Robert, the Haunted Doll
You know about Annabelle, but have you heard the story of Robert?
He’s another sinister doll, and he’s in Florida, so you should already know it's nothing nice. There are inconsistencies and variations about Robert’s origin, but the basic facts are as follows:
The doll's first owner was also his namesake, a young boy from a prominent Key West family named Robert Eugene Otto. The boy's grandfather purchased the doll on a trip to Germany in 1904, and gifted it to him upon his return stateside. The odd-looking doll was made by the Steiff Company, which is famous for being the originators of the teddy bear. It is thought that Robert was never intended for retail, but was instead part of a set meant to be displayed in store windows.
He is thought to be possessed in some way, and has been blamed for various mishaps, including car accidents, severe injuries, and divorces. Why Robert is supposedly possessed has never been made clear, though one legend claims that Robert was actually given to Otto--who went by Gene--by one of the family's Bahamian domestic workers. It was not a gift, but a punishment for bad behavior, which the worker had also cursed. This particular narrative is loaded, as it speaks to latent racism, vilification (and ignorance) of voodoo and African traditional religions, as well as fear of the The Other. Either way, Gene formed what could be described as an unnaturally close relationship with Robert. He named the doll after himself, made Robert his own room in the attic and kept him by his side at all times. The sailor suit that Robert wears also once belonged to Gene.
Throughout his childhood, Gene blamed mishaps and his mischievous endeavors on the doll. Legends claim that the family's other domestic workers often heard two voices coming from Gene's room. It is said that one night, the boy's parents were awoken by his screams and ran into his room, only to find it completely trashed. Gene was curled up in a fetal position on the bed, and Robert sat at the foot, appearing to glare at him. The Ottos didn't believe their son at that point, but they did reportedly hear Robert giggling and witness him moving around the house on his own eventually.
Later, Gene returned to his childhood home, which he called The Artist House, with his bride, Anne...and Robert. Anne understandably found the doll to be unsettling and Gene eventually locked him away in a trunk in the attic to appease her. Despite this, Robert always seemed to find his way out, and could be heard moving around up above. His favorite spot was by a window in Gene's old room. Schoolchildren began to avoid the house, claiming that Robert would watch them from the window, disappearing and reappearing.
The Artist House, located at 534 Eaton St., Key West
Gene died in 1974, and Myrtle Reuter bought the house, becoming Robert's new caretaker. Visitors reportedly heard footsteps from the attic, where Robert was kept, in addition to giggling. If somebody spoke unfavorably of Robert in his presence, the doll's expression would change, and like the Ottos, Reuter reported also that he would move about the house on his own.
By 1994, Reuter had finally had enough of Robert's antics, and donated the doll to its current home, Key West's Fort East Martello Museum. For his part, Robert has kept the exact same energy in the new venue. Cameras and other electrical devices allegedly malfunction in the doll's presence, a phenomenon which began as soon as he was put on display. Visitors are advised to request permission before photographing Robert, and those who do not will supposedly meet some future misfortune.
The museum is flooded with correspondence for Robert, and curator Cori Convertito reports that he receives anywhere from 1 to 3 letters a day. Many are apologies from those who have disrespected the doll and reaped the consequences, while others ask Robert to place curses on people, or even for advice.
Should you decide to make the pilgrimage to visit Robert yourself: proceed with caution, or you may leave with an unwanted souvenir.
