My Very Own Robert the Doll

Ghost lore is full of tales of haunted and possessed dolls.  There's just something inherently creepy about an innocent child's toy being inhabited and/or controlled by an otherworldly presence. Arguably, Annabelle, the Raggedy Anne doll made famous by her portrayal in a series of recent horror movies, is one of the most well-known haunted dolls in the world.  But...years before I read about Annabelle, I had heard the tales of Robert.

The lines between fact and folklore blur quite a bit when it comes to Robert the Doll, but the basic story is that Robert was a gift given to artist, Eugene Otto, when he was a young boy. Otto named the doll Robert, which was actually his first name, although he went by Eugene or Gene. Robert is a Steiff doll, and the consensus seems to be that he was a birthday gift from his grandfather.  However, early ghost stories claimed that Robert was given to Eugene by a maid or some other young girl who imbued the doll with voodoo as a retaliation against the family for some reason.  In any event, Robert and Eugene were inseparable, despite the fact that weird things allegedly started happening with the doll. Eugene claimed that he awoke one night to Robert standing by his bed, staring at him. Any time Eugene got in trouble for something, he would exclaim that "Robert did it!!"

Artist House, Key West

Robert and Eugene pretty much remained inseparable for Eugene's entire life.  Robert stayed in the Otto home (now known as the Artist's House) while Eugene was off studying art and getting married, and was waiting for him when Eugene returned to the home with his wife, Anne.  Anne was rightfully creeped out by Robert, and he was banished to the attic, where he allegedly was heard moving about on his own.

After Eugene and Anne died, the home was purchased by Myrtle Rueter, who claimed that Robert would roam around the home on his own, and that his expression would even seem to change. Any strange noise or unexplained event was blamed on Robert. He stayed with Myrtle until he was donated in the mid-1990's to the Fort East Martello Museum.

Robert the Doll still currently resides in the Fort East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida and is a HUGE attraction for the museum, even garnering his own website and online store. Robert is kept in a clear glass case for his protection...but perhaps for the protection of others as well. I remember reading stories about museum staff stating that they believed Robert would move around on his own; in the morning, they'd find him in a different position from where he was the night before. Electrical and surveillance equipment around him tended to malfunction, especially cameras. It is believed that visitors to the museum must first ask Robert permission to take his photo, and must treat him with respect.  If they fail to do so, they run the risk of angering Robert, and experiencing a string of bad luck!  In fact, the area around where Robert is displayed is filled with letters sent to the museum by people who have offended Robert, sharing their stories and begging for his forgiveness. 

Despite all that, there is an endearing quality to Robert, and the museum store and website began selling little replica Robert dolls. Just recently, I ordered my very own Robert the Doll!  The store offers a variety of Robert items, but I opted for the $45 Deluxe Set that included a replica Robert, a postcard, and an autographed copy of his book, Robert the Doll. Although I had wanted one of these dolls for YEARS, this was actually an impulse buy. Robert celebrated his 116th birthday on October 25, and offered his fans a 20% discount on store items.  So, I went for it, lol. And I'm so glad I did!  Robert and his accessories came well packaged in a vinyl bag.  Now, I have my own little Robert (who is so freaking adorable!) and a new book to add to my library! You can follow Robert on Facebook for more updates, sales, etc. 

Gasparilla's Headless Princess

Jose Gaspar

Arrgh! September 19th is International Talk Like a Pirate Day! My accent is a little off and my wench dress is at the cleaners...so I think I'll just celebrate with some pirate ghost stories! The legends and lore of America's pirates are steeped with superstition and supernatural elements, and many of our most well-known bearded bullies of the sea are said to still be hanging around in spirit form. Whether they are still guarding their buried treasure, seeking to exact revenge on those who did them wrong, or simply being punished for a life of misdeeds, these pirate ghosts and the ghosts of their hapless victims make up a huge chunk of our country's ghost lore.

