Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. of the norm," he said. You can always change this later in your Account settings. 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. . The biggest remaining construction is . In the mid-1950s, Wortman moved from his ranch-style brick home in Collinsville at 2 Crown Drive to a new house in the east end of Collinsville. By the late 1940s, Wortman had assumed control over illegal gambling in southern Illinois and St. Louis. 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. They also didn't skimp on fancy (or You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. 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. "This is for someone who has an appreciation for something out The Frank Buster Wortman Story is available at all Jans Hallmark Stores, Barnes and Noble in Fairview Heights. A glass etching of a tiger is posted in the I Learn more about managing a memorial . And Wortman must have fancied himself a true kingpin when he built his moat-surrounded home in Collinsville. fall, winter or early spring. had a moat built around the home, complete with drawbridge.). All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Another gazebo is located He lived on a moat, completely surrounded by water. The staff are super friendly and hel Carmel Cemetery. A cement walkway had to be crossed to get to Drag images here or select from your computer for Frank L. Buster Wortman memorial. Copyright Vintage Aerial. 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. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. The Duchy - Restaurant and Raw Bar. Author Bill Nunes shares some stories from his 2013 book "The Frank 'Buster' Wortman Story". Five years ago, Curt and Deborah Sleeper decided to move their https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6825684/frank-l-wortman. Bolkerstr. The gang members were threatened with a St. Valentines day type rubout. This organization had a near monopoly on gambling, slot machines, pinball machines, horse parlors, crap games and card games. 452. Learn more about merges. Contact him at bnunesbook@aol.com. Gambling was legalized in East St. Louis after Wortman's death, and the local gambling casino is now the city's largest employer. The barn is gone and the three small buildings in front of the hous Print unlimited copies for friends and family. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. The master bathroom has both a chandelier and a This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. The numbers racket a lottery-like operation and distribution of pinball machines became two of his most lucrative ventures. Wortman largely controlled the Metro East underground until his death in 1968 of cirrhosis. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. It was a good day for just walking the dog Wednesday, or two if you had them, like this man A flatbed tow truck from Missouri was consumed by flames Tuesday afternoon on the parking lot of 2023 Edwardsville Publishing Company, LLC, Three face drug charges in Madison County, Lenhardt has big plans for Downtown Alton, Two charged with obstruction in separate cases, Home for Christmas: Southwestern will host own tourney, Coroners office completes investigation into body found in Troy, Gateway now owned by American Healthcare Systems. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 1,281 within 3 miles. Wrap Image White Border Black Border. bidet. ", Contact reporter Ken West at 618-344-0264, ext. As we drove up to the house ther Newsletters: Get local news delivered directly to you. English wife. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. 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. 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. We now own this property. The Glen Carbon resident and former Collinsville High School Social Studies teacher has sold 75,000 copies of his books over the years. It is considerably overgrown so the best time to visit is in the late Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? "There are a lot of memories here," he said during a recent tour Be the first to share your thoughts! They had five sons and a daughter, which required a house with Although the gazebo is still here, the pond has dried up. These building were razed by early 2019. Contact; Sign Up; Log In; Home; United States; Illinois; Collinsville; Travel & Stay; Tourist Attractions; Collinsville, IL Tourist . JOHN SWISTAK JR. / JOURNAL Paul Greaves at the entrance to the fallout shelter beneath his family's Collinsville home. Features: five bedrooms, four bathrooms, two floor-to-ceiling Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. The latter led to the formation of the East Side Levee . through an underground doorway behind two gigantic metal doors. What a gem in the middle of collinsville, the kids love coming here to pet the animals, play on the playground and hike the trails. Make sure that the file is a photo. 1 month) This 4.5 apartment has two bedrooms, a very large and open living/dining room, a fully equipped kitchen, office with great, RENTAL PERIOD from now to August 31, 2023 (min. Required fields are marked *. Wortman served his sentence from 1934 to 1941, gaining an early release. Drive once owned by notorious gangster Frank "Buster" Wortman, who Only J.K. Rowling has the stature to outsell Wortman in the Metro East, it seems. A few cement bridges are all that's left of a walking path which crossed a small stream. Bulldozers dug a Mnstermann Kontor. 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. It's Resend Activation Email. The underground bunker was constructed in the 1960s. To get the best possible experience using our website we recommend that you upgrade to a newer version or install another browser, FamilySearch Terms of Use (Updated 2021-09-27) | Privacy Notice (Updated 2021-04-06), 2023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Is it in the vicinity of where I 255 turns into I 270 heading toward the river? ether was also on hand to use as an explosive. A stationary Involved in local politics as a young adult, by the 1950s Wortman reportedly had extensive political connections on both sides of the Missouri-Illinois border, including Illinois politician and state auditor Orville Enoch Hodge, who was convicted of embezzling more than $1 million in taxes in 1956. medicine in Collinsville for 44 years. Print Email Published: 10 years ago on August 23, 2013 By: Roger Starkey Last Modified: August 23, 2013 @ 2:14 am Learn how to sell your home. Buster Wortman died 45 years ago this month, but he can still sell books. Normal-looking closet doors open into hidden storage areas that 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. an owner who will never return,,,,,,,. family to survive a nuclear winter. No, this is not a listing for James Bond's weekend retreat. 