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| Photograph ©Haunted America Tours |
The historic Artist House, home to the infamous Robert Doll, was constructed in 1898 by Mr. Thomas Otto and his wife. This charming residence, however, hides a dark past, as the Ottos were notorious for mistreating their servants. Among them was a young servant girl reputed to possess skills in the mysterious art of voodoo.
Legend has it that this servant girl presented a doll to Gene, the Otto's son, a doll that allegedly bore the weight of a voodoo curse. This cursed doll, Gene named "Robert", became an eerie companion to the young boy, and a harbinger of strange occurrences that would plague the house for years to come.
As Gene carried Robert everywhere, engaging in conversations that seemed to involve two distinct voices, the Otto family began witnessing unsettling events. Gene's mother, disturbed by the inexplicable conversations, would burst into the bedroom only to find Gene cowering in fear while the doll, perched on the bed or in a chair, seemed to gaze malevolently down at the frightened boy.
A series of inexplicable incidents followed, each attributed to the doll by Gene, who would simply say, "Robert did it." Locked-out servants, dishes thrown in the dining room, torn clothing and bedding, and even mutilated toys—all became part of the strange tapestry woven by the reported actions of the cursed doll.
Family members and close friends became convinced of the doll's sinister influence. Giggles from the doll, fleeting glimpses of it running up the stairs, and even sightings of the doll peering out of windows, fueled the growing belief that Robert was possessed by a malevolent force.
As Gene matured, he clung to the doll and his childhood home. Even after his parents' demise, Gene and the doll remained inseparable, earning them the dubious distinction as the talk of the town. Gene's wife, whose mental state deteriorated during their ill-fated marriage, is rumored to haunt the Artist House to this day, as well.
Following Gene's death, the doll, alone in the house, was sold to new owners. Despite being relegated to the attic, Robert's discontent manifested as he began appearing in various areas of the house. The situation escalated when an owner discovered the doll at the foot of their bed, clutching a knife. Fearing the eerie presence, the tenants hastily vacated the premises.
Robert's journey didn't end there; he found a new residence in the East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida. Guarded closely, the doll attracts tourists from across the country. Witnesses claim Robert has smirked at them, and strange phenomena persists, such as cameras malfunctioning or capturing blank images, fueling the mystique surrounding this eerie artifact and the Artist House, with its haunted history, continues to captivate those who dare to explore its chilling secrets.