While pirate ghosts can be found in many coastal areas, (and apparently in Ohio, as well!), this particular tale comes from Gasparilla Island in Florida, part of a chain of Gulf Coast barrier islands. For almost 200 years, visitors to the island, which for over a century has been home to the Boca Grande Lighthouse, have claimed to see what appears to be a headless woman roaming the beaches.

Like most pirate ghost tales, this story also seems to be steeped more in folklore than in history, with no real historical evidence to back up the claims or even prove that the main characters even existed. So then who is this strange, headless apparition? As the legends go, the famed Spanish pirate Jose Gaspar, better known as Gasparilla, used the island as his home base of operations throughout the late 18th century and into the early 19th century. He is even said to have buried treasure somewhere on the island near where the lighthouse now stands. Unfortunately, material treasure wasn't the only thing Gaspar sought to make his own---he also had a thing for collecting beautiful women, which he held on a nearby island now known as Captiva Island.

One of the women he captured was allegedly a Spanish princess known as Josefa. Josefa was a great beauty, and Gasparilla wanted nothing more than to make her his own. However, the more he attempted to win her over, the harder she spurned him, until finally one day, she spat in his face. In a fit of rage, Gasparilla grabbed his sword from his side and Josefa's head off. Distraught over killing his beloved Josefa, Gasparilla took her body to his own island to bury it.  However, legend states that he only buried her BODY. He apparently kept her head with him until his own death in the 1820s.

Since then, the headless body of the Spanish princess has been spotted on the beaches of Gasparilla Island, looking for her missing head. Some say Gasparilla himself has also been witnessed wandering the beaches. Is he looking for that treasure he buried---or is he looking for his lost love, Josefa, who continues to spurn him even in death?

If you visit the island, don't be too discouraged if you don't see the poor Spanish princess or the love-sick pirate. Just make sure you check out the old lighthouse, which has plenty of ghost stories of its own!

Source: Lighthouse Ghosts, by Norma Elizabeth and Bruce Roberts

Book Review for Ghost Stories of Venice

Title---Ghost Stories of Venice: From Historic Spanish Point to Englewood
Author---Kim Cool
Published by Historic Venice Press (2002)
Amazon Purchase Information

I recently returned from a vacation to Cincinnati, Ohio. Usually when I visit another state, I like to pick up a book on that region's ghost stories. But, an impromptu stop at the Half Price Books store near our hotel resulted in the purchase of ANOTHER region's local legends---Venice, Florida. My paranormal library is already filled with titles from the Sunshine State, courtesy of my sister who always brings me home a lil' surprise from her vacations, but at $4, I couldn't just leave this book behind. Overall, I'm pretty pleased with that decision.

As the author discusses, Venice, Florida really isn't known for being haunted. The book gives a pretty good history of the town, which in the grand scheme of things, is actually quite 'new' as a modern city. Of course there is some Native American history there, and a smattering of information on early settlers and explorers, but the town itself really didn't get its start until the 20th century, when city plans were laid out as part of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. But, we students of ghost lore know that just because a place isn't 'old,' doesn't mean it cannot be haunted!

Venice suffers from the same ailment that many cities have---many people just aren't willing to discuss their ghost stories with people. But, as the author discovers, a little digging can result in other leads, culminating with a growing treasure trove of information. Within the book's 112 pages, the author manages to convince the local citizenry to share quite a number of spooky incidents from Venice and nearby locales. A few of the places featured are the Hermitage House, a residential area known as Venice Gardens, and the San Marco Hotel.

Granted, most of the ghost stories are pretty tame, and many are just personal experiences without a whole lot of substance to back them up, but they're entertaining and offer an enlightening glimpse of the unique history of Venice. For the most part, the book is pretty well written, although at times there are awkward repeats of information and the organization seems a little jumbled. However, there are some great photos, lots of interesting history, and a taste of ghost lore from a previously untapped area. If you plan on visiting this area of Florida any time soon, or simply love to read about ghost stories from different regions, this book should be a welcomed addition to your own paranormal library.

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