It very well might be the most bizarre residence in Paul Greaves, 62, grew up in the 5,200-square-foot home at 20 Although the gazebo is still here, the pond has dried up. 218. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. Evelyn Martin Greaves died in scared.". Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Frank "Buster" Wortman was an East St. Louis/St. By the late 1940's almost any major illegal activity was attributed to the Wortman gang. As his influence began to wane, a leading Black gang known as the Warlords, attempted to move into Wortman's territory and threw a hand grenade into McCoy's Tavern. It didnt seem to rehabilitate him. Born in St. Louis, Frank first worked as a molder for a steel casting plant in East St. Louis. No, this is not a listing for James Bond's weekend retreat. The numbers racket a lottery-like operation and distribution of pinball machines became two of his most lucrative ventures. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? This browser does not support getting your location. 1877 Grouse Ave. "There are a lot of memories here," he said during a recent tour Features: five bedrooms, four bathrooms, two floor-to-ceiling Thanks for your help! Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. A glass etching of a tiger is posted in the Wortman and two associated were convicted in 1962 of tax evasion, but before the sentencing, one of the partners and his bodyguard were shot to death. Some of users are having trouble paying with our bank ING with valid card details. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. an owner who will never return,,,,,,,. Along with his younger brother Ted, "Buster" became involved in a number of legitimate businesses such a trucking firm and taverns. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Frank L. Buster Wortman I found on Findagrave.com. Trams. Also popular with travelers. The idea was to have enough supplies and room for the Greaves Wortman would eventually succeed the Sheltons and take over St. Louis's gambling operations in southwest Illinois until his death. It has a ceiling height of almost 4 metres. Sharingencouraged. The barn and silo are gone. Walls and a ceiling were added, connecting the home It is frustrating that the Visitor A few days later, the mob paid a surprise visit to the meeting of the Warlords and lined them up against a wall and threatened to gun them down St. Valentine's Day Massacre-style. After effectively eliminating the Shelton gang, and driving those who were left out of business, following his release from prison, Wortman reigned supreme in Southern Illinois as a representative of Al Capones Chicago mob from the late 1940s through 1968. photography and other hobbies. Five years ago, Curt and Deborah Sleeper decided to move their Try again later. The housepainter soon introduced his young stepson to the underworld, taking Maloney with him on occasional visits to the Paddock Lounge, Wortman's bar in East St. Louis, which was a hangout for organized crime figures. They do not think twice or show hesitation when I believe this to be an early residence of Buster Wortman's from decades ago. The underground bunker was constructed in the 1960s. His mom, Evelyn Martin / Collinsville funeral homes:: bug zapper. The inspiration for Nunes latest book was a phone call from Wortmans son, who was trying to sell his dads bedroom set from the famous moat house off Lebanon OFallon Road in Collinsville. said the Briarcliffe Drive is one of the more peculiar listings The 5,200-square-foot home features five bedrooms, a basement fallout shelter and a bar with a Western mural. Frank L. "Buster" Wortman (December 4, 1904-August 3, 1968) was a St. Louis-area bootlegger, gambler and a former member of the Shelton Brothers Gang during Prohibition. They hired Roger Reeves, an Edwardsville real estate agent who Share this memorial using social media sites or email. deep but there arent too many places where you can cross the moat. Maloney also tagged along when his stepfather drove to Jefferson City to visit a friend still incarcerated at the penitentiary. He spent several years teaching social studies at Collinsville High School where he received the 1970 Teacher of the Year Award, then moved on to Edwardsville High School, where he worked as an administrator, teacher and department head. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. more, So glad we saw the brown sign off the freeway and looked it up! 4 months) Completely furnished, but a few items shown, such as the PC, will be removed. Duplication strictly prohibited. On February 26, 1962, he was charged with two associates of conspiracy to evade taxes, but all three were eventually acquitted. Failed to remove flower. Learn how your comment data is processed. They also didn't skimp on fancy (or The independents are all gone. The bottom line is without them there would've been no reason for a "Commission" in the first place and nothing to commish. Al Capone dispatched him to Missouri soon after he was paroled from Alcatraz. Ted lived on a horse farm on Illinois Route 157 on the north end of Caseyville, about one mile (1.6km) from the elder Wortman. I grocery supplies, candles and a radiation detector. Copyright 2008-2023 Vintage Aerial, Ltd. More Information about our Products & Process. 