its not appropriate to say energy is just energy. although that may be very true on deep level, it isn't true in the world in which we have to function. this is an old contention, but we have to function on both sides of this fence.
so within the world of a 'sensitive', the differences in energy are what it is all about. some types are simply best left alone, and others have an attractive and immediately recognisable beneficial vibe. But there is much in between.
you don't sound sure what this energy is, but i get the feeling it is not 'dread'. still there could have been some nasty events there, yet the landscape suggests a more complex energetic scene.
first, you should know that the chance of the spirits of deceased people hanging around anywhere for long periods is very unlikely. some say impossible unless you are dealing with those skilled in surviving 'between the worlds' - a bit of gruesome business. Still I am inclined to think some spirits can linger long, esp where the emotion at death was extreme - even so there are limits.
What can linger is what I call the etheric effect in the land. And through tuning into this etheric residue, you can access the spirits and people and events through the quirks of time on the astral.
There is no reason to expect this girl is connected with the old house, but you never know.
I get the feeling you are asking should you go and do a pooja there, to contact what is still energetic. You may not be a novice at being alone in the woods, but you are not sure you have the skills to handle what you may find on a psychic level. Then you ask about taking your daughter along.
Yes, good questions. If it were undeniably bad, I'd say forget it. But if it is powerful and mysterious, I fully understand your curiosity - I would feel the same. This type of adventure I would not recommend to anyone without some experience and skills in this area. I want to state that clearly, lest others think they can waltz willy-nilly into places of power.
I would not take your daughter, definitely. Until you had first made some initial exploration of this place's astral landscape. If it were me, I would go with astral intent - such places know about that. And i would begin by camping the night at the edge of its energetic field. This is only polite, but also a way to sense the nature of what you are getting into.
Then, during the day, I would also explore the place looking for the energetic hub. This is a technique of seeking the most obvious point of intensity. I can't easily explain that - you either have skills at this or not, although it should be practiced. During this episode, you will or will not, get a 'grip' on the energy of the place - hard to explain, but it is like passing through a threshold, a veil, past which you 'know' the energy of the place. Not know everything, just a sense of being allowed in, having the keys, being accepted.
After that you could camp in the main area, although I'm not sure I would, and I'm not sure why you want to. You have to make a distinction between powerful places with knowledge, and those which have become powerful through the intense actions of humans, without true knowledge behind it. There is a difference between investigating the margins, and also locating the hub point; and diving in fully - I only dive in fully to energetic spaces I see as highly sympathetic with my deeper astral nature. If you have such a connection, esp as you live near, then that is a different matter. I always make myself fully acquainted with the powerful energies in the vicinity of my living area. Some I do leave for many years, but I don't forget they are pending.
As for your daughter. I understand you wish to introduce her to a few things, plus explore this connection. Yes, I can see how you would like her to accompany you on a pooja in these woods - that would be good, but I would make the connection myself first, which you may already have done. I guess I am saying, I would not drop her in the deep end, by taking her into the centre of such a place, without first being thoroughly familiar with the energies there, and having them enlisted in my intentions for her. With young psychic people, a little can go a long way.
I can't see the connection between the Native Americans and this homeplace. This is another area - not sufficient room to go into it here, but only whities build houses, native people are connected with the power in the land itself, not old ruins of homeplaces. Unless you feel this thing is different.
I make this distinction, because it is significant. White Euro races build 'above' the land and invested huge emotional energies into their supra-structural world. native people aligned themselves with the power already inherent in landscape itself, and added their potency along those alignments. Native people were not into 'history'. To access their world, we go to places of power that have that power due to ancient land forming energies - they are the 'old' spirits of the land. The 'new' spirits of the land come from the Europeans who built their power places through obsessions out of their own minds, with almost no regard to the underlying power structures - in fact, in distinct defiance to them.
In Australia I heard on the news this morning, some aboriginal people talking about development in connection to a sacred pond - they said a strange thing, that they didn't know if the Rainbow Serpent still lived there. Times have changed, and perhaps it had left. But that if it hadn't, then sickness would result from the development.
This is curious, that one of the 'old' spirits should vacate their ancient power homes. I understand how that happens, and have seen it happen. It is up to us to visit and do the ceremonies to keep the Old Ones healthy - for when they leave, we have nothing. I'd take your daughter to that type of power place.