I love going to Heceta Head, and I’m wondering about the ghost stories, strange events referring to this wonderful spot that descends into the magnificent ocean. It seems some of the incidents published don’t add up. I’m curious of this 1894 Queen-Ann style house perched on this cliff. Documented encounters with this ghost that has apparently haunted this dwelling for many years. According to legend there was a light keepers wife who lost her only child on the property, a little girl. The child is rumored to be buried on the grounds in the thick vegetation, black berry bushes. Another account I read said the baby was accidentally dug up years ago. The little girl either drowned or was lost in the ocean, or had scarlet fever it’s suggested the mother then killed herself out of grief. Throwing herself onto the rocks from the path leading to the lighthouse. But then the names are mentioned Frank and Jenny DeRoy who came to the light house in the eighteen-nineties.
In another account it is listed that The only lightkeeper’s child to die at Heceta Head was a baby daughter of the first Head Keeper, Albert Peter Cornelius Hald. The Halds–were at Heceta from 1894 to 1899.
Notes * Movie filmed 1982 a CBS movie-of-the-week, The Fog, was filmed at Heceta House.
There’s a detailed account of all light keepers and their families … but nothing mentioned about the tragic story or any mention of any ghosts. It’s also rumored teenagers playing the ouijji board in the old house spelled out the name Rue and they thought it to be Jenny’s only daughter whose spirit haunts the house.
1980 when Life magazine included it in an article titled Terrifying Tales of 9 Haunted Houses
* These are my notes, need to research more….
going to stay at the night at the bed and breakfast in 2015 and take pictures, can’t wait!! thanks for reading my blog!!
I’m curious of this 1894 Queen-Ann style house perched on this cliff.
Heceta Head Lighthouse Keeper’s House
1909ventilo's Blog 
One thought on “What really happened at Heceta Head Lighthouse Keeper’s House?”
Billy Brown
I’ve stayed at the Heceta B&B 3 times….and admittedly I was a bit freaked out at the prospects of having an encounter with “Rue.” One of the staff at the B&B told us about his experiences there….spread out over about 8 years….and he had 2 things happen to him. Once he was trapped at the house due to a mud slide that had blocked the coastal highway which lead to his home, so he elected to stay at the house in one of the guest rooms that wasn’t occupied for the night. As he laid his head down on the pillow a distinctive voice said out loud to him, “DON’T!” He said right up in bed only to see no one there. He also said that one morning they were preparing breakfast for their guests, and he said that a stack of plates came “floating” out of one of the cupboards and they dropped on the floor smashing into pieces. Wow….he said it looked like something out of “Ghostbusters.” However, the last time we stayed, our server at breakfast expressed that she didn’t believe in Rue whatsoever. She had been working there for a good many years, and thought it was all B.S….So who knows. Once we stayed in the Mariner Room overlooking the ocean, and my wife decided to walk down to Heceta Beach, leaving me alone in the room. And I must admit I was a bit frightened. But all of the sudden a peace came over me….a feeling….a feeling of comfort. It was if Rue were telling me that there was nothing to fear….and to relax. And I was fine after that. Most of the guest who have stayed there that have had “experiences” have the thing in common in that they say Rue is a friendly ghost….she’s just trapped, or chooses to stay on property. And besides, can you blame her? It’s the most gorgeous spot…..absolutely beautiful. I am totally at home there sitting in one of those chairs on the front porch. Thanks for your post!