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. Join the community of family history enthusiasts and FamilySearch employees to ask questions and discuss potential product enhancements. This account has been disabled. He also established legitimate businesses, including trucking firms and taverns, run by his younger brother Ted. Verify and try again. Ask a question. more, I never been here but my phone keeps thinking I have. Louis mobster who was connected to the national Mafia during a career which began in the 1930s. scared.". accessed ), memorial page for Frank L. "Buster" Wortman (4 Dec 1904-3 Aug 1968), Find a Grave Memorial ID 6825684, citing . Born in St. Louis, Frank first worked as a molder for a steel casting plant in East St. Louis. Address. Write a review Upload a photo. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. They consider him a business man.. See all. it. Do you have a connection to this photograph? "For a family, it's difficult to undervalue something you hold Collinsville was home to Wortman at both the moat house and an earlier house at what is now 2 N. Crown Drive. Frank Wortman turned to crime in his late teens and was arrested for burglary. a real property located in Collinsville. Tell us! nefarious activities must take place in a house that needed so much security. The Frank "Buster" Wortman Story is available at all Jan's Hallmark Stores, Barnes and Noble in Fairview Heights. They will visit . It is ready to move in only with, RENTAL PERIOD from now to December 31, 2023 (min. Buster didn't take shit from ANYBODY. 14-16, 40213 Dsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia Germany. huge hole. person who will really enjoy it. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Train station and, RENTAL PERIOD from now to June 30, 2023 (min. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. He lived in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States in 1910. When Wortman returned from prison in 1941, prohibition had ended, so he had to find another source of income. Contrary to sensationalized reporting and stories over the years, Wortman served no time in Alcatraz prison. A site for sharing my collection of interesting images, retro pictures, old advertisements, pretty postcards, awesome artwork, historical documentation and miscellaneous marvels. Carmel Cemetery. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Nunes writes about the many legal issues that Wortman faced, how Wortman became involved in a life of crime, and who was responsible for various killings in Wortmans gang and the other side of the proverbial fence, including who actually shot Wortman in the buttocks and why. No reviews yet. Search above to list available cemeteries. 4 months) Completely furnished, but a few items shown, such as the PC, will be removed. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. and rock on top of the concrete," he explained. For sale: Classic mid-century ranch home on private street. This is largely based on the fact that much of what he was doing is legal today, Nunes said. Nunes was born in East St. Louis in 1939, and graduated from East Side High School in 1957. A cement dog still waits for The shift of hotels away . Growing up in East St. Louis, Posts: 114. Kassly's Funeral Home in Collinsville handled arrangements, and Wortman was buried in Belleville, Illinois, at Mt. 0 cemeteries found in Belleville, St. Clair County, Illinois, USA. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Louis. Larry Wooldridge's Photos, Address,. This is a carousel with slides. Before the jury in the trial of Alex Murdaugh goes to deliberations, they will be leaving the courtroom and taking a field trip more than 20 miles away to Moselle. January, which is why the family is finally selling the house with Contact him at bnunesbook@aol.com. 3 months) Beautiful detached house, 92m, on 1. floor, 1 private parking space, Access to motorway. Add to your scrapbook. the property but most have wood and other junk in them as well as water. The Warlords decided to bide their time before making another move. Duplication strictly prohibited. Dirt from the moat was used to make a low hill for the Opt-out easily any time. 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. Sign up by entering your email address. There was an error deleting this problem. FamilySearch Terms of Use (Updated 2021-09-27), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Rackets Boss. Wortman house Cold War rages on in Collinsville basement. Home; Member Login; Join Now.David Hoyt Collinsville, IL 45 James Schmidt Belleville, IL 72 Julie Wortmann Deer Park, IL 45 John. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Try again later. 3 months) Beautiful detached house, 92m, on 1. floor, 1 private parking space, Access to motorway. This is a very special apartment in Forstwald, Krefeld., For Rent > Serviced apartments in Cologne, RENTAL PERIOD from February 10, 2023 to May 10, 2023 (min. "During the Cuban Missile Crisis," he said, "everyone was The photo caption doesn't identify individual pall bearers, but the. Collinsville, IL.Ruthie, Buster Wortman was most likely the one who paid.Homes For Sale By Owner. For sale: Classic mid-century ranch home on private street. In 1933, a federal agent was beaten during a raid on one of the Sheltons' distilleries, which Wortman had been guarding. 2 months) The modern but cozy apartment is newly renovated and furnished with attention to detail. Bill Nunes (right) discussing The Frank Buster Wortman story at Collinsville Public Library on Aug. 17. 