Completed in 1883, eventually restored to the way it was in 1900, and now a museum, the Glenn House's architecture and furnishings tell a story of how life was lived at the turn of the century.

There's an ice box, a party-line telephone and turn-of-the-century toys.

But the Glenn House, located at 325 S. Spanish with a view of the Mississippi River, also tells a story of what a bad roof and drainage system can do to a building.

The Historical Association of Greater Cape Girardeau is seeking funds to repair the Glenn House, one of Cape Girardeau's most historic houses.

Thanks to an anonymous donation of $25,000, the association has the funds to replace the roof and guttering system. That repair will begin in the next few weeks, said Jeremy Wells, executive director of the association.

But neither time nor money is on the association's side.

The house has had water damage for a number of years now, but there has been no available money to do the repairs.

The worst of the damage has occurred to the porch, where the wood is rotting. But there is water damage in almost every room on the second floor, and some water has even caused damage on the ceilings of first floor.

With the replacement of the roof and guttering system, Well said, the problems will at least slow down.

To raise money for repair efforts, the historical association will be holding an Antique Car Club show as a fund raiser from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sam's Club on Saturday. There will also be a silent auction.

"Some repairs need to be made desperately," said Dr. Patrick Ruopp, the association president.

The cost of all the repairs is estimated at $70,000.

The Glenn House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was originally restored in the 1970s after Mabel and Robert Erlbacher donated the house to the historical association in 1968.

The house was originally built by David Glenn. Glenn was an influential figure in Cape Girardeau's early history.

A quote from the 1906 city directory states that Glenn was a "successful man of affairs, a man who does things, a man who through his influence has done as much or more to build up Cape Girardeau from three to 12 thousand inhabitants as any man in Cape Girardeau or Southeast Missouri."

bmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127