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Lizzie Borden : Warps & Wefts

~ News, articles and photos about The Lady, The Crime, The City and The Era

Lizzie Borden : Warps & Wefts

Category Archives: Uncategorized

Happy New Year!

29 Thursday Dec 2011

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Best Wishes for a Happy 2012

Victorian House Christmas Tour

30 Wednesday Nov 2011

Posted by administrator in Fall River, Fall River families, Fall River Historical Society, Fall River Now and Then, Lectures & Exhibits, Painted Ladies, Potpourri, Things to Do, Uncategorized, Victoriana

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This weekend!  Not to be missed.

Cooling Board

29 Thursday Sep 2011

Posted by administrator in August 4th, Borden Spaces and Places, If Walls Could Talk, Murder Most Foul, Potpourri, Second Street Happenings, Uncategorized

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Borden Autopsies, Cooling Board

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.

A Safe and Happy Fourth of July to you!

02 Saturday Jul 2011

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R.I.P. Miss Borden

02 Thursday Jun 2011

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July 19, 1860- June 1, 1927

Decoration Day

30 Monday May 2011

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What’s new at 92

05 Wednesday Jan 2011

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February 11-13 will mark the dates of the Murder Mystery Weekend at the Borden house. Preparations are underway and staff and cast are bustling in pre-production for this first-ever event. It should be a Valentine’s Day to remember!  For unfolding details, and photo gallery to come visit the link http://lizziebordenmysteryweekend.com/

Come to think of it, Cupid’s arrow would make quite an unexpected murder weapon.

Abby Borden Crime Scene

10 Wednesday Nov 2010

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Abby Borden Crime Scene

Slide Album: Abby Crime Scene

Happy Halloween!

31 Sunday Oct 2010

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Congratulations to Ric and Company!

25 Monday Oct 2010

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Ric Rebelo

 

The Alliance for Community Media has given Lizbeth the Award for Best Documentary. Congratulations to all involved in the project.  The documentary will air this coming Saturday on PBS at 7 pm and Sunday at 11 pm. Some still shots may be seen below taken on the day of the shoot last Spring.

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W&W on vacation!

07 Thursday Oct 2010

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Off on a train for adventures in Washington, D.C. !!

Warps and Wefts will return October 18th

with all the news, idle chit-chat and confidential chatter dear to the ladies’ hearts!  Until then, Hortense and Prudence will hold down the fort and keep you amused!

Who was new for August 4th ?

08 Sunday Aug 2010

Posted by administrator in "Lizzie Folks", "Lizziewear", August 4th, Borden Family, Borden House Interiors, Borden Spaces and Places, Case Personalities, Crime Scene, Fall River, Fall River Police Dept., House & Testimonies, If Walls Could Talk, Just Plain Lizzie, Pear Essential Players, Second Street Happenings, Uncategorized, Victorian True Crime

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It was a big day at #92 for the cast of the Pear Essential Players as they turned in 10 performances of Lizzie Borden CSI.  Tickets sold out and the gift shop was buzzing with activity from early morning until the end of the day when the evening check- ins arrived.  All  previous records were broken this year.

Rufus Hilliard                                                 Ray Mitchell

There were a few new faces this year in the cast including Ray Mitchell who portrayed city marshal Rufus Hilliard and bore an uncanny resemblance to his character!  Michael Brooks took over the role of James Winward, Undertaker and was suitably grave and distinguished.

(photo courtesy of Lee Ann Wilber)

For the first time, the bed in the guest room was moved in order to reproduce a lesser-known photo of Abby Borden.

With a nod to Richard’s Behren’s new book, Lizzie Borden: Girl Detective, Kathryn Woods played Miss Nellie Drew, girl detective and interviewed Uncle John Morse.

Molly O’Brien took over as Miss Manning from the Fall River Herald and also had a few things to ask Uncle John.

photo courtesy of Lee Ann Wilber

The men in blue were out in force this year with Ben Rose reprising Detective Seaver, and new B&B museum employees Justin Dunne and Will Clawson playing Medley and Harrington.  Mustaches were a key element in bringing the characters to life with Hilliard’s famous walrus mustache and Harrington’s “handlebar” stash adding much to the characterization.

 

Will Clawson                     Phil Harrington

 Justin Dunne played a young officer William Medley.  Medley would become Fall River’s first Chief of Police.

 

Justin Dunne                              Chief Medley

Many actors have played Andrew Borden over the years and this year B&B employee Logan Livesey had the tough task of staying perfectly still under the sheet.

Tomorrow: Set dressing the house, our cast regulars, and the cast trip to Maplecroft!

Mutton Eaters Weekend Doings

20 Tuesday Apr 2010

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The weather was damp and drizzly Saturday and Sunday but did not stop the energetic bunch from outside activities.  Several cemeteries within the city were visited including Old North, Oak Grove, and St. John’s. The Mutton Eaters learned that Capt. Harrington is buried in the Leary lot, with no stone, which explains why the hunt was unsuccessful.  Old North contains the final resting places of Hannah Reagan (prison matron who overheard Lizzie say to Lizzie, “You’ve given me away, Emma”), Mrs. James D. Burt, a Borden neighbor, and Charles Trafton, for whom the house on Second Street was built. 

