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Submitted by: angel_in_hell      Last updated by: angel_in_hell       Last updated on : 10/31/2012    




The Janesville Doll House
N. Mott Street and First Street
Janesville, MN 56048 - USA


County: Waseca
GPS: -93.709019, -93.709019
WebSite: None

Location Description:     
 
Here`s an interesting one for you all. I have been familiar with this story since I was a child and I figured that I should share it with all of you. Also, it has been requested of me by a close friend to post it up. Enjoy!



For those of you that don`t know, In the small town of Janesville, MN, there is a house that has a doll hanging (or propped...whatever) in the window of the attic. Due to the strangeness of this, many rumors have spread around and curiosity of the like. The following will tell you about the many rumors and any other additional information that was found. (You may notice that some of these rumors blend together).

Rumors

1.) Some say the doll was placed in the window because the owner`s daughter had passed away because of a tragic accident. Some people say that the daughter was murdered in the home.


2.) There once was a single mother who lived in the home with her 9-year-old daughter. One night, the daughter was possessed by a demon. To rid herself of the evil entity, the daughter hung herself in the upstairs attic. The mother was so distraught about the tragic event that she put the doll up in a macabre memorial. The spirit of the daughter is said to haunt the home in this version of the story.


3.) The following version is spread amongst the region. This one does not include a demon but rather the horrible stigma that society can have. In this version, there was a young girl who was disowned by her parents by abuse and neglect. She was even rumored to be hated by the townsfolk and the other children. Due to the pressure of being alone, she hung herself in the attic. After realizing what they had done to their daughter, the parents put this doll in the upstairs attic window as a reminder to the people of Janesville to be friendly and neighborly.


4.) It is also said, in a very far fetched story, that a demon disguises itself as the doll in the window. It supposedly curses anyone who comes to look at him.


5.) A girl was neglected by her family and nobody in the town liked her. She apparently hung herself in her attic and nobody said anything for several days. After the body was removed, it was replaced by the doll and has been there ever since.


6.) The doll is supposedly watching over a large park. The home that the doll resides in is directly across from a large park. The legend says that there was a child abducted from the park many years ago and the residents of the home put the doll up either in memory of the child and to watch over the park or that the residents themselves were responsible for the abduction of the child.




Background Information


The truths behind the doll lie only with one man whose name is Ward Wendt. He lives in the house that holds the doll. He is in fact the one that placed the doll in the window back in 1976. He did it out of personal reasons and one day, his story will be told in his own words.

Wendt wrote a handwritten letter that was placed in a time capsule. The time capsule is a concrete child`s vault which was buried in the park across the street from the house that the doll sits in. The only problem about is that the capsule won`t be opened until 2176.

Police records do not indicate any tragic events such as a murder, or even a death, in that home. Ward states that the building has been in his family`s possession since the town was built and that nothing "exciting" has ever happened in the building. He also hopes that nothing ever does.

Other Information


The doll has done a lot of good to the town and has created a tourist trap for those traveling through Janesville. The town itself is pretty small and has nothing to attract people to it... other than this doll. Stories about the doll circulate amongst the students at the local college campus in Mankato and throughout the nearby high schools.

Ward Wendt (The owner of the home) is said to be an eccentric man who collects train memoribilia. This house is currently being lived in so PLEASE DO NOT knock on the door or bother the man that lives here!

Directions

Location: Janesville, Minnesota (Waseca County)
Directions: From Mankato: Take Hwy 14 E and continue for 15 miles. This will lead you into the town of Janesville. The house that holds the doll is across from the veterinary clinic.



Thanks to www.minnesotaghosts.com for the above information.
There are legit news articles on this house. If you find any or know how to get a hold of one, please post a comment with your knowledge.

*Update* Ward Wendt, owner of the home, has passed away. Here is a blog that explains a little more about Ward and the town of Janesville: http://tvfury.wordpress.com/2012/10/03/janesville-the-old-man-the-doll-in-the-window/ 



Who has been here:
angel_in_hell FerretPants jjr2009 joebird13

Comments on this location: 
Username: AnonymousVisiter Posted: 12/15/2007            
Comment: ahah ive seen the doll many many times. the story i heard was that a teenage girls mother wouldnt let her go to the prom and she was so mad at her mom that she hung herself, her mom was so sad about it so she put the doll inthe window in rememberance of the daughter

Username: angel_in_hell Posted: 12/16/2007            
Comment: I remember hearing a story about how this little girl was treated horribly by hear parents. They wouldn`t let her play outside or do anything, they just kept her locked in an attic all day long...Eventually the little girl died and the parents felt terrible about it so they put the doll in the windowto remember her by... almost as an apology to their child... There are lots of stories about this doll...

