The Cambre House, built in 1867

Arrival

After driving along a seemingly endless, winding, gravel road in Nauvoo, Illinois, visitors are welcomed by two brick pillars guarding the long driveway. As we drove down the gravel path, we passed an old dilapidated barn with weathered wood and eventually made it to our final destination - the Cambre House. It is set on a beautiful piece of land overlooking the Mississippi River, currently used as a wedding venue. Upon entering the home, we noticed the creaking floorboards, the musty smell in the air, and the many bugs that have taken up residence in the corners of this old, venerable home. We explored the home and did some research as a team, skimming through the books and faded photos in the home.

History & Reported Activity

The house was built in 1867 by Adolphe Cambre. The property remained occupied by the Cambre family for over a century until 1979. In 2016 Rebecca Williamson, the current owner and descendant of the Cambres, purchased the property and converted the land into a wedding venue. The Cambre House has many paranormal claims attached to its name. Some of these include doors often opening and closing on their own, unexplained footsteps and voices, and shadow figures roaming the rooms and steep stairway. One of the most common experiences seems to be attached to the activity of a young girl, Eglantine Cambre, Adolphe's daughter, who died at a young age and is reportedly buried somewhere on the property. 

Investigation

The team gathered in the living room and began with a prayer of protection. A few members of the team began by using dowsing rods to see if any responses might come through. Other members of the group walked around the house and outside property making use of other instruments in an attempt to elicit activity and responses. A few members reported seeing an orange light emanating from the top floor bedroom. Upon investigating the claim, we found that there were no light sources in that room that could have recreated the glow. We also used our flashlights to try and recreate the event, but were unable to successfully debunk the experience. Overall, it was a very quiet night. A few team members spent the night in the home as well; noting a few stray footsteps. However, the house was mostly quiet. 

Closing Thoughts 

Though the home was quiet during our visit, the Cambre House offered a unique historical atmosphere for the team. The team is still reviewing evidence, with a couple of possible EVPs being found. Although our investigation was notably quiet and uneventful, the team enjoyed the experience of stepping back in time. In a house this old, the silence isn’t necessarily an absence of activity, but rather a century of memories resting until they are ready to tell their stories.