Fort Lauderdale Florida
King-Cromartie House
Yellow Fever claimed the life of the Lady of the house, but she still enjoys her home.
The front porch swing is a draw for spirits with a lot of energy.
DESCRIPTION/HISTORY
In 1907, building contractor Edwin T. King built this original one story bungalow for his family, out of Dade County pine, using joists made of salvaged ship’s timbers. The house was built with running water and carbide lamps. When Bloxham Cromartie, whose sister Ivy lived just across the river with her husband, Frank Stranahan, asked Mr. King for his daughter Louise’s hand in marriage, Mr. King gave Louise and his new son-in-law this old family home. The young couple added a second story in 1911. Various members of The King-Cromartie family lived in this house up until 1968. Then, they sold it, although those plans weren’t good for this historical structure. Uh Oh!
When the new owners planned to tear down the King-Cromartie house, the Junior League of Fort Lauderdale came to the rescue, and managed to raise the funds to save it. The entire 200 ton structure was moved by barge and floated down the New River to the older historic area. It was a nail-biting experience, as the barge had to go through three draw bridges. The tightest fit was the railroad bridge (with only 18 inches on either side.) It was a successful move, and the house was placed on the playground of an 1899 historic school house.
The Junior League of Fort Lauderdale opened the King-Cromartie House as a historic museum in 1971. In 1994, The Fort Lauderdale Historical Society was given custody of it and took over the duties of the house museum. The King-Cromartie House Museum is now part of Fort Lauderdale Historic Village, which includes a wonderful collection of old historic homes and buildings offering a real look at the history and people of Fort Lauderdale. Sandy the Casteele did a marvelous job recreating the interior scheme of the King-Cromartie home, with just a few pictures and pieces of original furniture.
HISTORY OF MANIFESTATIONS
People who die prematurely from disease, accident or murder often aren’t ready to go to the other side, and choose to stay in their favorite place on earth as spirits. During an epidemic outbreak in the 1920s, Louise King Cromartie suffered and died from yellow fever at what we would consider a young age.
Before pesticides, vaccinations and antibiotics, many children died of disease and infections in the 19th/early 20th century. Yellow fever was a big killer in Florida, because of the mosquito problem. Some entities of children stick around areas where they once had fun, felt loved, and perhaps are still in need of direction to the light.
MANIFESTATIONS
To read the full report on paranormal activity at the King-Cromartie House, buy John Marc Carr’s fabulous book, HAUNTED FORT LAUDERDALE.
The Entity of Louise King Cromartie
Her translucent apparition has been seen, looking out her second floor bedroom window. Some people are treated to the full paranormal package. She is described as wearing a pink dress with her blonde hair in a bun and ringlets on the side of her face. She is an affable, benign spirit, who likes to watch people from the second story window of her bedroom.
John Marc Carr’s team has caught on film what is commonly reported by many witnesses: the very gentle, deliberate movement of curtains, that after a few moments, mysteriously close, when no one alive is inside to move them. By 8 pm, the people leave, and switch on the alarm. A photographer on one of Carr’s night ghost tours also caught a photo of an apparition in that same window, looking down at the people.
The entities of children
The King-Cromartie House sits on what was once the playground of the school in back of The King-Cromartie House on the next street over.
The porch swing has been known to suddenly start rocking with vigor, as if a younger person with lots of energy were using it.
The disembodied sounds of children running, playing, laughing and singing around and in back of the house have been heard by the living.
STILL HAUNTED?
A big YES INDEED is in order. The many personal reports from witnesses, and the actions caught on film mentioned above by the astute John Marc Carr, are great evidence that Louis is still enjoying her home! The slide show promoting Carr’s Fort Lauderdale Ghost Tour – shows a misty form in this same window.
As for the spirits of children being there; probably, though no hard evidence has been shared online. Some of the sounds which have been heard may be residual energy, but the sudden, vigorous swinging of the porch swing points to the probability that a young child entity or two may be enjoying an eternal recess on the property.
LOCATION
Historic Village
229 SW Second Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
King-Cromartie House can be found in Fort Lauderdale’s Historic Village, right behind the old school house, on Second Street, not far from The New River Inn building, now Fort Lauderdale’s Historic Museum.
Admission is $10 and includes a self-guided tour of the New River Inn and a docent-led tour of the 1907 King-Cromartie House and the 1899 Replica School House.
SOURCES INCLUDE
- Haunted Fort Lauderdale
by John Marc Carr
Haunted America/History Press
2008 - fortlauderdaleghosttour.com
- youtube.com
- fortlauderdalehistorycenter.org
- associatedcontent.com
- intown411.com
- goodwoodmuseum.org
Our Haunted Paranormal Stories are Written by Julie Carr
