Built in 1892, this mausoleum was designed by Louis Sullivan for Charlotte Dickson Wainwright, and husband, Ellis Wainwright, brewery owner.Photo byw_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Known as the Wainwright Tomb, this structure is also known as the Wainwright Memorial. This mausoleum is at the Bellefontaine Cemetery, 4947 West Florissant Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri. Because of its historic and architectural significance, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 15, 1970. The tomb also became a St. Louis Landmark.

The Wainwright Tomb, or Memorial, was constructed in 1892, well over a century ago. The designer of the tomb was prominent Louis Sullivan of the Chicago architectural firm, Adler and Sullivan.

The material used to construct the tomb is concrete. It was also covered with limestone slabs. The interior consists of marble and mosaic. This tomb is considered to be an architectural landmark. The bronze grill entrance doors open to a second decoratively cast bronze double-leafed door. Visit here to see images of some of the restored mosaics.

The ornate entrance to the Wainwright Tomb.Photo byw_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Ellis Wainwright

Ellis Wainwright was born in Godfrey, Illinois on August 3, 1850. He died on November 6, 1924, at age 74. Wainwright, a young millionaire brewer in St. Louis, commissioned the tomb when his wife, Charlotte Dickson Wainwright died.

Charlotte died on April 15, 1891, at the very young age of 34. Charlotte had been described as one of the most beautiful and richest women of St. Louis. Three days after attending an event at the Grand Opera House in St. Louis, she died of peritonitis.

Wainwright's father, Samuel Wainwright, was a founder of the Wainwright Brewery Company. Ellis succeeded his father as head of the brewery. Later, he became the president of the St. Louis Brewing Association.

At the time of Charlotte's death, architect Sullivan was completing an office building for Wainwright in St. Louis. The Wainwright Building is also listed on the National Register.

On January 29, 1902, a bench warrant was issued for Wainwright's arrest. He was indicted on the charge of attempted bribery of the Municipal Assembly by the St. Louis & Suburban Line, a streetcar company of which he served as director (known as the Suburban Railway boodle scandal). Wainwright allegedly co-signed a $75,000 bank loan for bribe money.

Wainwright subsequently left the country for Europe where he was gone for a long self-imposed exile. He supposedly conducted his business by telegram. Since he was in France, he couldn't be extradited for a bribery charge.

The treaty with France and other countries did not allow us to pursue these fugitives in their homeland, and bribery was not an extraditable offense. (Source.)

After nine years, Wainwright is said to have returned to St. Louis to turn himself in. He was freed on $20,000 bail. It's said he was an ill and unhappy man in 1924. His and Charlotte's remains are in the mausoleum.

Interestingly, if for any reason, the tomb is damaged by vandalism or an earthquake, the plans and funds to rebuild it are at a St. Louis bank.

Ellis died in his suite in the Buckingham Hotel in St. Louis of a stroke resulting from hardening of the arteries.

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