Friday, August 16, 2013

"Doll House"











"Doll House"

When I visited Bell Island last week I asked a man where I could find a house with dolls nailed to the siding.  He said that the "Doll House" was torn down around 15 years ago.  Since I had photographed it during a visit in 1993, I decided to find the slides, scan them and share the images with you.

When I look at the images today, I feel the same as I did then - it is very weird to look at a house which has dolls and other toys nailed into it.  As well, all windows had dolls hanging in them and even the outhouse is decorated.  As you can see, many of the dolls are painted red.  There was no one around at the time so I didn't get a chance to talk to the owner to find out more about why the house was decorated that way.


I am interested in your reaction to the photos of this house.

Feel free to share today's photos with family and friends

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4 comments:

Geoff Younghusband said...

Wow! My wife Alison took many, almost identical, slides of the "Doll House" about a year or 2 before it was torn down too. Spectacular and creepy, we have always remembered and loved that place. Renee Pilgrim also made a short film of it.

N. Phillips said...

Well, I'll be discreet & tactful and say that this property, known as "The Doll House" is quite different, unique & definitely a conversation starter! But, yes, I'd have to agree with feeling "creeped out" as well.

N. Phillips

Anonymous said...

Greetings Mr. lane,
I would like to compliment you on the many beautiful photos that you have taken of various places in Nl. I would like to share some information with you regarding photos of the Doll House. There was a time when this little home was very pristine & well looked after by my great aunt,Mary Snow.The house was built in the 1800's by her father, Ernest Snow. Aunt Mary was born in this house in 1901.My father was born there in 1923. I was born there in 1945 & my brother was born there in 1951.My Aunt Mary's health started to decline in the 70's so she came to live with my parents here in Brampton until her passing shortly after. The house was sold to a gentleman named Bernard Hynes, who started decorating the house with these sinister looking dolls. He totally changed the look of the entire house both inside & out. It looked so shocking that many of the surrounding neighbors put up high fences so that they would not have to look at such an eye-sore. No one knows why these grotesque hanging dolls were painted red. I do know that the surrounding neighbors were extremely happy to see the Doll House demolished. Now you have a little of the history regarding the Doll House photos . Yours Respectfully,
Marilyn( Snow) Preklet

K. Bruce Lane - Photo of the Day said...

Thanks so much for giving me the history of the Doll House. I can understand that you have warm memories of that place and how it must make you feel. I can understand how the neighbours must have felt as well. Sorry, I didn't answer this more promptly.

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