403 S. Bench Street
(#29 Bench Street Tour)
Courtesy of the Galena-Jo Daviess County Historical Society; Ghosts of Galena book available at the Museum gift shop.
“Margaret”
The Old Commercial Building is one of Galena’s oldest. Part of the structure is log, now covered with clapboards nearly as old.
Nestled against the Galena river bluff, you hardly notice until you’re upon it. A family who owned the home in the 1980’s thoroughly enjoyed the house, but they traveled a lot, and so it remained vacant much of the time. On occasion, their teenage daughter, Kelly, would be the only one at the house, but strangely, she soon refused to stay there alone!
The family responded by asking a friend, Gloria, to stay with Kelly whenever she was at the house alone. This was fine with Kelly, who quickly settled in with Gloria that first night. Both were in the master bedroom upstairs looking at magazines to get ideas for Kelly’s prom dress. They were busily engaged in this endeavor when suddenly the peace and quiet of the home was interrupted by a large crash coming from downstairs. Gloria was alarmed, fearing that the cat may have tipped over a piece of furniture.
“No,” said Kelly, “that’s just Margaret, our ghost!” She proceeded to explain that sometimes the doorbell would mysteriously ring, the shutters would close and other strange things would happen.
A quick check downstairs by Gloria confirmed that nothing was out of order. “Really,” laughed Kelly, “these things just happen!”
Gloria encountered nothing more out of the ordinary until a few months later. She was again staying at the house and was watching T.V. in the master bedroom. Nearby, in the same room, was a large wooden wardrobe, or armoire. Without warning, one of the doors creaked! Looking over, Gloria saw that the door was open a couple of inches. This startled her because the doors were heavy and did not swing by themselves!
Her attention, however, had returned to the television when she heard yet another creak! This time the door was open six to eight inches. Gloria lay there staring at the door when it happened again! Remembering her conversations with Kelly, she jumped up, went over to the half-open door, and proclaimed: “Margaret, you’re not scaring me away!” Much to her surprise, the door immediately flew entirely open and a blast of cold air rushed past her!
Regaining her composure, Gloria repeated her admonition: “Margaret, you’re not scaring me away!” Having said that, she promptly jumped into bed and pulled the covers over her head! Nothing more happened that night.
On one other occasion, another woman, Elma, was staying with Gloria for a short time at the house. This individual seemed uncomfortable with the house, but Gloria didn’t realize how much so until she awoke at 4:30 A.M. and Elma was nowhere to be found!
Finally, she was located out on the front walk, shoveling snow. When asked whatever for, Elma replied: “Well I’m not going back into that house! You can bring my suitcases down to the car. I’ll meet you at Clark’s Restaurant at 7 A.M.” No amount of prodding could get Elma to elaborate. But Gloria knew. It was Margaret. . .
On one other occasion, another woman, Elma, was staying with Gloria for a short time at the house. This individual seemed uncomfortable with the house, but Gloria didn’t realize how much so until she awoke at 4:30 A.M. and Elma was nowhere to be found!
Finally, she was located out on the front walk, shoveling snow. When asked whatever for, Elma replied: “Well I’m not going back into that house! You can bring my suitcases down to the car. I’ll meet you at Clark’s Restaurant at 7 A.M.” No amount of prodding could get Elma to elaborate. But Gloria knew. It was Margaret. . .
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The root cellar may be inhabited by a friendly ghost claims the current owners of the property. Sometimes they hear sounds coming out of it, and the light inside of it goes on and off.
(Tidbit: In 1835, William Boswick purchased the house and it served as the Galena branch of the Illinois State Bank with Boswick as the tenant and head cashier. This stone root cellar was said to have been used for the bank’s vault.)