Holy Water Fount - Brown Mausoleum - St. Louis, MO
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 38° 41.283 W 090° 13.483
15S E 741389 N 4285816
Founder of Brown Shoe Company, still today one of the larges in the world. Creator of the "Buster Brown Shoe" Line. We all remember the commercials "Hi! I'm Buster Brown, I live in a shoe, That's my dog Tige - he lives there too!"
Waymark Code: WM15NVN
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 01/30/2022
Views: 0
County of structure: St. Louis Independent City
Location of mausoleum: Inside at Prospect & Woodbine; 4947 W. Florissant Ave., St. Louis
Built: 1899
Architect: Mauran, Russell &
Crowell,
Architectural Style: Hexagon Structure
I was told by the tour guide this holy water fount was once in the St. Louis Cathedral. In his will, or upon his death, the fount was requested to be moved to his mausoleum. The significance of this was never disclosed.
"3. George Warren Brown, shoe manufacturer
Architect: Mauran, Russell & Crowell, architectural firm
Built: 1928
Granite. Hexagonal tomb with stacked flat hexagonal roof. Paired
bronze doors set within nearly flush entry bay. Small copper bulls eye
modillions in cornice." ~ NRHP Nomination Form
"George Warren Brown made his fortune as a manufacturer of shoes. The hexagonal mausoleum was designed in 1928 by Mauran, Russell and Crowell, St. Louis architects. Opposite is the circular mausoleum of A.D. Brown, older brother of George. He was an early president of Hamilton-Brown Shoe Company which he helped organize. His tomb was designed in 1910 by Isaac Taylor, another St. Louis architect." ~ Bellefontaine Cemetery
"Brown, George Warren
Profession: Business Person, Manufacturer
Born: Mar. 21, 1853 - Granville, Washington County, New York
Died: Dec. 13, 1921 - Tucson, Pima County, Arizona
Description: George Warren Brown was born in Granville, NY in 1853. He moved to St. Louis to work as a shipping clerk at Hamilton-Brown Shoe Company, where his brother Alanson was president and partner.
In 1878 Brown set out on his own and organized Bryan, Brown, and Company. The business started meagerly with only five shoemakers and little capital. Gradually, the business grew to over 6,000 employees and its name was changed to Brown Shoe Company. Its Buster Brown label became a trademark for children’s shoes.
"George Brown married Betty Bofinger in 1885 and they had one adopted son. The George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University is named after him." ~ Mound City on the Mississippi