I take it with history you mean the background story of the game?

If yes than here are a few ideas:
* take a look at other horror stories (books,films etc.) in e.g. mansions or forests, perhaps it will inspire you.
* begin to write some keywords and a general outline. You already said something with ghosts and a house e.g. in a forest, try to build upon that piece by piece. Start generally than lateron go in more detail.
* it might help to first write the story as if you were writing a book or perhaps better a short story.
* you could also take the complete opposite direction by first creating the gameplay and environments how you want it than make up a story for that.