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Lova Frances Cline (September 5, 1902 – October 18, 1908) was an American child. Her grave is marked by a life sized dollhouse.
Lova Frances Cline | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 5, 1902 Connersville, Indiana, US |
| Died | October 18, 1908 (aged 6) |
Burial place | Arlington East Hill Cemetery |
| Known for | Dollhouse grave memorial |
Life
editLegacy
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Upon her death, George and C.C. Cline, Lova's father and grandfather, commissioned a dollhouse to be built as a memorial at her grave. The dollhouse was originally about five feet tall, included carpet, and a bay window with a stained glass memorial. Lova's childhood toys were placed inside it. The cost to build the dollhouse in 1909 was more than $40.[3]
The dollhouse remains standing today, though it has been repaired and remodeled multiple times throughout the years.[4] The dollhouse became a local legend, being regularly featured in local newspapers and later online articles.[5] Some storytellers speculate the dollhouse is haunted[6] while other perpetuate the narrative that the dollhouse was Lova's childhood toy.[7] They mention the dollhouse does not have windows because Lova could only look at it from her sickbed, not play with it.[8] This story is likely untrue given the 1909 newspaper article[3] detailing the commission of the dollhouse after Lova's death.
The dollhouse has also been subjected to multiple acts of vandalism since its creation.[4]
Lova's dollhouse is one of the three Indiana dollhouse grave markers. Only two still exist.
References
edit- ↑ Adams, Joe (October 30, 1949). "Neat Dollhouse Nestled On Cemetery Plot Perpetuates Memory Of Doomed Child". The Indianapolis Star. p. 5.
- ↑ Gist, Elizabeth (October 28, 2006). "Haunted Rush County, Part IV". Rushville Republican. p. 1.
- 1 2 "Play House On Child's Grave". The Daily Republican. May 29, 1909. p. 1.
- 1 2 Hewitt, Sheila (May 2015). "A Dad's Love for an Invalid Child" (PDF). Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ↑ Melissa (2023-10-09). "The Heartbreaking Stories Behind the Two Dollhouses That Stand In Indiana Cemeteries". 99.5 WKDQ. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
- ↑ "Lova's Dollhouse Grave, Rushville, Indiana". RoadsideAmerica.com. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
- ↑ Galentine, Beckie-Ann (2026-05-20). "Lova Cline's Dollhouse Grave". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
- ↑ "Explorer finds 120-year-old dollhouse carpenter-dad built for disabled daughter — and is deeply moved". Upworthy. 2025-06-25. Retrieved 2026-05-21.