In a rural Alabama cemetery, a distinctive grave stands in the form of a large dollhouse, serving as a lasting tribute to a young girl named Nadine Earles, who tragically passed away just before her fifth birthday. In 1933, Nadine, who lived in the small town of Lanett, had wished for a dollhouse to play with her toys, but she sadly died from diphtheria on December 18, just days before Christmas.
Though Nadine never received her dollhouse that holiday, her father, Julian Earles, decided to honor her in a unique way. Instead of a wooden toy, he built a brick dollhouse with real windows and a door, a project that took him 18 months to complete.
On what would have been Nadine’s fifth birthday, April 3, 1934, family and friends gathered at the dollhouse to celebrate her life, bringing cake and ice cream. Inside the dollhouse are Nadine’s personal items, including a pram, tricycle, toys, and a high chair, all surrounding her burial site and headstone, which is adorned with dolls.
Julian cared for his daughter’s grave until his death in 1976, after which Nadine’s mother, Alma, took over until her passing in 1981. The city council of Lanett has since maintained the grave, now considered a local historical landmark. Each year, locals place gifts at the site during Christmas, and donations are left in the mailbox as a tribute to Nadine.
A photograph of Nadine’s family and friends gathered at the completed dollhouse on her would-be fifth birthday still resides inside. The grave has recently gained attention on TikTok, with many sharing comments of support for the Earles family.