Did you know . . . . ?

Massachusetts has several State ANIMALS. The State Cat is the Tabby Cat. The State Dog is the Boston Terrier. The Morgan Horse is the State Horse.  Lizzie had three Boston Bull terriers and would approve!

. Baked Navy Bean is the State Bean and Cranberry is the State Berry. Cranberry Juice is the State Beverage, and there is a Cranberry Festival at Plymouth. Chocolate Chip Cookies were invented in Massachusetts and it is the State Cookie. Boston Cream Pie is the State Dessert. The State Muffin is Corn Muffin. The Fig Newton was named after Newton, Massachusetts.  Naturally the COD is the state fish.

What does Massachusetts mean?  In a local Native American dialect- “a large or great hill place”

Well, Lizzie would get the importance of “The Hill” part of it!

Click here to hear the state song,  Ode to Massachusetts http://www.sec.state.ma.us/cis/cissng/sngidx.htm

 For more trivia about the great old Commonwealth visit http://www.geocities.com/statesaz2/Massachusetts.html and dazzle your guests at the next dinner party!

 Much has been made over the years about the effects of the full moon on crime rates and odd behavior in the animal world.  Below are the moon phases (courtesy of NASA archives) for the time before , during and after August 4th, 1892.  On August 3rd, coming home after 9 p.m. from Alice Russell’s house on Borden Street, Lizzie would have been returning under a waxing moon, nearly full.  Some may make a case for the effects of the moon on the criminal mind!

 New Moon         First Quarter      Full Moon         Last Quarter

Jul 23  23:31     Jul 31  19:45     Aug  8  11:57     Aug 15  06:37   

Ever since  Josephine McGinn allowed Agnes de Mille to tour Second Street as inspiration for her famous Lizzie-themed ballet, a few big -name entertainers and celebrities have stopped in to call on Miss Lizzie.  Actress Patricia Neal, Mickey Rooney (who would not enter the house), Heather Locklear, Motley Crue’s Rick Zambora and the heavy metal guitarist from the band Lizzy Borden to name a few.  The Borden case has found interest on the part of many in tinsel town, and rumors of a big screen production are always making the rounds.

Last evening, celebrated film critic, Rex Reed spent the night at #92 and enjoyed plenty of animated conversation with guests and host about the case.  After touring the house, cemetery and Lizzie sites around town, naturally the question was asked about casting for a Borden case feature film.  The veteran entertainment columnist and critic thought a few moments and decided Sam Waterston would be his pick for Andrew Borden.

    Kathy Bates as Abby met with approval, and although Kate Winslet as Lizzie “could get the job done”, maybe a total unknown would be a better way to go and “easier on the budget”!

Visitors to the old house enjoyed watching the Elizabeth Montgomery Lizzie movie with Mr. Reed in the parlor, and all were loathe to finally go to bed at 3 a.m. 

 Asked about Lizzie’s guilt or innocence, the critic with the rapier-sharp writing style, and  who has a fascination with the psychology of true crime figures, wholeheartedly pronounced her “Guilty!” Good thing he was not on the jury! 

Alan Donnes, Rex Reed and Shelley Dziedzic “On that sofa”