Day 25: Robert The Haunted Doll
Let's face it, dolls can be scary! Like clowns and ventriloquist dummies, I think it is the frozen expression (though that baby expressions doll freaks me out). I never had a huge problem with dolls as a kid, I had a few barbies and Disney dolls. I never really was into bigger dolls though. I was given a doll at Christmas but I don't think I even played with her for a day before I completely lost interest. Now though, a lot of dolls freak me out. However no doll freaks me out like a haunted doll. There are a few haunted dolls out there.
The most famous is probably Annabelle (who I will talk about in the next post) she even had a film made about her. Of course Hollywood used a much freakier looking doll in the film than the Annabelle in real life. She is not the only haunted doll though, there is Mandy who follows people with her eyes and makes things disappear. There's Okiku who is possessed by the spirit of her young owner who died not long after receiving her. She is pretty cool, her hair grows. There is Letta, who moves around on her own and there is Pupa, another possessed doll.
There is no shortage of haunted doll stories and even alleged haunted dolls available to buy on ebay. One that is almost as famous if not as famous as Annabelle is Robert.
Robert is 111 years old and lives at the East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida. He has supernatural abilities and is said to be responsible for car crashes, broken bones, job loss, divorce and many other misfortunes.
Robert was originally owned by Robert Eugene Otto, and eccentric artist who was part of the prominent Key West family. Otto's Grandfather bought the doll as a Christmas gift in 1904. He was made by the Steiff company (who make the bears and actually made the first teddy bears). Otto had what people would call an unhealthy relationship with Robert. He brought the doll everywhere and talked about it as though it was alive. While not necessary unusual behaviour for a child it was seen as a little strange.
The legend says that Otto soon started blaming Robert for his childhood mishaps. It could have been laughed off as childish imagination but then adults starting noticing things. When Otto grew up he positioned Robert as though he was looking out of an upstairs window. Local children swore that the doll would move. sometimes they would see him move sometimes he would periodically appear and disappear at the window. Children avoided the house after that. When Otto died Robert was left in the house and when someone else moved in , visitors said they could hear footsteps and giggling. People saw him move and it was said his facial expression would change if anyone bad mouthed Otto in front of him. After 20 years of antics, Robert's new owner donated him to a museum.
It was discovered that the Steiff company had not planned to sell Robert, he was made as part of a window display, he was essentially made to be a prop. Since Robert has been at the museum though he has become hugely popular. People come from all over the world to meet him and he is even sent letters. It is apparently bad luck if you don't respect Robert, people have blamed misfortune on their failure to respect him and some of the letters are people asking for forgiveness. If you want a photo with Robert you are supposed to ask him first. Many people who have visited the museum claim to have seen him move.
Robert has been on Tv shows, has had a film made about him, he is on a ghost tour and has social media accounts. He is sent sweets as he apparently has a sweet tooth. His caretaker checks him every year to make sure he isn't damaged. His caretaker also sometimes responds to Robert's letters and emails on his behalf, especially if they're sent by children.
Robert is one of the scariest haunted dolls, his care worn face and almost caricature-esque soft toy disconcerting to look at for too long. If you do visit Robert, I would love to hear about anything that happens but do respect him. He's an old man with a chequered history after all.
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