THE STORY
Reported Haunting
Epperson House is widely regarded as one of Missouri's most haunted mansions. Visitors have reported apparitions, mysterious music, doors opening on their own, and unexplained activity connected to the home's original owners.
This house, built around 1920, is now part of the University of Missouri–Kansas City. It is believed to be haunted and has been featured as on of the Top 5 U.S. haunted houses on TV’s Unsolved Mysteries. The ghost in residence is Harriet Evelyn Barse, adopted daughter of original owner Uriah Epperson and his wife. She died at age 47 in the house, during the construction of the house’s large organ. Students and security personnel have reported seeing Barse’s apparition in an evening gown along with strange lights and unexplained organ music at night. In 1978 when campus police were called after witnesses heard footsteps in the empty building, an officer arrived and as he was parking near the house, felt a great crash along with the sound of shattering glass, as if a car had hit him from behind. When he got out to look, there was no other car, no damage, and his car had moved 8 inches, according to skid marks beneath his tires. Another time, a campus policeman saw a ghostly arm appear in a blue suit, believed to be Uriah Epperson, and turn of a light.