Username: angel_in_hell Posted: 12/31/2007            
Comment: I was on my way to Mankato tonight and since Janesville was along the way, I decided to take a small detour. Since I haven`t been by it for several years, I thought the side trip would be worth it. This little journey of mine was a spur of the moment type so I wasn`t prepared with an address of the home. I remembered vague details about where the home was located from when I last saw the house, so I knew where to look. The house is on one of the main roads in Janesville so you don`t need to worry about any small side streets. The overall shape of the home is very rectangular and is located on a corner. The front of the home is directly accross the street from veterinary clinic called South Central Vet. There is a park close by, however, I forget if the park is across the street from the side of the dollhouse or if it is accross the street next to the vet clinic. I do know that the doll does not appear to be looking over the park... Not from what I could see in the dark anyways. The doll is up in the attic window and appears to be a small white figure. I was going to take pictures, however, I did not have my camera on me. Hopefully some of the things that I mentioned will help others find this house.. Just remember, do NOT knock on the door. Some guy actually lives there... When I drove past the side of the home, there was a light on in back, which helps to prove the homes occupancy.

Username: AnonymousVisiter Posted: 4/19/2008            
Comment: I've been by this house several times, There were stories about daily dress(Clothing)changing on this doll, But really unsure about this !! This house(Kinda Pinkish/Orange in color)is located on the corner almost directly across the street(Hwy.14)from the park and the Vet Clinic.

Username: AnonymousVisiter Posted: 4/27/2008            
Comment: I actually made a short documentary called the Janesville Baby. I produced it for a student film festival and won first prize.

Username: angel_in_hell Posted: 4/27/2008            
Comment:

When I drove by a few months ago, the doll was in all white. Up above, You'll find pictures of the doll dressed in blue. The house is brownish tan in color... there are pictures of the doll upabove that shows the color of the house.

You made a documentary on the doll? Sounds very interesting! Congrats on taking first place. When did you make it?

Username: AnonymousVisiter Posted: 6/8/2008            
Comment: I remember that story i went by that house on my way to a native American pow wow if you want to chat with me go to www.youtube.com/himtress!

Username: angel_in_hell Posted: 7/16/2008            
Comment:

I was driving past Janesville today, so I decided to make a quick pit-stop. I took two pictures from behind my windshield in my car.... I was in a hurry and my camera isn't the best, so excuse the quality of the photo. Anyways, I took these from accross the street while being parked next to the vet clinic. I didn't get out of my car or anything and thats why I didn't take a lot of photos.

If your wondering, the street addresses that are provided up above are correct. However, I did not see a house number on the dollhouse. The home is very easy to find and it's located right on the corner if I haven't mentioned that already. I know I have said this many times before, but PLEASE be respectful and do not knock on the door of this home. This is a private residence and I'm sure the homeowners would appreciate it if you left him alone.

Username: joebird13 Posted: 10/25/2008            
Comment: I have been past this house many a time on the bus home from soccer games in Mankato.  the story i know is the one where the townspeople treated the girl of the home poorly, so she became depressed and hung herself. Her parents hanged her favorite doll in the window to show the people of Janesville what they had done to their little girl. The attic window has been lit every time i've been through at night.

Username: beerman247 Posted: 11/12/2008            
Comment: yeah, I live in J-town. I know the guy who owns the house, would say his name but dont want to. he bought my moped like 8 years ago. and never rode it?? dont know why. i don't know what else to say besides the guy drives super slow...and i watched a tractor actually pass him outside of town about a year ago. pretty funny. and yeah, dont go messin the homeowners place he's old and from what i remember was very nice, people do stop and look at it from time to time tho.

Username: AnonymousVisiter Posted: 12/2/2008            
Comment: Why not stop by his house? The doll is an obvious cry for attention. Only in the ridiculously reserved state of Minnesota could someone do something like that and not ever be asked about it for 30 years. Not that it's a crime to have a doll, but it's kind of freaky. Neighbors have the right to ask him to take it down. It's not illegal or immoral to knock on someone's door and ask him a question. In the place where I live, if someone didn't want people knocking on the door, they wouldn't have something like that on a main state highway.

