explained to me that this was most likely the site of the old Consumer's Brewery Cave. As we had both read the book The Lost Caves of St. Truthfully, I had never even heard of it. I'm always game for anything, but I did have to admit that I was not familiar with the place. On one of my recent explorations, I met up with my new exploring buddy Chris for the first time, and he suggested we go to the old Falstaff Brewery. In some ways, I think this could just be due to the tragic history of the family. Louis are familiar with the historic Lemp Brewery.
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