Category Archives: Borden House Interiors

Tatyana’s Graphic Design

30 Monday Jan 2012

Posted by in "Lizbits", Borden Family, Borden House Interiors, Borden Spaces and Places, Crime Scene, Just Plain Lizzie, Lizpix, Potpourri, Strange Lizzies

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Tatyana Jula, a Philadelphia graphic designer and illustrator made a visit to the Borden house in October, opting for the day tour, but not quite brave enough to spend the night. She has captured her unique vision of Miss Lizzie as a hospitable  ”innkeeper” of a bed and breakfast, a mix of gracious charm with wicked intent! (images used with permission)

To see how these designs were created step by step, and to order a poster visit these links http://tatyanahjula.com/post-itsngs/lizzie-borden-bed-breakfast/ To order on paper or canvas http://society6.com/tatjula/Lizzie-Borden-Bed-amp-Breakfast_Print

Visit Tatyana’s web site for more travel posters, postcard and travel art. http://tatyanahjula.com/

The Dead Files visits #92

11 Wednesday Jan 2012

Posted by in "Lizbits", Borden House Interiors, Borden Spaces and Places, Crime Scene, Fall River, Potpourri, Second Street Happenings, Spooky Lizzie's - Paranormal Second Street, Strange Lizzies, Video Lizzie

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Popular Travel Channel program, The Dead Files, will be making a visit to the Borden house.  Ghosthunters and psychics are nothing new at #92 but this show has a different slant.  According to the channel web site -

“On The Dead Files, physical medium Amy Allan and retired NYPD homicide detective Steve Di Schiavi, combine their unique and often conflicting skills to solve unexplained paranormal phenomena in haunted locations across America.” 

Ms. Allan, will “go into the house cold” and form impressions and hopefully channel information about what happened in 1892.  It is up to NYPD detective Di Schiavi to investigate actual factual data to support her findings. Air date for this program has not been released, but it will be posted here when the time has been set. To learn more about the investigation team visit http://www.travelchannel.com/tv-shows/the-dead-files/articles/meet-amy-and-steve

A Red Letter Day in Fall River

20 Sunday Nov 2011

Posted by in "Lizbits", "Lizzie Folks", After the Trial, August 4th, Borden Family, Borden House Interiors, Borden Spaces and Places, Case Personalities, Fall River, Fall River families, Fall River Historical Society, Fall River Now and Then, Famous Massachusetts Cases, Famous Victorians, In the Marketplace, In the News, Just Plain Lizzie, Lectures & Exhibits, Lizpix, Lizzie Borden in the Marketplace, Lizzie in Print, Maplecroft, Mills, Parallel Lives, Potpourri, Read All ABout It, Stop the Press, Victoriana

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Christmas came early this year for those who enjoy Fall River history and have an interest in the Borden case and the enigmatic Miss Lizzie.  Parallel Lives was released this morning to the public. By 11: 30 a.m. a long line snaked its way down the pavement toward Maple Street and there was a feeling of restless expectation in the air as the noon hour approached. .  A man came around the corner bearing two copies of the coveted tome as heads swiveled to catch a glimpse.  A spontaneous outburst of appreciation went up from the crowd followed by many comments as to the  SIZE of the massive tome.

No preview copies were released for reviewing to anyone, so it was with enormous excitement today’s release was anticipated.  Beginning on Friday, the benefactors of the publication enjoyed a special gathering, followed by Saturday night’s annual Christmas Open House for members, and capping off an extraordinary weekend with today’s public release of the book, viewing of a special exhibit of materials featured in the book (cards, letters, gifts Lizzie presented to friends, etc.) and a tour of the Christmas decorations, always an annual treat.

The authors held court in the front parlor at a beautifully decorated table with a red rose Christmas arrangement, signing autographs and having photographs taken with visitors.  On the lawn, on the stairs, and anywhere one could sit, people clutched their volume, looking eagerly through the pages. From all corners came appreciative little shrieks of excitement as never-before-seen photos were discovered, especially those showing Lizzie herself. Even those who vowed not to ruin the surprise until they could sit at leisure soon gave way to overwhelming curiosity and were soon leafing furiously through the pages. Some had driven hours to pick up their copies.

It would be presumptuous to attempt any sort of review of this major work until the whole was digested, therefore the Warps & Wefts review will be forthcoming in the near future.  Suffice it to say, Parallel Lives is as plummy a Christmas pudding as anyone could ever wish for, chock full of juicy morsels, delicious facts and photos, fascinating history, surprises and many hours of enthralled reading.  To reveal too much would be to ruin your own Christmas surprise- so-

Just spring to your sleigh, to your team give a whistle,

To Rock Street fly like the down of a thistle.

