Paranormal Path
Haunted Objects
One of my favorite subjects under the wide umbrella of paranormal activity is haunted objects. Dolls, furniture, even paintings that seem to have a life of their own. How and why does this happen? One theory is when a person passes on there may be something they were very attached to, like a piece of furniture or childhood doll. This object may hold some familiarity for the deceased and the spirit may gravitate towards it if they are lost or confused. Objects may be part of a residual haunting as well, if someone sat and smoked a cigar in the same chair at a certain time every day, that chair may be the center of the same scene well after that person has passed. Another theory is an object may be intentionally possessed by a demonic or inhuman spirit as a way to make itself known to its human targets. I wanted to highlight a couple of my favorite haunted object stories in this article.
Robert
Robert is one of the most famous haunted doll stories. The doll was made as a 3 foot tall replica of young Robert Eugene (Gene) Otto and given as a gift by his Bahamian nanny. There is not a lot known about the nanny but several versions of the story say she practiced voodoo, and though she loved the young boy, the doll was meant as revenge to his parents who frequently mistreated her. Young Gene loved the doll and kept it with him at all times. His parents became concerned when things would go missing in the home and were later found broken. Gene would simply say “Robert did it”. There were also accounts of Gene having conversations with the doll and responding in a completely different voice. The longer the doll was in the house the stranger things became. Servants would hear the sound of tiny footsteps upstairs and singing and humming whenever the doll was alone in Gene’s Room.
After Gene’s parents had passed he lived alone in the home with Robert for several years. Then Gene eventually married and brought his new wife home to live with him and the doll.
The new Mrs. Otto greatly disliked the doll and requested it be moved to the attic. She found herself tormented by the doll, she would hear him moving about the attic and was even seen quickly moving up and down the attic stairs. Robert would also at times turn up in Gene’s room sitting in one of his old rocking chairs. When Mrs. Otto confronted her husband about relocating the doll he would tell her “Robert did it”.
Gene Otto passed away in 1972 with Robert by his side. The bizarre occurrences didn’t stop there. A new family purchased the home and found Robert tucked away in the attic. The family gave the doll to their young daughter. Soon the little girl began to complain of nightmares and even told her parents she awoke one night to find the doll sitting on her. Soon Robert was relocated to the attic once again.
Eventually Robert was donated to the East Martello Museum where he still resides today. He was placed in a glass case after Museum workers complained of the doll following them. The rumors of Robert continue even though he is incased. Visitors have said he does not like his picture taken and any attempts to do so without asking the dolls permission will result in blurry, overexposed, or unrecognizable photos. Another popular tale speaks of the dolls fondness for peppermint candy and many leave these as offerings or bribes to take pictures or video. Some say the dolls facial expression will change if he is angry. Whether it really was the work of the nanny or simply overactive imagination of urban legend that really gives the doll life, Robert continues to hold the fascination of paranormal enthusiasts.
Hands Resist Him aka haunted Ebay Painting
Hands Resist Him was painted by Bill Stoneham in 1972. The painting shows Bill as a young boy standing in front of a dark glass door with several hands appearing behind him. At his side is a doll like girl with a very disturbing expression on her face. The glass was said to be the veil between waking and dreaming, the little girl is the guide between the two realms, and the hands represented other lives.
Both the owner of the Gallery where the painting was displayed and the critic who reviewed the showing passed away within a year of the show. No one is sure how the painting became abandoned but it showed up on Ebay in February of 2000 with the title of “Haunted Painting”.
The disclaimer that followed reports that the seller found it and brought it home feeling it was a good piece of art. Later their young daughter claimed the two children in the painting were fighting and coming into her room at night. A motion camera was set up and it is said the young boy seemed to appear as If he were coming out of the painting. Soon they decided the art work had to go and warned potential buyers not to bid if they suffered from heart or nervous conditions. Some are even afraid to view the painting.
The last bid on “Hands” was for $1025.00 and the work of art eventually had a new owner. An interview with the new owner in March 2000 stated that they had not had any experiences themselves but received several emails from people wondering how they can live with such a thing in their home. Suggestions on how to cleanse the home were also received as well as warnings to never let young children view the painting. This was the last known owner and though it was stated they would eventually sell the painting, the auction has been closed since early 2000.
References
http://www.hauntedamericatours.com/museum/hauntedDOLL.htm