08/30/2026
Is that old house really haunted? You're just spooking yourself. No seriously, haven't you heard the stories? We have all been on one side or the other of this conversation at some point. We give you a house to consider, and to draw your own conclusions.
The Glenn House-- Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
The house dates to 1883 and was a present from Mrs. Glenn's father to the newlywed couple. Mr. Glenn was a merchant, owned a bank and was influential in the community. However, the Glenn family fell on hard times in the early 1900s when Glenn’s bank failed, and "[t]here was no FDIC, so the house was sold at the courthouse square.”
The Glenns' never lived in the house again. John Hunter and his family occupied the house from 1915 until 1953. After several more owners, the house was bought by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Erlbacher, in 1969.
“They purchased the house because it was in very bad shape; they were fond of the house."
The Erlbacher family deeded the house in 1974 to the Historical Association of Greater Cape Girardeau for it to be preserved.
But a haunting? A young girl related to the Glenns passed away from illness in the house while visiting in the early 1900s. Those who work at the house feel she never left.
Volunteers at the Glenn House decorate for Christmas each year. For many years, a Christmas tree would be placed in the home and empty boxes would be wrapped to resemble Christmas presents. But this holiday tradition ended because each time the presents were wrapped, the next day they would be unwrapped and opened. The ghost is said to also be heard running in the hallway and making noises, gaining the attention of staff.
Ghost tales are traditionally told at Christmas time, so the poltergeist activity is even more appropriate for a curious girl. Perhaps resuming the practice of putting wrapped gifts under the tree would bring more playful energy into the house? It seems to us that disappointing her detracts from this Christmas ghost story.
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Sources. https://www.glennhouse.org/; https://www.krcu.org/post/living-history-and-ghostly-tales-glenn-house-historical-treasure /0; https://www.semissourian.com/blogs/flynch/entry/52431. Photo credit. https://www.krcu.org/post/living-history-and-ghostly-tales-glenn-house-historical-treasure /0