A stop was made at St. Anne’s Church in the south end, and then on to nearby Kennedy Park to see the spot where Sarah Cornell was found hanged from a tree near the Taunton River.  Lunch was at McGovern’s where original Mutton Eaters Debbie Valentine and Barbara MacDonald joined the group. 

After lunch the gang went on to the Lafayette Durfee house on Cherry Street where they were treated to a private tour and special exhibit for Patriot’s Day http://www.lafayettedurfeehouse.org/

The Hyman Lubinsky Ice Cream Social  followed at 5 p.m. and featured an amazing assortment of eatables including a birthday cake for Officer Harrington, whose birthday it would have been. Harrington was the policeman who had his doubts from the start about Lizzie and gave that detailed description of what she was wearing.

Very special guests arrived who now live in Dr. Kelly’s Third Street home, and brought with them an assortment of things found in the Kelly home which were unearthed from between the walls.  Dr. Kelly and his family lived next door to the Bordens in 1892.  Kitchen spices, photos and medical journals were displayed for the Mutton Eaters.  It is possible that one of the photos may be that of Dr. Kelly’s daughter Philomena Kelly who married the grandson of banker Abraham Hart (among the last people to see Andrew Borden alive).

Former employees of the B&B dropped by and the evening ended with Lizzie quizzes and games, prizes, a reading from Richard Behren’s new book, Lizzie Borden Girl Detective, singing of  Lizzie’s favorite hymn, At Hame in My Ain Countrie, and some original Lizzie songs made up on the spot. Two initiations were held for new Mutton Eaters Molly and Will, both employees of Lizzie Borden’s Bed and Breakfast Museum.

Sunday saw several of the Mutton Eaters leaving early for home after breakfast at the Highland Ave. Spa.  The remnant had a great day antiquing in Bristol with lunch at Leo’s.  Everyone, to be sure, had a very good night’s sleep Sunday night- and plans are already being made for next year.

Don Hammontree sings about Maplecroft

18 Thursday Mar 2010

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Fall River musician, Don Hammontree may not be a Fall River native, but he certainly knows the city and its history. With a folk-rock, “alternative” sound, Hammontree has released three CDs, Mount Hope Days in 2003, The Mumbai in 2005 and the latest, Brutalist School in 2010.  You can sample Mp3 offerings, including “Maplecroft” on the Mount Hope Days CD at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/hammontree

To hear about  Don’s next  performance live, visit his MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/donhammontree

Top of the Morning!

16 Tuesday Mar 2010

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If we could turn back the clock, St. Patrick’s Day would have been a merry occasion in Fall River’s Corky Row. Hopefully Borden maid, Bridget Sullivan would have had the evening off, and neighbor Dr. Michael Kelly, a popular figure and planner of St. Patrick’s day doings in  Fall River, would be in high demand as speaker. 

Making a Documentary

10 Wednesday Mar 2010

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Chances are if you live near Fall River and take an interest in the Borden case, Ric Rebelo will have interviewed you!  Working on the most comprehensive Borden case documentary ever made for a Master’s project, Ric has spent over 2 years tracking down every angle and and camera angle to be had in the quest to cover the various theories on who-dunnit and why we care so much! 

On Sunday, March 7th, some fresh faces assembled at the house on Second Street to recreate scenes from the famous unsolved crime, featuring the Irish maid, the illegitimate son, Uncle Morse, and even Lizzie as possible hatchet wielders.  The Cast:

Uncle John V. Morse:  Michael Reed, Bridget Sullivan: Sarah Nicklin, Lizzie Borden: Ruth Sullivan, Abby Borden: Shelley Dziedzic, Billy Borden: Brandon Aponte, and Andrew Borden: Dan LeLievre.

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Ric and Richard

and Max, who kept his theory a secret.

 

Hush Hush, Sweet Lizzie

14 Thursday Jan 2010

Posted by administrator in "Lizbits", Maplecroft, Murder Most Foul, On Screen, Potpourri, Uncategorized, YouTube Lizzie

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The IMDB (International Movie Data Base) has likened Bette Davis’ portrayal of Charlotte Hollis in Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte to the life of Lizzie Borden.   The 1964 film was a box office hit, and the haunting  theme of the same name recorded by Patti Page enjoyed great success for years after.

Charlotte Hollis is a reclusive spinster living in a decaying old mansion, who is believed by the citizens of her small city, to have murdered her suitor (a married man).  The circumstances appear to have been a murder/suicide with Charlotte’s formidable father as the culprit who puts both an end to Charlotte’s lover and then to himself.  Did Charlotte kill her true love (played by Bruce Dern) ? The town thinks she was guilty and that she got away with murder.  The method of dispatch was a large, sharp meat cleaver, with the head and hand of Charlotte’s beau being savagely hacked off, reminiscent of the removal of the heads of Abby and Andrew Borden in Oak Grove Cemetery on August 11, 1892  to be stored as evidence.