Parallel Lives is the gift sure to please, so take heed,

Happy holidays to all, and to all a good read!

Paranormal Week at Lizzie’s August 21-30

30 Tuesday Aug 2011

Posted by in "Lizbits", "Lizzie Folks", Borden Family, Borden House Interiors, Fall River, On Screen, Second Street Happenings, Spooky Lizzie's - Paranormal Second Street, Travel Channel

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“Abby & Lizzie” on the sofa during the filming for Ghost Adventures

The spirits were restless last week at the Borden house!  My Ghost Story crew checked in on Sunday the 21st. This is a program featured on the Biography Channel. http://myghoststory.com/ Monday- Thursday morning, the well-known crew from Ghost Adventures were in residence with equipment for their “lock down”.  Fans of  host,  Zack,  knocked on the door of #92 and looked longingly through the windows hoping for a glimpse of the handsome host.  Word has it that some interesting EVPs were captured by the team.  This weekend, as hurricane Irene blasted the Northeast, Jeff Belanger, lecturer and author of paranormal books camped out for the weekend.  http://www.jeffbelanger.com/ All in all, the old house on Second Street had an exciting time of it and weathered the hurricane without  incident.  Air dates for these programs featuring the Borden house have yet to be announced.

 

Bad news day

11 Thursday Aug 2011

Posted by in "Lizbits", "Lizzie Folks", August 4th, Borden Family, Borden House Interiors, Famous Massachusetts Cases, If Walls Could Talk, In the News, Just Plain Lizzie, Lizpix, Newspaper Coverage, Pear Essential Players, Read All ABout It, Second Street Happenings, Victorian True Crime, Victoriana, Violent Victorians

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The front page of the Fall River Herald for August 4th featured a large colored photo of Kathleen Troost-Cramer and Barbara Morrissey as Lizzie and Emma Borden on the day of the infamous murders re-enacting the news about the killing of their father and stepmother.  The front page also featured a headline of the Dow down to the lowest point since 2008 and news of bacteria levels in the Taunton River. At least one of the stories was old news from 1892.

 

Ray Mitchell as city marshal Rufus Hilliard.  Story by Deborah Allard.

Congratulations to the Cast of 2011

07 Sunday Aug 2011

Posted by in "Lizzie Folks", August 4th, Borden House Interiors, Case Personalities, Fall River, Murder Most Foul, On stage, Pear Essential Players, Potpourri, Second Street Happenings

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The Cast for 2011
Lizzie Borden: Kathleen Troost-Cramer

Detective Seaver: Ben Rose
Abby Borden: Shelley Dziedzic (flat on the floor)
Andrew Borden: Nicole (under the sheet)
Bridget Sullivan Suzanne Rogers
Emma Borden: Barbara Morrissey
Addie Churchill: JoAnne Giovino
Alice Russell: Kristin Pepe
Uncle John: Joe Radza
Dr. Dolan: Michael Shogi

Undertaker Winward  Richard Marr-Griffin
Miss Manning from the Herald: Christina Lambertson
Internationally acclaimed world reporter, Nellie Bly- Katrina Shogi
Marshall Hilliard; Ray Mitchell
Mrs. Dr. Bowen: Ellen Borden

Taking a Whack at Lizzie

11 Monday Jul 2011

Posted by in "Lizbits", "Lizzie Folks", August 4th, Borden Family, Borden House Interiors, Borden Spaces and Places, Case Personalities, Fall River, Famous Massachusetts Cases, Famous Victorians, Hatchets and Axes, Just Plain Lizzie, Murder Most Foul, On stage, Pear Essential Players, Potpourri, Second Street Happenings, Things to Do

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This year the August 4th production at the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast will debut a new leading lady.  She is no stranger to the part.  The photos here are taken from an episode filmed last summer for the Travel Channel.  Kathleen Troost-Cramer, day manager at the famous B&B in Fall River, may be remembered for performances in years past as Irish maid, Bridget Sullivan.  This year, having gotten in a few practice whacks with a hatchet, Kathleen is ready to take on the legendary Lizzie Borden, probably the most difficult role of the lot as expectations are so varied and anticipated by the sold-out crowd which assembles every year on the 4th to re-live the Borden tale of mystery.

Mild-mannered mother of two, and Bible scholar, this role is quite a stretch, but anyone who has been “under the hatchet”to Kathleen can testify- she means business!

Congratulations and “break-a-leg” to Kathleen as we wait to see her unique spin on the unforgettable Lizzie Borden!

First performance on August 4th at 10:30 a.m., last performance at 3:30 p.m.

