The Eccentric House in New Hamburg, NY
For those who are always looking for someplace creepy to see we have the next best thing – the John Lawson House. Besides the fact that it was built in 1845 and the only one left standing still after a fire in 1877 there’s nothing else special about the building per se. What makes it weird and creepy is that the owners have never been seen and life-sized dolls dressed from head to toe occupy the porch.
The dolls change regularly and have been photographed wearing different clothing, makeup, jewelry, hairdos and body postures. Some of them have been photographed with books in their laps. The title of one of the books was: Pregnancy and Infant Hair Care – making the whole scene even more creepier.
Every little thing seems to be planned out and it’s obvious a lot of work is put into their appearance. Some people say the owners are trying to send out a message. What the message might be, that still remains to be figured out. The dolls mimic human behavior and are only seen during daylight, disappearing mysteriously as soon as the sun sets.
At night a light can be seen through the thick drapes covering the windows making you wonder what other secrets the residents might have. It’s only natural to be curious about certain things and one thing is clear, this house definitely draws attention.
Location:9A Main St., Wappingers Falls, New York, 12590, United States
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- John Lawson House, New Hamburg, New York, USA (private residence; no public visitor access)
- Access
- The John Lawson House is a private residence, not a public museum or attraction. National Register records identify the house in the Main Street Historic District; published reporting says the mannequins that made it famous were gone from the porch by 2016. No public tours or current visitor program were found. Do not enter or approach residents.
- Admission
- No public admission, ticket, or tour is offered in the sources reviewed. This private residence is not a free-entry attraction.
- Time needed
- No visit duration applies because the house is not open to visitors and the article-famous mannequins are no longer documented at the property.
- Best season
- No visitor season is published for this private residence; it is not a public attraction.
- Opening hours
- No public visiting hours or tour schedule are published. Do not treat the residential property as a visitor site.
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-16
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LOL the owners were fabulous it is indeed an unusual place but not a creepy one. They do set design for a theater company. Salt of the earth and sweet as pie. They’ve moved since but the mannequins were a lot of fun and always liked to see what was going to be displayed on the porch next.
why do you keep repeating wtf it said!? other people have eyes damn