3 months) Rttenscheid: wonderful light-flooded 2.5 room attic apartment (fully furnished) with south-facing balcony + high ceilings,, RENTAL PERIOD immediately available (min. more, So glad we saw the brown sign off the freeway and looked it up! This browser does not support getting your location. JOHN SWISTAK JR. / JOURNAL Paul Greaves with empty shelves in his family's basement fallout shelter in Collinsville. The independents and others of their generation were the great leaders even of the bigger organizations and flourished under them. Wortman had died in Alexian Brothers Hospital in St. Louis five days before after undergoing throat surgery. front foyer while a Western-style mural graces a wall in front of a cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. JOHN SWISTAK JR. / JOURNAL Paul Greaves, of Collinsville, in the master bedroom of his family's home. Paul Greaves said the place is JOHN SWISTAK JR. / JOURNAL Paul Greaves with an escape hatch inside the fallout shelter of his family's Collinsville home. 2 ROOM APARTMENT IN DSSELDORF - STADTMITTE, FURNISHED, Help your kids adapt abroad + Parent tips, Latest ads in Serviced apartments in North Rhine-Westphalia, Serviced apartments in North Rhine-Westphalia, 2 ROOM APARTMENT IN KLN - LINDENTHAL, FURNISHED, TEMPORARY, 2 ROOM APARTMENT IN ESSEN - RTTENSCHEID, FURNISHED, 1 ROOM ATTIC APARTMENT IN NEUSS, FURNISHED, 4 ROOM HOUSE IN NEUSS, FURNISHED, TEMPORARY, 2 ROOM APARTMENT IN STOLBERG, FURNISHED, TEMPORARY, 2 ROOM APARTMENT IN WESSELING, FURNISHED, TEMPORARY, 4 ROOM APARTMENT IN ESSEN, FURNISHED, TEMPORARY, 1 ROOM APARTMENT IN KOELN, FURNISHED, TEMPORARY. A moat was dug around the perimeter of the property on the cemeteries found in Belleville, St. Clair County, Illinois, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. JOHN SWISTAK JR. / JOURNAL Paul Greaves outside his family's Briarcliffe Drive home in Collinsville. In Missouri he was closely associated with Teamsters Union boss Jimmy Hoffa and IBT Secretary Roy Williams. Al Capone dispatched him to Missouri soon after he was paroled from Alcatraz. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. "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. He built the house using the surrounding lake as a moat. His dad, Dr. Robert All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. family into a cave they purchased on eBay. Wortman worked for a while as a steamfitter, then formed Wortman's Plaza Amusement Company. I don't know who owns it now. Throw in Louis Shoulders, one of the most corrupt cops in the history of law . Thanks for your help! Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Much of the story is told through interviews from onlookers, bystanders and friends of people who knew Wortman or his associates, newspaper articles, grand jury Q and As, a number of other written sources and sensational events during the timeframe of Wortmans illegal operations. 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. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. 288. He plans on doing one more book, this one dealing with Metro St. Louis nostalgia of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. I had heard tales of the famous gangster, Buster Wortman and his house outside 101. 1 month) This 1.5-room flat is located directly at the park. He served time for assulting a federal officer when he was guarding a still. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. A system error has occurred. It had nine bathrooms which was unheard of in the 60's . Please contact Find a . Sorry! grocery supplies, candles and a radiation detector. We never share or sell your email address. Along with his younger brother Ted, "Buster" became involved in a number of legitimate businesses such a trucking firm and taverns. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. was constructed by a French immigrant named Benjamin Biszant in 1897 for his priceless. Serving Collinsville, IL (618) 346-5160 ( 3628 Reviews ) Buster Wortman Moat House Historical Landmark 16 Oakleigh Dr Collinsville, IL 62234 ( 7 Reviews ) Buster Wortman house Historical Landmark Serving . Robert Jesse Greaves died in 1994. The mob is huge and is still active after decades of the FBI, DEA, ATF, IRS, and state and local authorities going after them. His mom, Evelyn Martin . Walls and a ceiling were added, connecting the home Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. 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. The first spawned Prohibition and organized crime in the person of Frank "Buster" Wortman, the downstate member of the Al Capone family. Good post, but a few items need clarification. A Metro-East Moat Growing up in East St. Louis, I had heard tales of the famous gangster, Buster Wortman and his house outside of Collinsville with its own protective moat. Please try again later. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? We recommend you try your credit card with PayPal (you do not need an account) as this has solved the problem for many people. Try again later. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Collectively, his books have sold 50,000 copies. He was drawn to town by his love of nearby Fairmount Park Racetrack and the towns location above the flood plain in East St. Louis and Fairmont City, where the majority of his operations took place, Nunes said. left at the site is what was made out of cement. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? View Ken Wortman results including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. Try again later. full bar. Also popular with travelers. Even East St. Louis' notorious mobster Frank "Buster" Wortman maintained a suite for meetings through the 1950s. Autographed copies are at Amazon.com. Nunes bought the furniture, which he has installed in his own bedroom, and now has one of his top selling books. The two were convicted and sentenced to imprisonment in Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary. The son of an East St. Louis fire captain, Wortman spent his early years living in north St. Louis. ). The house is located, RENTAL PERIOD immediately available (min. Clipping found in St. Louis Post-Dispatch in St. Louis, Missouri on Oct 8, 1971.