Olivia DeHavilland plays Miriam, Charlotte’s refined, gentle cousin- an Emma Bordenesque, sisterly presence who harbors a dark, dark twisted secret, along with the trusted family doctor of many years played by Joseph Cotten ( an 1892 parallel to Dr. Bowen?!)  There are plenty of turns and twists along the way, many witnessed by the household domestic servant, played superbly by Agnes Moorehead, who tries to protect Charlotte – not quite a Bridget Sullivan, ( the Borden’s household domestic who was home the day of the Borden killings) but still an interesting parallel.

The gossipings and whisperings of the townfolk in front of Charlotte’s house as well as behind closed doors and on the street harken back to the Fall River crowds on Second Street in 1892-93 and even later to French Street when Lizzie moved into Maplecroft. 

The end of the film is very satisfying as we, the viewer, are privy to the real story of what happened in 1927 in the Hollis summerhouse (1927 also being the year of Lizzie Borden’s death).  There are three more murders over the course of the film.  Unlike the Borden story however, we find out the truth in the end.  To view the murder scene with cleaver, visit this Youtube link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9csL2GVU1Y

Christmas 2009

24 Thursday Dec 2009

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Wishing everyone a happy Christmas filled with good things, good friends and family, and good cheer!

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♣ What is a Home without a Father?

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♣ Lizzie Borden Warps and Wefts

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  • Muttoneaters return to Fall River
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♣ Be a lamb and donate to the Animal Rescue of Fall River today! Lizzie’s Boston Bull terriers: Laddie Miller, Royal Nelson and Donald Stuart thank you!

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♣ Parallel Lives Has Arrived!

From the Fall River Historical Society comes the most eagerly-awaited book on the Borden Case and Lizzie Borden's Fall River

Available November 21st! From the Fall River Historical Society comes the most eagerly-awaited book on the Borden Case and Lizzie Borden's Fall River featuring new photographs of Lizzie and revealing details from journals and letters which will shine a new light on Lizzie Borden. A must-have for all interested in old Fall River and Lizzie Borden. For more information and updates, visit http://www.lizzieborden.org/ParallelLives.html
Warps-The threads that run lengthwise in a woven fabric, crossed at right angles to the weft. Wefts-The horizontal threads interlaced through the warp in a woven fabric. In 1876, Fall River had 1/6th of all New England cotton capacity and one-half of all print cloth production. The "Spindle City" as it became known, was second in the world to only Manchester, England.

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♣ Carved In Maplecroft’s Mantel

And old time friends and twilight plays, And starry nights and sunny days. Come trooping up the misty ways, When my fires burn low.

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♣ Memorable Lizzie Inquest Testimony

Q. Beside that, do you know of anybody that your father had bad feelings toward or who had bad feelings toward your father? A. I know of one man who has not been friendly with him. They have not been friendly for years. Q. Who? A. Mr. Hiram C. Harrington. Q. What relation is he to him? A. He is my father's brother-in-law. Q. Your mother's brother? A. My father's only sister married Mr. Harrington. Q. Anybody else that was on bad terms with your father or that your father was on bad terms with? A. Not that I know of.

♣ The Borden Alphabet Broadside

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There's no evidence of guilt, Lizzie Borden, That should make your spirit wilt, Lizzie Borden; Many do not think that you Chopped your father's head in two, It's so hard a thing to do, Lizzie Borden. You have borne up under all, Lizzie Borden. With a mighty show of gall, Lizzie Borden; But because your nerve is stout Does not prove beyond a doubt That you knocked the old folks out, Lizzie Borden. A.L. Bixby

♣ Lizzie and those pigeons

Lizzie's Inquest Testimony

Q. Can you tell of the killing of any animal? Or any other operation that would lead to their being cast there, with blood on them?
A. No sir. He killed some pigeons in the barn last May or June.
Q. What with?
A. I don't know, but I thought he wrung their necks.
Q. What made you think so?
A. I think he said so.
Q. Did anything else make you think so?
A. All but three or four had their heads on. That is what made me think so.
Q. Did all of them come into the house?
A. I think so.
Q. Those that came into the house were all headless?
A. Two or three had them on.
Q. Were any with their heads off?
A. Yes sir.
Q. Cut off or twisted off?
A. I don't know which.
Q. How did they look?
A. I don't know, their heads were gone, that is all.
Q. Did you tell anybody they looked as though they were twisted off?
A. I don't remember whether I did or not. The skin, I think, was very tender. I said, "Why are these heads off?" I think I remember of telling somebody that he said they twisted off.
Q. Did they look as if they were cut off?
A. I don't know. I did not look at that particularly.
Q. Is there anything else besides that that would lead, in your opinion so far as you can remember, to the finding of instruments in the cellar with blood on them?
A. I know of nothing else that was done.

♣ Click hatchet to hear “You Can’t Chop Your Poppa Up”

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♣ A new Youtube documentary not to miss!

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