Username: AnonymousVisiter Posted: 12/4/2008            
Comment: my friend and I were in janesville tonight and the window is not clearly visible. in fact we did not even see the doll and looked for quite some time, we're not sure if its because the window was fogged over or what. the light was also not on either. the freakiest part was that we read about others seeing just the one back light on and that was the only light on tonight as well...

Username: AnonymousVisiter Posted: 12/24/2008            
Comment: tht doll is creepy! i live in this little white house across from it n i hate seeing it wen i walk to school...if u look at it while your walking, its eyes will fallow you. if u dnt believe it, try it. by the way my names nyomi.

Username: AnonymousVisiter Posted: 1/10/2009            
Comment: Check out "The Janesville Baby" on youtube! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPxHLY1XAJo

Username: AnonymousVisiter Posted: 3/15/2009            
Comment: My mother and most of her family used or still live in Mankato, so they pass the main street of Janesville all the time. My mom used to talk about the doll all the time, and how much it scared her as a child. When we went to visit my aunt when I was fifteen, I got my first glimpse of the doll. It's not very scary in the pictures, but if it makes eye contact with you in person, like it did me, you'll feel a chill. It's much scarier in person.

Username: AnonymousVisiter Posted: 4/10/2009            
Comment: During high school, my track team would drive past this house every year on our way to Mankato for a meet. It was always one of the most anticipated meets of the year, because everyone wanted to see the doll in Janesville! And everybody always screamed whenever we drove past it.

Username: AnonymousVisiter Posted: 7/29/2009            
Comment: This doll was not put in the window in 1976, it was there way before that cause my dad grew up in Janesvile and his dad told him the story about this doll haging in the window so somone doesn't know what they are talking about... My dad was born in 1950 and he remembers seeing the doll in the window, and my grandpa was born in 1901 and he told his kids about it so it has been there longer than what people are saying.. Also why are you guys waiting so long to open this time capsule nobody will be alive to know what happened in this house or what is in the time capsule....

Username: angel_in_hell Posted: 7/29/2009            
Comment: Thank you for sharing your knowledge about the Dollhouse. I have to agree that it's a little silly to wait an extended amount of time just to open the time capsule. I suppose it adds to the creepiness of the situation. Personally, I don't think it will affect future generations like it does to the present but I suppose that is something we will see in the future.

As far as I can recall, the doll has been in the window for my entire life but I'm sure I'm younger than your dad and grandpa. Perhaps you could ask your dad and grandpa to share their experiences on the Strangeusa website.

Username: AnonymousVisiter Posted: 8/22/2009            
Comment: iam originally from carolina...but when i moved here ,it was one of the first stories i heard always around halloween.and my friends mom is in here late 60s, and she said it has been there longer then 1976....the story she heard when growing up was...alittle girl was sick and her mom took her to the local doc...and he said nothing was wrong with the girl the mom pleaded with the doc to do something , but he didnt...the litttle girl dies, so the mother placed the doll in the window as a reminder..to the doc who drove by there place everyday...of what he did!

Username: AnonymousVisiter Posted: 10/8/2010            
Comment: I have personally spoken to Mr.Wendt on many occasions and talked about this Doll in his attic.He would not volunteer any information to me about the reasoning for having the doll in the attic.All he had said to me was one day everyone would know why it is there.

Username: AnonymousVisiter Posted: 6/18/2011            
Comment: I have heard stories from many people most people have had different opinions but in my opinion the doll has been there before 1976 some people actually agree these r just my opinions but what ever u do don't knock on that man's door occasionally the time capsule I think will be opened at 2176 but there's two problems if we open it will it do bad things and curse people who helped second we do.t know exactly where it was buried. Some say in his yard and some say the the park next to his house but don't disrupt him.

Username: AnonymousVisiter Posted: 3/14/2012            
Comment: I am a native from Janesville. i have gone to school here and lived around here my whole life. i have had the pleasure of working with  Mr.Wendt. He is such a interesting man if ya give him a chance.  its all a bit funny that so many things have been told because he has given tours of his house to groups such as the boy scouts. Back in his years he had a wonderful wife and did flowers for wedding and stuff. I wish everyone could meet him. please lets say good things about this man. we are all different in our ways. and its a doll, not a camera with moving eyes...

  

    
 



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