She’s Back for August!

28 Tuesday Jun 2011

Posted by in "Lizbits", "Lizzie Folks", August 4th, Borden Family, Borden House Interiors, Borden Spaces and Places, Fall River, Fall River Historical Society, Famous Massachusetts Cases, Famous Victorians, In the News, Just Plain Lizzie, Lizzie Borden & the Arts, On stage, Pear Essential Players, Potpourri, Second Street Happenings, Things to Do

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In addition to anticipating the upcoming release of the historical society’s Parallel Lives, August will welcome a new play about the famous case.  The Herald News reports:

A new play, “Lizzie Borden Took an Axe,” depicting the well known Lizzie Borden case will be staged in Fall River for the 119th anniversary of the hatchet murders of Andrew and Abby Borden.

There will be two performances on Aug. 5 and 6 at the Nagle Auditorium at B.M.C. Durfee High School by the Covey Theatre Company of Syracuse, N.Y.
Fresh from winning two Syracuse Area Live Theatre awards for Best Original Play and Best Costumes, as well as the Gloria Peter Playwright competition from Aurora, NY, “Lizzie Borden Took an Axe” left critics enthralled and Bordenophiles raving.

“Lizzie Borden Took an Axe” will be staged Friday and Saturday, Aug. 5 and 6 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by calling 315-420-3729 or online at”  www.thecoveytheatrecompany.com.

Read more: http://www.heraldnews.com/archive/x2108614302/-Lizzie-Borden-Took-an-Axe-to-be-staged-at-Durfee-High-School#ixzz1QatgYTzn 

The annual costumed recreation of August 4th will take place as usual at the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast on the 4th, which this year, will be a Thursday, just as it was in 1892.

Plenty of Lizzie on the way for August!

Today Show visit aired this morning on NBC

16 Saturday Apr 2011

Posted by in "Lizbits", "Lizzie Folks", Borden Family, Borden House Interiors, Borden Spaces and Places, Case Personalities, Crime Scene, Fall River, Just Plain Lizzie, Legend of Lizzie Borden, Museums & Exhibits, Parallel Lives, Second Street Happenings, Second Street Irregulars, Spooky Lizzie's - Paranormal Second Street, Stop the Press, Video Lizzie

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Guests and employees  at the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast enjoyed watching the TODAY show feature this morning in the parlor.  Already the online clip has had nearly 500 comments and the phones are briskly ringing on Second Street.  The interest in the Borden case?- Keen as ever.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/42612544/ns/today-books/from/toolbar

Today Show visits Second Street

07 Thursday Apr 2011

Posted by in "Lizbits", "Lizzie Folks", Borden Family, Borden House Interiors, Borden Spaces and Places, Borden-related gravesites, Crime Scene, Fall River, Fall River Historical Society, Just Plain Lizzie, Lizzie T.V., Potpourri, Second Street Happenings

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The Borden house is hosting guests from the TODAY show this afternoon.  The filming, which was to have taken place last Wednesday, was postponed until today.  The segment is slated to air sometime in May.  The crew will be filming at the house, with an interview by Barbara Borden Morrissey and will then relocate to the Fall River Historical Society to film case artifacts and to discuss the upcoming Parallel Lives.  The crew picked a beautiful day to be in the city, with high temps and plenty of sunshine.

MSNBC and NBC reporter Amy Robach is shooting the feature.

Reunion of the Second Street Irregulars

04 Monday Apr 2011

Posted by in "Lizbits", "Lizzie Folks", Borden House Interiors, Fall River, Mutton Eaters Online, Pear Essential Players, Potpourri, Second Street Happenings, Second Street Irregulars

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The annual banquet for the Second Street Irregulars was held at the Quequechan Club Saturday evening. This year, among the awards given, the first Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to long-time Borden case historian, Ed Thibault of Somerset, Massachusetts.  The original Irregulars joined Ed and his wife Eleanor at the head of the table.  Barbara MacDonald, Deborah Shannon Valentine, Shelley Dziedzic, and Leonard Rebello enjoyed getting the old gang together once more.  Ken Souza was unable to be contacted to round out the original six members. 

 Ed Thibault traces his interest in the Borden case to the age of 14, and has researched and shared his discoveries for many years with local civic groups, schools and visitors to the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast where he and his wife Eleanor have worked for many years.  Congratulations- and thanks, Eddie!

Ed “assumes the position” one  more time back at the Second St. house.