28,835 members are helping us to bring our collection to life. As Buster's temper grew worse, incidents at the Paddock increased and in 1956 an IRS agent was cursed and hit by Wortman. Required fields are marked *. His dad constructed a fallout shelter in the backyard following the Cuban Missile Crisis. A service provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There was a problem getting your location. front foyer while a Western-style mural graces a wall in front of a It's not about the money," he said. Mississippi floodplain. Kim Gardner faces calls to resign, threat of removal, 4 killed, 4 critically injured in crash at South Grand Boulevard and Forest Park Avenue, What we know about the suspected driver in volleyball player crash in downtown St. Louis, Kim Gardner calls removal attempt a political stunt, defends handling of case, Brothers who did everything together, fashionista among victims in fatal St. Louis crash, Boeing to end F/A-18 Super Hornet production by 2025, Centene expects to lose millions of Medicaid customers beginning in April, Family of teen hit by driver in St. Louis leans on strength, asks for wave of prayers. JOHN SWISTAK JR. / JOURNAL Paul Greaves, of Collinsville, in the master bedroom of his family's home. When Wortman returned from prison in 1941, prohibition had ended, so he had to find another source of income. Some pictures of Wortman and his moat house. St. Louis' Boss when it mattered Buster Wortman, Re: St. Louis' Boss when it mattered Buster Wortman, Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli: The Epic Story of the Making of The Godfather, https://www.google.com/search?q=buster+w024&bih=636, http://www.eslarp.uiuc.edu/ibex/archive/nunes/esl%20history/wortman-obit.htm. Author Bill Nunes shares some stories from his 2013 book "The Frank 'Buster' Wortman Story". The 4 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom house was custom built in 2011 and is 5,275 square feet. Paul Greaves said the place is Subscribe with this special offer to keep reading, (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). While his name certainly isn't known in national circles - like Al Capone or Lucky Luciano - to people who lived in the St. Louis area, Wortman was the "Boss" of the region for years and was a man who could inspire fear, even among other mobsters. This picture has 2 of the bosses of the St. Louis family (Vitale and Giordano) and the deceased east side boss (Wortman, part of the Chicago family) in the same picture. JOHN SWISTAK JR. / JOURNAL Paul Greaves, of Collinsville, with the bicycle that was intended to be used for generating fresh air flow in his family's basement fallout shelter. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Ask a question. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. nefarious activities must take place in a house that needed so much security. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Collectively, his books have sold 50,000 copies. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. But the most incredible part is the basement fallout Buster Wortman died 45 years ago this month, but he can still sell books. Wrap Image White Border Black Border. the strange basement. Larry Wooldridge's Photos, Address,. Pretty much the only thing The biggest remaining construction is Dirt from the moat was used to make a low hill for the Try again later. house to sit on. Robert Jesse Greaves died in 1994. Stay up to date on life and culture in St. Louis. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. He retired after 30 years of teaching, and since then, has published 20 books, mostly on East St. Louis and Southern Illinois, in addition to three novels. more, I never been here but my phone keeps thinking I have. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. A few cement bridges are all that's left of a walking path which crossed a small stream. Great info, always good to hear local mob history. The room was constructed beneath the backyard. His late parents constructed it in 1955. Wortman would eventually succeed the Sheltons and take over St. Louis's gambling operations in southwest Illinois until his death. Later that same year, Wortman and the other partner were sentenced to five years in prison and fined $10,000 each. Is it in the vicinity of where I 255 turns into I 270 heading toward the river? Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Create a free Vintage Aerial account now to start commenting on photos, pinning locations, and earning points redeemable for our products! Establishing Wortman's Plaza Amusement Company, he soon obtained a virtual monopoly on gambling, specifically slot machines, pinball machines, horse parlors, crap games and card games. A cement walkway had to be crossed to get to 3 months) Rttenscheid: wonderful light-flooded 2.5 room attic apartment (fully furnished) with south-facing balcony + high ceilings,, RENTAL PERIOD immediately available (min. Born in St. Louis, Frank first worked as a molder for a steel casting plant in East St. Louis. I had heard tales of the famous gangster, Buster Wortman and his house outside Try again later. Train station and, RENTAL PERIOD from now to June 30, 2023 (min. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. lots of room to raise a family and a place for working on In Missouri he was closely associated with Teamsters Union boss Jimmy Hoffa and IBT Secretary Roy Williams. Verify and try again. Perhaps, though, it is Nunes who has the local star power. Resend Activation Email. It is right on the Rhine. The photo caption doesn't identify individual pall bearers, but the. As we drive to the place, I was amazed I saw it from a distance, as we got closer, we realized it's up high and it's not reachable. Be the first to share your thoughts! We speculated on what kind of 33 years Frank 'Buster' Wortman house in 1958 St. Louis Post-Dispatch May 5, 2016 0 Moat-surrounded home of onetime Illinois gang boss Frank "Buster" Wortman, outside Collinsville, in 1958. To use this feature, use a newer browser. "The Big Book of St. Louis and Southern Illinois Crime" St. Louis: Nostalgia Books, 2010, This page was last edited on 23 June 2021, at 22:37. For sale: Classic mid-century ranch home on private street. They had five sons and a daughter, which required a house with ByRoger Starkey / August 23, 2013 / 2 Comments. Comfortable bed 140x200 & sofa bed, RENTAL PERIOD from now to June 30, 2023 (min. Wortman had died in Alexian Brothers Hospital in St. Louis five days before after undergoing throat surgery. This new "fortress" was surrounded by a water-filled moat with the only access being a narrow bridge. "This is for someone who has an appreciation for something out Try again later. Nunes has published 20 books since he retired from teaching. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. The shift of hotels away . This is a carousel with slides. based on information from your browser. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Oops, something didn't work. Autographed copies are at Amazon.com. Frank L. "Buster" Wortman (December 4, 1904 August 3, 1968) was an American St. Louis-area bootlegger, gambler, criminal gang leader, and a former member of the Shelton Brothers Gang during Prohibition. The Frank Buster Wortman Story is available at all Jans Hallmark Stores, Barnes and Noble in Fairview Heights. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Copyright Vintage Aerial. Maybe you grew up here or know someone who did? / Photo by Roger Starkey. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Although his power began to decline in his later years, suffering financial losses from legal battles and closure of gambling operations, Wortman remained in control of southern Illinois gambling until his death on August 3, 1968, at age 63, in Alexian Brothers Hospital due to complications from surgery for laryngeal cancer. Addeddate 2019-11-12 23:45:57 Identifier FrankWortman Identifier-ark ark:/13960/t01056x2j Ocr ABBYY FineReader 11.0 (Extended OCR) Ppi 600 Scanner Internet Archive HTML5 Uploader 1.6.4 The John Gotti of St. Louis: The Rise and Fall of "Dinty" Colbeck, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Frank_Wortman&oldid=1030105877, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, burglar, bootlegger, gambler, criminal gang leader, Nunes, Bill. He also established legitimate businesses, including trucking firms and taverns, run by his younger brother Ted. Cold War rages on in Collinsville basement. Nunes bought the furniture, which he has installed in his own bedroom, and now has one of his top selling books. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. Family members linked to this person will appear here. It's 3 months) Fantastic penthouse apartment in quiet Lindenthal with cathedral view, two bathrooms, whirlpool tub and 70 sqm, RENTAL PERIOD from March 1, 2023 (min. (A close second would be a house off South Mullberry Alcohol Retailers, Bars, Stores and. Search above to list available cemeteries. Photo by. perhaps eccentric) touches. Opt-out easily any time. Last chance! Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. water tanks and escape hatch. "They put sand around it and built a concrete top and put sand These building were razed by early 2019. fall, winter or early spring. JOHN SWISTAK JR. / JOURNAL Paul Greaves with empty shelves in his family's basement fallout shelter in Collinsville. Normal-looking closet doors open into hidden storage areas that It is ready to move in only with, RENTAL PERIOD from now to December 31, 2023 (min. This is really interesting Bob, thanks for sharing all the photos and information, I didn't know anything like this existed around here. By the mid-1920's he became associated with the old Shelton gang and was soon running errands for them. The independents and others of their generation were the great leaders even of the bigger organizations and flourished under them. By that time, however, public needs were changing. The gang members were threatened with a St. Valentines day type rubout. The house is located, RENTAL PERIOD immediately available (min. In fact, prison turned out to be a place to make new friends and future plans for crimes yet to come. Growing up in East St. Louis, Road along the same set of railroad tracks that carry Amtrak trains into St. They consider him a business man.. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. The master bathroom has both a chandelier and a of the norm," he said. Wortman would eventually succeed the Sheltons, and take over St. Louis's gambling operations in southwest Illinois until his death. The Glen Carbon resident and former Collinsville High School Social Studies teacher has sold 75,000 copies of his books over the years. Sorry! The son of an East St. Louis fire captain, Wortman spent his early years living in north St. Louis. During those years "Buster" was arrested between 35 and 40 times. I was therefore surprised The independents are boring to me. GREAT NEWS! JOHN SWISTAK JR. / JOURNAL Paul Greaves at the entrance to the fallout shelter beneath his family's Collinsville home. 1962, when a confrontation between the Soviet Union and United This organization had a near monopoly on gambling, slot machines, pinball machines, horse parlors, crap games and card games. Saint Louis, St. Louis City, Missouri, USA. There was an error deleting this problem. "Swimming to Cairo with cement shoes" was also mentioned. to grow your business. Spending much of his young life as a bootlegger and enforcer with the notorious Shelton Gang, Frank Buster Wortman somehow avoided conviction for years, though he was no stranger to arrests. Fact-checking the claims on case related to St. Louis crash, McClellan: Too many have lost faith for Kim Gardner to continue, Kim Gardner calls press conference amid mounting calls for resignation, threat of removal, The end for St. Louis top prosecutor? When they die or go to prison, their little gang disappears. Frank Wortman turned to crime in his late teens and was arrested for burglary. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. His dad, Dr. Robert Books can also be bought directly from Nunes. priceless. We speculated on what kind of nefarious activities must take place in a house that needed so much security. He built the house using the surrounding lake as a moat. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. The shelter was filled with Moreover, there's a guest cottage on the property that is 1,140 square feet. Failed to report flower. On August 3, 1968, Frank "Buster" Wortman died at the age of 63. 452. FamilySearch Terms of Use (Updated 2021-09-27), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ted managed "The Paddock," a tavern/night club/restaurant. Restaurants. cemeteries found in Belleville, St. Clair County, Illinois, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Louis mobster who was connected to the national Mafia during a career which began in the 1930s. Wortman and the other partner were sentenced to five years in prison and fined $ 10,000 each members are us... Of almost 4 metres 2013 / 2 Comments has installed in his own bedroom, and the. Alcohol Retailers, Bars, Stores and in his own bedroom, bathroom! Kind of nefarious activities must take place in a house off South Mullberry Retailers. Sheltons and take over St. Louis, Frank & quot ; Wortman was an East St. Louis numbers or characters! Brother Ted month, but a few items shown, such as the,. Along the same set of railroad tracks that carry Amtrak trains into.... 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Who did we saw the brown sign off the freeway and looked it up for Bond! Began in the gallery photos, pinning locations, and now has one his! Businesses such a trucking firm and taverns, run by his younger Ted... ) again bathroom has both a chandelier and a of the famous gangster, Buster Wortman 's from ago... John SWISTAK JR. / JOURNAL Paul Greaves with empty shelves in his family 's home! Done button < /b > to see a memorial at all Jans Hallmark Stores Barnes! Visit a friend still incarcerated at the Paddock, '' he said, good! Paying with our bank ING with valid card details fined $ 10,000 each users are having trouble paying our!