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Haunted Key West
Key West has
long been a vacation destination for people
of all ages. Who can resist the laid-back lifestyle, fresh
seafood, rich history and simple relaxation? Located 150 miles
south of Miami and just 90 miles north of Havana, Key West is
one of the best tourist destinations in the United States. Upon
first look, Key West appears to be the perfect picture of
paradise.
Looks can be deceiving. Every little town has their little
secret. Key West is no different. This little town (Key West is
a mere 2 miles by 4 miles), however, isn’t ashamed of its
torrid history and notorious hauntings. They embrace the
supernatural residents like any other residents on the island.
You can take a “ghost tour” and find out about these
Floridian spirits. Even better, you can stay at a haunted hotel!
East Martello Museum: Located at the old East Martello
Fort, this museum holds all sorts of artifacts and historical
records of Florida Keys history. The eeriest of displays is
Robert the Doll, dubbed as “the original Chucky.” Robert the
Doll was given to artist Robert “Gene” Otto in 1904 by a
poorly treated servant, probably of Bahamian or Hatian descent,
when he was a small child. Gene gave the life-sized doll his
first name, and blamed it for his bad behavior and anything that
went wrong. Gene had been an ill-tempered person all of his
life, and Robert the Doll is said to be a reflection of him.
Robert the Doll and Gene lived in Artist House until Gene died,
and is now housed at East Martello Museum. Supposedly, Robert
the Doll is possessed. He often prevents his photo from being
taken, moves his toy lion from one knee to the other, and even
taps on his display case. Admission is just $6 for adults, $4
for seniors and locals, $3 for students and free for children
six and under. At a price like that, visit Robert the Doll and
make your own judgment call.
Key West Hard Rock Café: Located in a large house on
Duval Street, the Key West Hard Rock Café is home to Robert
Curry. The house was built by William Curry, Florida’s first
millionaire, as a wedding gift for his son, Robert. Robert was
very sickly throughout his life, stricken with a variety of
ailments and illnesses, yet found himself in control of the
Curry family fortune. Since he wasn’t a very good businessman
and likely due to his poor health, the money rapidly faded away.
Distraught and depressed, Robert committed suicide in the second
floor bathroom. The Curry House is now the Hard Rock Café, but
Robert doesn’t seem to know the difference. Guests and
employees have reported seeing a dark-haired man walking the
premises, then disappearing into thin air. The Hard Rock Café
is always a great place to visit when you go on vacation. In Key
West, the resident ghost gives you even more reason to have a
meal there!
Captain Tony’s Saloon: Key West is home to Florida’s
first bar, Captain Tony’s. The location of this establishment
is where the original Sloppy Joe’s was. Before it was a bar,
however, Captain Tony’s Saloon building was used as the first
morgue on the island. It was conveniently located, as the
hanging tree where murderers and pirates were executed stood
right beside the morgue. This tree, from which 75 people were
hanged, now grows through the center of the building. Believe it
or not, 16 skeletons were found when they were laying a new
foundation. There is a tombstone in the pool room where the
coroner buried his daughter. Guys, you might want to be careful
of what women you hit on. Rumor has it that a woman that was
executed for killing her husband and child can still be seen
there, wearing the same nightgown that she was hanged in.
Marrero’s Guest Mansion: Stay at Marrero’s Guest
Mansion in Key West for a taste of true island hospitality.
Francisco Marrero, a prominent cigar maker, built the house in
1889 to lure his love, Enriquetta, to Key West. Francisco and
Enriquetta married and had eight children. Following
Francisco’s death, Enriquetta and her eight children were
evicted from the house. As she left the house for the final
time, Enriquetta addressed the small crowd that gathered, “I
will always remain here in spirit.” After she died, Enriquetta
apparently returned to her house. Many guests and employees have
seen Enriquetta, particularly in room 18. Don’t worry, though.
Enriquetta is a friendly spirit who welcomes guests into her
home.
Hemingway Home & Museum: The Hemingway Home &
Museum is home to Key West’s most famous apparition. Legendary
author Ernest Hemingway called Key West his home from 1931 until
his suicide in 1961. Now, the Hemingway Estate is home to
approximately 60 cats, direct descendants of the 16 cats
Hemingway had when he lived here. This main house is no longer a
home, but a museum dedicated to Hemingway and the way he lived.
Everything has been preserved the way that Hemingway and his
family had it. So much so that Hemingway may think that he still
lives there! His ghost has been spotted all over the grounds,
accompanied by the sound of a typewriter when he is inside the
main house. The carriage house in the back has been turned into
the administrative offices for the museum as well as a
bookstore. This is a must see for literary buffs, as well as
ghost hunters.
Dean-Lopez Funeral Home: This story, the true story of
German immigrant Georg Karl Tanzler (AKA Count Carl von Cosel)
and Elena Milagro Hoyos Mesa, isn’t exactly a ghost story and
doesn’t have anything to do with a haunting. But, read on, and
you will be freaked out beyond your wildest imagination.
Self-proclaimed Count von Cosel was an x-ray technician in Key
West. He was 54 when he fell madly in love with Elena, a 22 year
old patient dying of tuberculosis. He begged Elena to marry him
but, a devout Catholic whose husband left her, she declined.
Sadly, Elena died in late 1931 and was placed in a mausoleum
Cosel had built for her in Key West Cemetery. About a year and a
half later, the bereft Count took Elena from her resting place
and brought her to a new one: his bedroom. Cosel began to
“reconstruct” Elena’s body out of wax, plaster of paris
and silk. He lived with her as though she was his wife until the
family found out seven years later. The second showing of
Elena’s body was held at Dean-Lopez Funeral Home, and she was
placed in a secret grave. Only Dean knows of the spot, and will
pass it to his sons before he dies. This story has been featured
on many different television shows and in countless books. Take
a stroll past the cemetery and funeral home. It’s free, it’s
creepy and it’s a piece of history.
Of course, there is always the lighter side of Key West. You can
drink, party, relax and basically do the ordinary things that
ordinary people do on their ordinary vacations. But, why settle
for something ordinary when you can do something so
extraordinary? Key West is the best of both worlds: our living
world and the supernatural world. Beings from each world just
can’t seem to get enough.
Source: http://www.epinions.com/
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