The Buzz is Global on HBO project

18 Friday Mar 2011

Posted by in "Lizbits", "Lizzie Folks", Borden Family, Borden House Interiors, Borden Spaces and Places, Fall River, Fall River Historical Society, Famous Massachusetts Cases, In the News, Just Plain Lizzie, Legend of Lizzie Borden, Lizzie T.V., Potpourri, Read All ABout It, Second Street Happenings

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Chances are if you Goggle Lizzie Borden under the “News” heading, you will find several pages of stories on the Chloe Sevigny HBO project for a four hour mini-series, including stories in Polish, French, Russian and Italian!  And if you live in Connecticut, Rhode Island or Massachusetts, tonight at 6 p.m., Channel 10 news jumped on the promotion band wagon.  With all of the very positive buzz and excitement, it is hard to believe Tom Hanks and Playtone would change their mind about producing the four -hour series.  To view the Channel 10 clip, http://www2.turnto10.com/entertainment/2011/mar/17/sevigny-may-play-lizzie-borden-miniseries-ar-426649/

The casting of Miss Sevigny as Lizzie is spot-on.  She has all the right physical attributes, right down to the mesmerizing and unsettling eyes, and is of the right age to pull it off.  She is also a better-than-good actress.  It will be very interesting to see who will be cast in the major roles.   Maybe Uncle John Morse will be included this time around.

 Due to street noise and the encroachment of modern living, and many other factors, the house on Second Street will not be a likely candidate for the  filming venue.  The 1975 Elizabeth Montgomery attempt did a pretty fair job of recreating Borden house interiors on stage sets. 

There are very high hopes in Fall River, among the Borden house bed and breakfast employees, and students of the Borden case and Fall River history that this version will get the facts right and do the story justice.  Playtone and Hanks are synonymous with quality productions, so the end result holds very great promise.  It is surprising that it has taken so long to revisit the case and Lizzie Borden as the topic has been building momentum and interest since the Borden house opened for business in 1996.

The buzz about the upcoming  Fall River Historical Society’s Parallel Lives, detailing Lizzie’s life and Fall River has been the hot topic around Fall River for many months as it promises revelations about Miss Borden which will open a few eyes.  The date of publication has not yet been announced but the long-awaited tome is in final proofing and chances are  it will be published by late Spring.  The nearly thousand -page volume will feature over 500 photographs, including some new views of Lizzie herself, and will disspell some commonly -held notions about her. It will be a must-read for Miss Sevigny and should have some major impact on her characterization of the enigmatic Lizzie. The series will probably have an early 2012 air date according to some sources.

 In any event, Lizzie is bigger now than ever, and the upcoming series will be a boon to the city as well as book sales of Parallel Lives.  It will be a very exciting year ahead.

http://screenrant.com/hbo-chloe-sevigny-lizzie-borden-miniseries-yman-106311/

Oddity in the Borden Kitchen

07 Monday Mar 2011

Posted by in Borden House Interiors, Crime Scene, Hatchets and Axes, Second Street Happenings, Spooky Lizzie's - Paranormal Second Street, Strange Lizzies

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Many visitors at the Borden house are delighted to capture video and photos of peculiar phenomena while on tour or spending the night. In the photo above, it is clear that the glass door knob and brass lock above it are merely smears, perhaps from motion of the camera while the picture is being taken.  Even the round “orb” at the top center might be explained as dust or moisture.  What is very odd, however, is the appearance of a wooden handle which seems to appear springing from  the middle of the door.  Do you see anything peculiar in this photo which was taken August 4, 2010? Maybe the missing hatchet handle is making an appearance at last!

 

Patricia Neal in Fall River

16 Sunday Jan 2011

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  One of the first big celebrities to visit the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast was Academy Award winning actress, Patricia Neal.  Born Patsy Louise Neal in Kentucky, the sweet-faced lady with the velvet voice would have an adventurous life filled with triumphs and personal tragedies.

This past week a popular old movie channel has been featuring The Day the Earth Stood Still, a film in which Neal starred as Helen Benson, the secretary and mother of little “Bobby”.  Her immortal lines “Gort- ‎”Klaatu barada nikto” is immortal among sci-fi enthusiasts.

Star of both screen and stage, Ms. Neal was challenged by a series of strokes in the mid 1960′s, and had to relearn how to walk and speak, but battled bravely back and continued working at her craft until 2009 in her last role in Flying By.

Neal died at her home in Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, August 8, 2010, of lung cancer at age 84.  She had converted to Catholicism four months before her death and was laid to rest in the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, Connecticut.

On August 4th at the annual Pear Essential Players’ production at the Borden house, her visit to the bed and breakfast was mentioned when some members were discussing actresses who would be great in an accurate film version of the Borden case story.  Ms. Neal was at that moment at her home on Martha’s Vineyard, not so far from Fall River, and would pass away just four days later.

