**Oakhaven, MA –** Authorities are investigating a bizarre discovery made earlier this afternoon by local resident Nancy, who stumbled upon a collection of unsettling dolls during renovations to her historic Oakhaven home. The find has sparked immediate concern within the community and raised questions about the property’s – and potentially the family’s – history.

According to reports, Nancy, a self-described “enthusiastic amateur historian,” was undertaking minor structural repairs to the basement of her sprawling Victorian home, a property she recently purchased. While working to reinforce a section of wall, she accidentally uncovered a concealed doorway leading to a small, windowless basement. Inside, she found an extensive collection of antique dolls, many of which were posed in disturbingly realistic positions and appeared to be meticulously maintained.

“It was… unsettling,” Nancy recounted to local police. “They weren’t just sitting there. They were *facing* me. And some of them… they looked like they were smiling. Not a friendly smile, you understand? More like… a knowing smile.”

The dolls, estimated to be from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, bear striking similarities to those featured in a local legend – the tale of the “Oakhaven Collector,” a shadowy figure said to have disappeared in the 1920s after amassing a similar collection. Sheriff Brody confirmed that the Oakhaven Police Department is currently reviewing historical records and interviewing long-time residents in an attempt to shed light on the Collector’s identity and the origins of the dolls.

“We’re treating this as a serious investigation,” Sheriff Brody stated during a press conference. “While there’s no immediate evidence of criminal activity, the nature of this discovery is undeniably concerning. We’ve secured the basement and are working to determine if any of the dolls pose a potential threat.”

Adding to the mystery, neighbor Thomas Bellweather, who lives across the street, reported hearing unusual noises emanating from the property in the weeks leading up to the discovery. “I thought it was just the house settling,” Bellweather said. “But now… now I’m not so sure. It sounded like… whispering.”

The Oakhaven Historical Society has been contacted and is preparing to examine the dolls for clues about their provenance. For now, the discovery has cast a dark shadow over the quiet community of Oakhaven, leaving residents wondering about the secrets hidden beneath their familiar streets.