Southernmost Ghosts

6. The Audubon House

Key West, FL

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Welcome to what is now known as The Audubon House but in truth John Audubon never lived here. In fact, he never even spent a single night on the island. This magnificent home actually belonged to Master Wrecker/Captain John Hurling Geiger. Capt Geiger made his fortune at the misfortunes of others. The jagged and rocky coral reefs surrounding Key West coupled with unpredictable storms spelled disaster for many ships. As a wrecker, Capt Geiger recovered the bounty from those ships. Typically, his payment was twenty-five percent of whatever he recovered. He was engaged in the most lucrative business on the island at that time. Not only a prominent wrecker, Capt Geiger engaged in another line of work. Piracy. He was known to have placed false lights onshore to lure ships into unsafe waters. Many people at the time speculated that he buried a large portion of his vast riches somewhere on the property. Although Capt Geiger was becoming enormously wealthy, money couldn't save his family from disaster. The captain and his wife had twelve children together but one of their beloved came down with yellow fever. The child was kept in the Quarantine Room to prevent the disease from spreading to other family members. Sadly the child died in that room. But that wasn't the end of the tragedies experienced by this family. Some of the remaining children were climbing a tree in the front of the house when the unthinkable happened. One of them lost their footing and fell several feet to their death. Both children were buried behind the house. Capt Geiger died in 1885 but the property remained in the family until his last remaining direct descendant, Capt Willy Smith died in 1956. Capt Willy was an eccentric, odd man known for his intense dislike of human contact. A complete and utter recluse, he would lower a basket from a second floor window and wait for a servant to place his meal inside. He continued this odd behavior until his death. Visitors to the house see a man who appears to be peeking from a second floor window. It's obvious that he doesn't want to be seen. Could it be that Capt Willy doesn't realize his earthly body is no more? Capt Geiger may have died but he hasn't left his home. He is often seen on the second floor looking out to sea. Does he continue his search for wrecked ships or is he filled with regret at his devious acts of piracy? Perhaps he remains here to keep a vigilant watch over his buried treasure. The Captain isn't the only presence wandering this property. The manager of the gallery in which John Audubon's prints are sold, often hears footsteps coming up the stairs even when he knows he is alone. In spite of this knowledge, he then investigates the building and confirms that he is indeed alone. The footsteps on the stairs continue. At one time there hung in the gallery a painting of a young girl named Hannah. The painting was known as an "oilogram" which in the 19th century was something that a grieving family would commission as a remembrance of a recently lost loved one. The painting caused such feelings of despair and unhappiness that it was moved to the Children's Room and hung in a corner out of plain sight. Shortly thereafter, the manager heard the sound of a laughing child coming from the Children's Room. Upon investigation, the manager found the room to be empty. Does Hannah continue to play in her childhood home? Perhaps she remains attached to the house because her loving father's spirit dwells here. Whatever the reason, father and daughter walk these grounds in death as they did in life.