If you should find yourself on South Main Street in Fall River, just a half block south of Dwelly Street, you will see Hartley’s Pies, a famous local landmark in the city.  Hartley’s pies have been around Fall River for 100 years.  If you enter the little shop, you will see two enormous autographed photos of the late Patricia Neal.  The cook there has a copy of her obituary and will tell you how much she loved Hartley’s meat pies and how she never failed to stop in for a supply on her way to Martha’s Vineyard.

She was a great actress who was interested in everything, one interest being the Borden case.  She will be sorely missed on stage and screen. For more on her career, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patricia_Neal

Lizzie on the keyboard

22 Wednesday Dec 2010

Posted by in "Lizbits", Borden Family, Borden House Interiors, If Walls Could Talk, Just Plain Lizzie, Victoriana

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 Most well-born ladies of the period took up the study of a musical instrument as part of their well-rounded education.  The pianoforte was a favorite as the lady might accompany herself singing or might become a sought-after party guest to accompany around-the-piano impromptu group singing which was so popular among all age groups .  Lizzie Borden took up the piano as a teenager but in the end abandoned the serious study of music as she felt her playing was inferior.  Sister Emma Borden also played, as her school records at Wheaton Female Seminary attest.  Andrew Borden had to pay five dollars per term to furnish Emma with a practice instrument. By 1892, even middle class families could afford to own a parlor piano.  Different sources list Lizzie’s piano as either a square parlor grand or an upright grand. Considering the decade of her piano playing, a square parlor grand is more likely. These were somewhat large, boxy instruments with thick carved legs.

  

 In 1892, the most popular tune of the time was After the Ball, a waltz by Charles K. Harris. He had written the piece in 1891.  According to Wikipedia:

“In the song, an older man tells his niece why he has never married. He saw his sweetheart kissing another man at a ball, and he refused to listen to her explanation. Many years later, after the woman had died, he discovered that the man was her brother.

“After the Ball” became the most successful song of its era which at that time was gauged by the sales of sheet music. In 1892 it sold over two million copies of sheet music. Its total sheet music sales exceed five million copies, making it the best seller in Tin Pan Alley‘s history.“   

The song is still familiar to many and is often the last selection played at dances and cotillions.

Did Lizzie amuse herself at the piano on Second Street as an adult?  - Most likely she did.  She would also have a handsome piano in her parlor at Maplecroft.  It’s fun to picture the sisters around the piano at Christmas trying out a few carols and Christmas tunes from the hymnal. Two other huge hits of 1892- The Bowery and Daisy Bell (A Bicycle Built for Two).

Mysteries at the Museum presents the hatchet

30 Tuesday Nov 2010

Posted by in August 4th, Borden Family, Borden House Interiors, Borden Spaces and Places, Crime Scene, Fall River, Fall River Historical Society, Famous Massachusetts Cases, Hatchets and Axes, Murder Most Foul, Museums & Exhibits, On Screen, Second Street Happenings, The Victims, Theories, Travel Channel, True Crime, Victorian True Crime

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Tonight the popular Travel Channel program, Mysteries at the Museum, which features unusual artifacts from around the country, presented a segment on the handle-less hatchet found in the Borden cellar.  The segment filmed at the Fall River Historical Society and the house on Second Street and showed excellent close-up footage of the hatchet head and break on the handle stub.  The seven-minute portion was well-done and worth a look.  It airs again tomorrow, December 1st at 3 p.m.

Psychic Kids Episode to Air Sunday

18 Thursday Nov 2010

Posted by in "Lizbits", Borden Family, Borden House Interiors, Borden Spaces and Places, Famous Massachusetts Cases, On Screen, Second Street Happenings, Spooky Lizzie's - Paranormal Second Street

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The last of the television projects filmed this year at the Borden house is set to air this Sunday.  Barbara Borden Morrissey and sister Ellen Borden were interviewed for the episode which airs Nov. 21 at 10 on A&E, and on the 22nd at 2 a.m.

From the website: http://www.aetv.com/psychic-kids/episodes/

“Megan is a 15-year-old girl who receives messages from the dead but is terrified to deliver them to the loved ones of the spirits who speak to her. Sensitive Chris Fleming and therapist Edy Nathan introduce Megan to 17-year-old Brittany, who is dealing with the physical illness she feels from encountering spirits. Psychic/Medium Kim Russo joins in to teach the girls about receiving messages from beyond. Ultimately Megan and Brittany travel to Lizzie Borden’s house, the site of two murders. There, Megan has to face her fear of delivering messages and see if she can learn what really happened in that house from the spirits within.”