HART-STEPP HOUSE
NEW MADRID, MO
OCT 2008 & APRIL 2009






While participating in the instruction of a Ghost Hunting Class with the Adult Education Department
of the Sikeston Career and Technology Center (SCTC).  PTF had the privilege visiting and
conducting an interactive mini-investigation of the very historic Hart-Stepp House in New Madrid,
MO with the attendees of the Ghost Hunting Class on October 18, 2008.  Then upon request PTF
returned to this location on April 24, 2009 to conduct a formal investigation.




The Hart-Stepp House is the oldest home in New Madrid, with the two original rooms dating back to
1832. This house has been moved at least twice to escape the encroaching waters of the
Mississippi and has seen many owners, some believe a few still reside in the old home. Perhaps the
spirit of Robert Ann Augustine, who died in 1850 at the age of 5 is looking for a playmate. Her family
was buried in the Augustine Family Cemetery, which is now the golf course, all of the family’s
headstones were removed, except Robert Ann’s. No one knows why the stone remains, or if Robert
Ann’s spirit has ever left her childhood home.

The original two rooms in the house were built in 1832 by Abraham Augustine and it is believed to
be the oldest home in New Madrid.  The house has been moved twice because of the encroaching
waters of the Mississippi River.  The home has seen many owners including the Augustine, Dawson,
Hunter, Hart, and Stepp families.  The home was donated to the New Madrid Historical Museum in
1993 by Elsie Stepp.  Plans are currently under way to turn the house into an art museum.

Deaths

There have been several deaths in the home.  It is believed that Abraham, his first wife Polly, his
second wife Mary, and most of the Augustine children died in the home.  The family cemetery was
located where the New Madrid golf course now sits.  Robert Ann Augustine died at the age of 5 in
1850.  Her headstone remains on the grounds, though it is not known if her body or the bodies of
the Augustine family are still there.  A fragment of the headstone of young Mary, Robert Ann’s little
sister, is also still on the golf course.

Other deaths that have occurred in the home are Ruby Hampton, died 1915 at the age of 14.  
She was living with her grandparents, in the Hart-Stepp home at the time.  She was accidentally
burned and thought she would recover from her injuries, but she died approx one week later.  John
Hart died in the home in 1911 at the age of 66, he died of natural causes.  It is believed that
Josephine Hart died in the home at the age of 79 in 1935.
 
Paranormal Activity

Reports of activity include people being touched, whispering in ears, men having their ears tugged,
and an EVP of a female spirit saying “I'll  never leave.”   Semo Spirit Seekers, a paranormal
investigation group located in New Madrid, has been investigating this location for two years and
feel confident that this is a haunted location.  In researching the home and it reported haunted
history, a man who rented the home claimed to have seen the apparition of a black woman holding a
rolling pin.  This could be the slave that shows up on the 1850 census, who was living with the
Augustine family.  

We will be conducting more research concerning this location and property.  If you have
information which may help then please contact us.
PARANORMAL TASK FORCE
REPORT OF The Hart-Stepp House
- NEW MADRID, MISSOURI -
Report Completed 05/17/2009
History and Haunting Profile
Music provided by local St. Louis
artist and musician Rick Mester.









"Take Me Home"
Artist: Rick Mester
CD: Wallpaper Sky
Click the above cover for his MySpace page.
This CD can be purchased HERE

Credits: (c)(p) 2006 Sombrant Reality
Productions/ASCAP

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