Real Haunted House
Fort Huachuca Officer’s Quarters
Fort Huachuca, Arizona
By Cecilia
Fort Huachuca, a military base located in Arizona, has historical value and large commanding, training, and space shuttle centers. But, if you look a little further into its past, you’ll find an old secret not yet covered up by modern technology and advanced programs. The fort was first built around 1877, and played an important part in America’s Indian wars as a headquarters and supply base. Later, it was used for African-American “Buffalo Soldiers” and then as an advanced testing center for electronics and communications after World War Two. By 1976, it was even named a National Historic Landmark.
Carleton House, the oldest building on the property, was constructed to be hospital. Finished in 1880, it was named after a famous Civil War General: James H. Carleton. Over the course of time, it was turned into an officer’s quarters, a mess hall, a post headquarters, a post chapel, a café, and a schoolhouse. In fact, for about four years, it was even used as a vacation retreat by two Arizona governors.
However, the most famous visitor to the Carleton house was Colonel Roy Strom. He was a deputy commander, and moved into the house with his wife Joan and their children. Almost instantly, weird things started happening. The contents of boxes would be found strewn about, and the doorbell would ring constantly with no apparent cause. The lights also blinked randomly, and wall hangings were never quite straight…but these things were more annoying than creepy. At least, at the start.
As the Strom family continued to live there, they were eventually lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the ghost who became known as Charlotte. (Although Charlotte does a thorough job of making her presence known, actual sightings of the woman are rare.) Early one morning, Joan thought she saw her daughter Amy walking down the hall. However, Amy ignored her greeting…and was fast asleep in her bed when Joan checked her room. Intrigued, Joan began to research who her visitor could be.
The story tells of a young woman who, over one hundred fifty years ago, was a critical patient in the Carleton House when it was still a hospital. She gave birth to a stillborn son, and she herself died a few days later. Angered by the fact that her child never received a proper burial, she continued to haunt the Carleton house even after it changed from a hospital. But her actual identity remained a mystery, and it was the Strom family that finally named the ghost “Charlotte”.
According to another report, a boy had been trying to deliver a message to the people currently living in the Carleton House. After ringing the doorbell to no avail, he spotted a pretty blonde woman with long hair and a flowing dress walking through the hallway. But she appeared not to hear the ringing, and later, the family in the house insisted that nobody had been home. In addition, the daughter of that family claimed to have seen Charlotte in the hallway after returning home late one night.
As mentioned before, the young ghost certainly isn’t secretive about her haunts. Many strange happenings have been reported by residents over the years, such as their pets going crazy at night, and stuff randomly moving around. One section of the house is significantly colder than the other, and has a light that never works properly. Joan Strom dubbed this “Charlotte’s Corner”, which it is still affectionately called today.
42 comments on this haunted house. Share your story »
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laurel says: |
February 19, 2006, 7:42 pm |
hey i used to live on fort huachuca but ive never been to the carleton house could you give a location it sounds instering did anything else happen there or near there thanks for the artical if you post anymore stores please give more detail thanks by
george says: |
April 12, 2006, 4:25 am |
I used to live in a town next to Fort Huachuca, I have always heard of the house. I have driven past it many times. The house is on the road where all the officers homes are. It stands out because all the homes are white and look like construction from the 1930′s-40′s, but this one home is made of huge stones and the construction is defintely from the 1800′s. I’ve been told it was used as a hospital for soldiers fighting the indians in the 1880′s. Never been inside, but just the outside looks pretty spooky.
beth says: |
July 14, 2006, 11:47 pm |
I lived on Fort Huachuca 2 times and the house does look spooky. I now live just outside Fort Huachuca and once or twice a week I’m up there and pass that old spooky house.
20 year old says: |
October 9, 2006, 10:59 am |
I think that this story might be true because I believe some ghost do haunt places that they want revenge on. Charlottewanted revenge on the people who didn’t give her son a proper burial.
Sunny says: |
October 20, 2006, 4:54 pm |
I’ve been in there once. Residual Haunting!
Jaymie says: |
October 22, 2006, 2:27 pm |
This story seems really true. i want to visit it.
Amanda & Bubu 4 now says: |
November 2, 2006, 11:16 pm |
WHOO SCARY!!Not…she didnt do harm.You cant be scared if u luv god.
Amanda & Bubu 4 now says: |
November 2, 2006, 11:17 pm |
WHOO SCARY!!Not…she didnt do harm.You cant be scared if u luv god.I
Amanda & Bubu 4 now says: |
November 2, 2006, 11:17 pm |
YIKES!I take that back cuz I saw a black cat shadow go past real fast!
svaz2003 says: |
November 5, 2006, 7:11 pm |
I lived on the fort for 9 years so it seems like this house has scared me my whole life! And yes, it was used as a hospital for soldiers “back in the day.” If you doubt this one, just go check it out for yourself. Keep in mind people do live there so you can’t go inside, but just going near it will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up! The house is across the street from the parade grounds, and nearby is the fort cemetery and the old courthouse. I was told this courthouse is where criminals were hanged. You gotta see it!
stephen lembcke says: |
January 5, 2007, 12:04 pm |
mitch kill say this story lookis like ****
stephen lembcke says: |
January 5, 2007, 12:04 pm |
matt is a gay homo
Eleanor Frawley says: |
February 3, 2007, 7:44 pm |
Apparently those posting messages did not read the comments about using correct grammar, capitalization and punctuation. I know of a haunted grade school in Wisconsin and respectfully suggest that it might be a good idea if some responders visited there.
Brittany Underwood says: |
March 1, 2007, 5:06 pm |
Spooky
pumpkin says: |
July 8, 2007, 11:42 am |
i think this story was very interesting. i wish i could see it but i am in new jersey but it is still fun and spooky to read ghosts storys from different states and countrys. love ya. and have a spooky day
Jen says: |
September 21, 2007, 5:20 pm |
I live on ft huachuca and I am trying to figure out exactly which house it is. Can anyone help me?
Samantha FitzGerald says: |
September 27, 2007, 5:20 pm |
I live in Ft. Huachuca when I was a child. Every holiday season they have house tours for all the officers houses (they are all historical buildings). I believe the Carlton House is not the only haunted house of the officers homes. Check out local websites for the officers house tour schedule.
China Zmuida says: |
October 9, 2007, 8:44 pm |
I know this place well. When my friend’s dad was a general on post, they used to live in this house. His mother had this hand mirror she used to keep on her dresser in their bedroom. When she looked in it once, she saw the face of another woman, dropping the mirror and breaking it. His mom never used hand mirrors again. I only went into the house once because I heard crying that was unexplainable. The place scared the bejesus out of me, and I have never ventured back to that place, nor will I ever again.
SPC Ty Wilson says: |
October 11, 2007, 1:04 am |
I now live at Ft. Huachuca and have decided to give thsi a look see as an amateur ghost hunter and will keep the lot of you updated as to my finds.
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karie-anne blais says:
November 1, 2005, 1:26 pm
put pictures!