Cape Girardeau's 118-year-old Glenn House, almost as much of a city fixture as the Mississippi River, is in sad disrepair.

The Historical Association of Greater Cape Girardeau, which owns the house and maintains it for public tours, is seeking financial help.

The Glenn House's former grandeur is evident, but a keen observer will notice rotting wood and chipped paint due to water damage that's slowly eating away at the treasure.

In short, it will take an estimated $70,000 to repair the damage, including taking the front porch apart piece by piece and replacing the roof and gutters.

The Glenn House is maintained through membership dues, private donations and admission fees for tours.

But the house will be a pile of rubble before the organization raises the amount needed. In the meantime, tour guides are keeping the lights low to disguise the damage inside the structure.

To help with a more permanent solution, send donations to:

Historical Association of Greater Cape Girardeau

P.O. Box 1982

Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702.

The Glenn House is worth saving.