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Fourth Annual Mutton Eaters Weekend
April 16-18 has been selected for the dates of the next Mutton Eaters assembly at the Borden house in Fall River. The group, begun in 1993, is a coterie of armchair sleuths who enjoy researching famous crime cases, with a focus on the Borden case. Annual awards are handed out for different achievements ranging from best new case discovery to best performance as a Borden -related character in a dramatic production. Side trips to places involved in the Borden case, and other Victorian venues are a highlight of the weekend as well as an annual banquet and presentation of research projects by individuals .
This year Taunton , where Lizzie was in jail for 10 months is the city focus as well as an indepth tour of Oak Grove Cemetery, St. Patrick’s, and Old North where many connected to the case are buried. Remaining homes in the city where those involved in the case resided will also be part of a Fall River City Tour on Saturday. The first ever Hyman Lubinsky Ice Cream Social will be held on Saturday evening. Mr. Lubinsky, whose grave was recently discovered, was an ice cream vendor who testified to seeing a woman come from the barn on the day of the murders in 1892. His testimony was eagerly embraced by the defense. For more about the Mutton Eaters, please visit their web site at http://secondstreetirregulars.org/
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A Tale of Two Cities
Gallery X will be holding an open exhibit “Lizzie Borden, A Tale of Two Cities”. On August 4, 1892, a terrible crime was committed in the city of Fall River. After all suspects were interviewed, all were cleared except for the youngest daughter of the victims, Miss Lizzie Andrew Borden. The vicious murders and it’s following trial caused the largest media blitz America had ever seen. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Jackson Borden were brutally slain in their home in broad daylight. The trial of Lizzie Borden has lived in the hearts, imaginations, and minds of a larger group of people than one would expect. The crime was committed in the City of Fall River, On June 5, 1893, Ten months later, Lizzie was brought to trial at the Bristol County Superior Court house in New Bedford. After a trial of thirteen days, Lizzie was acquitted for lack of evidence.
The show’s title, “Lizzie Borden, A Tale of Two Cities” is a reference to the connection of these two cities and the national interest the murders in Fall River, and the following trial in New Bedford caused. Nearly every newspaper in the country held front page accounts of the tragedy and it’s proceedings. It seems everyone had their opinion on these bizarre proceedings and the press couldn’t get enough! The exhibit is open to all artists, local and otherwise. All submissions must pertain to Lizzie and/or the Borden tragedy. The limit is three pieces per artist, at $10.00 each. Gallery X will receive A35% commission on any sales. The show opens on October 14, 2009,the opening reception will be on October 17, 2009. The deadline for entries is Sunday October 11,2009 between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Gallery X hours are Wednesday through Friday 11:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. , Saturday and Sunday 11:00 a.m. till 3:00 p.m.
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Haunted U Returns
Christopher Moon and Haunted University will be returning to the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast Museum for this weekend, giving classes in how to set up paranormal-detecting equipment, and monitoring the house for “activity”. With a full moon on the rise for Saturday night- this should be a good tune-up for Halloween! -
A Borden September
Miss Lizzie Andrew Borden shows no signs of leaving as August comes to an end. With the advent of the long-awaited Parallel Lives publication by the Fall River Historical Society, and the mock trial at the New Bedford courthouse on the 24th, September promises to be another “Lizzie Month”.As the leaf-peeping season comes to New England, a series of lectures will begin at Bristol Community College sponsored by the Fall River Historical Society and funded by The Grimshaw-Gudewicz Charitable Foundation. The series, which begins on September 14 and runs through November 4th, will feature a wide range of Lizzie-related topics from the Paranormal to the Borden story on stage.
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Lizzie haunts on Halloween!
The Eagle Performing Arts Center on North Main Street in Fall River will be hosting LIZZIE BORDEN LIVE in a special All Hallows’ Eve Celebration on Oct 31st at 8p.m. Come dressed as your favorite character from the story! Bring out those leg o’ mutton sleeves, lace and hats, feather fans, boaters and frock coats! Are you a quiet Emma Borden- savvy attorney Mr. Jennings- or an enigmatic Miss Lizzie? Grand prize: one stay at the Lizzie Borden B&B! Tickets $25 available at www.lizziebordenlive.com -
Popular September 24th Event
The 1893 Lizzie Borden trial re-enactment at Bristol County courthouse is the must-see event for September. The courtroom where it all happened in June of 1893 is much today as it was on the day when Lizzie sat on the hard wooden bench and hid her enigmatic face behind her fan. Even the Victorian wooden Defense and Prosecution tables where Robinson and Knowlton held forth are still in place. A large oil portrait of Attorney Knowlton hangs on the wall today. A large turnout is expected and tickets will soon be a hot commodity in the area. An open house will be held the night of the re-enactment from 6 – 7 p.m. when the “trial” begins.The free program is open to the public, with limited seating.
Mail a self-addressed stamped envelope to “Lizzie, Redux Request”, care of Clerk Magistrate Marc J. Santos, Bristol Count Clerk of Courts, 441 County St., New Bedford, MA 02740 for tickets. There will be two tickets issued per request. Tickets will be honored until 20 minutes before the performance, after which there will be a general admission as room is available.
