It’s Getting Spooky Around Here

Published Monday, October 21, 2019

When you think of spooky cities with awesome, historical haunts, you usually think of Salem, Massachusetts; New Orleans, Louisiana; or Savannah, Georgia. Rarely do cities in Missouri spring to mind. However, Saint Louis and Springfield are historic cities rich in history and folklore. From the Lemp ancestral manor to the local Saint Louis story that inspired The Exorcist movie, Missouri has seen more paranormal activity than most would realize.

The following list has been compiled to celebrate Saint Louis and Springfield, Missouri's haunted history.

Movers and Shakers, Scalawags and Suffragettes: Tales from Bellefontaine Cemetery
by Carol Ferring Shepley

977.8

Bellefontaine is a historical, non-profit cemetery in Saint Louis, Missouri. This detailed book covers some of the more well-known occupants of Bellefontaine Cemetery, which include author William S. Burroughs and members of the local brewery empire, the Busch family. This book is wonderful for people who are interested in local history or are taphophiles—those who are interested in cemeteries, tombstones, or their stories!

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The History and Haunting of Lemp Mansion
by Rebecca F. Pittman

977.866 PIT

The History and Haunting of Lemp Mansion is a large book that spans the history of Lemp family and their failed beer-brewing business in Saint Louis. The Lemp family mansion in Saint Louis—which can still be visited today! —is supposedly haunted by Lemp family members, whose history is both rich and tragic.

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The Devil Came to St. Louis: The True Story of the 1949 Exorcism
by Troy Taylor


265.94 TAY

This terrifying tale occurs in 1949; a young boy in Saint Louis fell mysteriously ill, and was eventually deemed to be supposedly possessed by a demon. This local story is partially the basis of the 1973 film, The Exorcist.

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Haunted Springfield, Missouri
by Ed Underwood

133.1 UND

This non-fiction book explores the local history and spooky lore of Springfield, Missouri, and is an installation of a larger series—Haunted America—focusing on local, haunted history, and across the United States. Whatever location of your interest, this series probably covers that scary area and its history!

*I know a few books in the Haunted America series covering areas of the East Coast—such Haunted Boston Harbor and Haunted Colleges and Universities of Massachusetts—are available digitally through Hoopla.

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About the Author

Allie is an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction, some of her favorite categories include poetry, mystery, and self-help books.