Lizzie Borden : Warps & Wefts » Second Street Happenings

The Dead Files visits #92

administrator — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:05:30 +0000

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

Filed under: "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 Tagged: The Dead Files

January Musings

administrator — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:13:29 +0000

The temps are falling and the long quiet season has arrived. After the excitement of the release of Parallel Lives in November, the Victorian house tour in December and virtually a year’s worth of Lizzie suspense, we’re all looking for January adventures. Many of us are reading the massive volume, Parallel Lives. Down on Second Street, the B&B is only open weekends for overnighters although the day tours continue through the week. The B&B web site has had an overhaul. Re-runs of last year’s paranormal sessions at #92 are in full tilt on television, no update on the Chloe Sevigny HBO mini-series has been released yet, and the historical society is closed for the winter.

“Axed”, two one-act plays has debuted and will be running this month http://www.pressherald.com/life/go/on-the-case_2012-01-05.htm No new ideas here, but a fresh treatment. January is a great time for catching up on our Lizzie reading and some new entries in the historical crime arena. W&W recommends Murder and Mayhem in Essex County by Robert Wilhelm. Murder and mischief was alive and well in Massachusetts long before Miss Lizzie! http://www.murder-in-essex.com/ If the name sounds familiar, Mr. Wilhelm also publishes the popular vintage crime blog, Murder by Gaslight and The National Nightstick, all great reading for the amateur armchair sleuth on a cold winter’s night. http://murderbygasslight.blogspot.com/ and http://www.snakeoilgraphics.com/NightStick/ Stay tuned for reviews. Here’s wishing you a cozy January by the fire and a good wallow in crimes of the Past.

Filed under: "Lizbits", "Lizzie Folks", Case Personalities, Fall River Historical Society, Famous Massachusetts Cases, In the Marketplace, Just Plain Lizzie, Lizzie in Print, Murder Most Foul, Parallel Lives, Second Street Happenings, Things to Do, Travel Channel

Cooling Board

administrator — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 03:35:42 +0000

Among the fascinating photos taken by hired photographer Mr. Walsh, on the day of the murders is this one below of Andrew Borden reclining post mortem on a caned autopsy board(sometimes called a cooling board). Cooling boards came in many patented designs. Air had to circulate through in the styles which had no ice drawer beneath, so wooden ones were frequently drilled with holes in elaborate patterns. Cane was naturally open-weave. In this photo, Mr. Borden has an incision from sternum to abdomen which was needed in order to extract his stomach. The same procedure was done on Mrs. Borden in the diningroom while Mr. Borden’s took place in front of the black horsehair sofa in the sitting room. A portion of the sofa may be seen in the background as well as the arm of the sofa. The doorway in the center of the photo goes into the kitchen.

After a long search, the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast museum has procured an 1890′s autopsy board which is strikingly similar, if not exact, to the one on which Mr. Borden reclines. This model folds in the middle so as to make it easy for the medical examiner or mortician to transport it.

The term “cooling board” also refers to another type of solid wooden board upon which the body is laid while in transit, awaiting transit or awaiting attention from the mortician. The body literally goes from a warm state just post mortem to “cooling” on the flat surface. Vintage cooling boards are quite collectible and can easily fetch a sum between 400- 1000 dollars.

Filed under: August 4th, Borden Spaces and Places, If Walls Could Talk, Murder Most Foul, Potpourri, Second Street Happenings, Uncategorized Tagged: Borden Autopsies, Cooling Board

Paranormal Week at Lizzie’s August 21-30

administrator — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:51:09 +0000

“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.

Filed under: "Lizbits", "Lizzie Folks", Borden Family, Borden House Interiors, Fall River, On Screen, Second Street Happenings, Spooky Lizzie's - Paranormal Second Street, Travel Channel

Bad news day

administrator — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:47:14 +0000

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.

Filed under: "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

Congratulations to the Cast of 2011

administrator — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 03:36:54 +0000

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

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

Taking a Whack at Lizzie

administrator — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 04:50:23 +0000

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.

Filed under: "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

She’s Back for August!

administrator — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 17:53:35 +0000

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.

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!

Filed under: "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

Today Show visit aired this morning on NBC

administrator — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 16:20:43 +0000

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

Filed under: "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 Tagged: TODAY show visits Fall River

Today Show visits Second Street

administrator — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 17:40:08 +0000

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.

Filed under: "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 Tagged: Today Show visits Lizzie Borden House