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Patent grant still a hot topic
Today’s ProJo (Providence Journal) carried a story about the recent Lizzie Borden merchandise patent granted to the owners of the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast Museum in Fall River. There’s bound to be more about it in the future!http://www.projo.com/news/bobkerr/kerr_column_26_08-26-09_BVFGNSH_v14.38acb8c.html
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August was a Bizzie Lizzie month
It’s been quite a month for Lizzie Borden doings! August 4th brought the usual re-enactments at the Borden house on Second Street with the Pear Essential Players. With a record attendance and largest cast ever, the little troupe was treated afterward to a tour of Maplecroft . August 21-22 saw the return of Jill Dalton’s Lizzie Borden Live at the renovated Eagle on North Main Street with the Mutton Eaters in attendance. Lizzie has been much in the news and on television this month as word of the patent on Lizzie Borden merchandise was acclaimed in newspapers yesterday. Donald Woods, owner of the bed and breakfast has obtained a national patent protection for all items other than books and publications to use the words “Lizzie Borden” on mugs, tee shirts, key chains, and other gift shop items.A new fiction book is out and available for sale at the historical society in Fall
River. Written by a local author, it has the confession of Emma Borden as the doer of the foul deeds who comes to the writer in a dream. The Fall River Historical Society has revamped their website to include some preview tidbits of the long-awaited book Parallel Lives which will be coming out in several months. All in all it was quite a month for Lizzie. September brings a re-enactment of the New Bedford trial of June, 1893 at the courthouse on County Street as part of the Bristol County Superior Court anniversary year events. Fans and scholars of the Borden case have had a good summer with much to look forward to!
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Another big night at the Eagle with Lizzie Borden Live
Congratulations are due after another successful run of Lizzie Borden Live at the Eagle. Thanks and orchids to all the tech crew, Jack and John, the Donovan Family, box office staff, the Mutton Eaters: (JoAnne Giovino, Barbara Morrissey, Ellen Borden, Shelley Dziedzic)- the incomparable Jill Dalton and all who are happy to see theatre making a comeback in Fall River. See you in Providence at the Columbia in October!
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Lizzie returns to Fall River
Lizzie Borden Live returned to an appreciative audience this evening in Fall River. Miss Dalton was- superb! Tickets available for Saturday night’s performance at the Eagle at the door or pre-paid at this link http://www.lizziebordenlive.com/Schedule.html.
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Lizzie Borden’s church sold today
The beautiful Ruskinian Gothic brick church on Rock Street was sold at auction today for $250,000. Herald News story at the link below.
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Warps & Wefts gets a facelift
Warps and Wefts gets a new look for August- and a new address!
The old address and link will still work and transfer you to the new and improved http://lizziebordenwarpsandwefts.com\
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Graves of those connected to the case
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Summer Garden -FRHS in August
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Hyman Lubinsky, friend of the defense
Young Mr. Lubinsky (1868-1928), aged 24 in 1892, claims to have seen a woman crossing from the Borden barn to the side door on the fateful day of the murders. The ice cream vendor knew the Borden maid, Bridget Sullivan by sight, and said this woman was not Bridget. Lizzie of course claimed to have been out in the barn up in the hayloft for some time doing various things when someone must have murdered her father in the sitting room. She claims to have come inside after hearing a noise, putting her hat down, then discovering Mr. Borden dead on the sofa.
Mr. Lubinsky, whose command of English was poor, was somewhat muddled on the stand, changing his times and needing patient explanations. Naturally the defense for Lizzie was delighted to make the most of Lubinsky’s tale as it seemed to back up Lizzie’s own version of events and supported the story she had been in the barn. Mr. Lubinsky, however never said the woman he saw in the very narrow alley between the Churchill house and the Borden side door was wearing any hat. Congratualtions and kudos to Lizzie B&B guest Joe from Ohio (who played the role of John Morse on August 4th at the house) for his discovery of the Lubinsky monument in Hebrew Cemetery, Fall River. Mr. Lubinsky came from a large family and there are several other Lubinskys in the Hebrew Cemetery.
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A New Lizzie for Second Street
Introducing Lorraine Gregoire as Lizzie 2009
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92 Second Street Re-enactment 2009
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Just in Time for August 4th
Hot off the press in time for the anniversary of the Borden murders tomorrow comes Eric Ethier’s offering from Stackpole Books. (www.stackpolebooks.com) ISBN-10: 0-8117-3563-XThe tradepaper book concentrates on Massachusetts true crimes including : Lizzie Borden, Sacco & Vanzetti, The Brink’s Job, The Boston Strangler, The Robin Benedict Murder, Big Dan’s Rape Case, and the Stuart Murder Case.
Ethier lives in Rhode Island and is a freelance history writer. His articles have appeared in American History, Civil War Times and America in WWII. The 112 -page book is a well-organized, captivating page-turner and a must-read for all true crime fans.