Category Archives: House & Testimonies

Providence Journal Launches Six-Part Serial for the 120th Anniversary of Lizzie’s Acquittal

23 Sunday Jun 2013

Posted by in "Lizbits", August 4th, Borden Family, Fall River, Fall River Historical Society, House & Testimonies, If Walls Could Talk, Just Plain Lizzie, Lizpix, Lizzie in Print, Newspaper Coverage, Read All ABout It, Stop the Press, Video Lizzie, YouTube Lizzie

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ProjoA much-anticipated series debuted today in the Sunday Providence Journal. ” Projo” writer Paul Davis certainly did his homework for this six-part article which runs all week and features some new, never-before-published information. The writing is crisp, accurate and thought-provoking and highlights trial coverage from 1893 Providence Journals.  Lizziephiles will be over the moon with the expansive coverage.  If you cannot obtain a hard copy of the paper, read all about it at the newspaper online link.

http://www.providencejournal.com/topics/special-reports/lizzie-borden-anniversary/content/20130621-part-one-to-me-i-see-nothing-but-the-densest-of-shadows.ece

A short trailer was put up on Saturday night to heighten anticipation.

http://m.providencejournal.com/projo/db_/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=DDG8ZlUp

A promotional online video is also on the Projo site and Youtube which features Warps and Wefts writer, Shelley Dziedzic who made a tour with Journal reporter Paul Davis in May.  The tour encompassed all things “Lizzie” in and around Fall River and a jaunt to the New Bedford courthouse to visit the scene where the 1893 trial unfolded.

Who was new for August 4th ?

08 Sunday Aug 2010

Posted by 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!

Cast for Annual Presentation at Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast Museum

30 Friday Jul 2010

Posted by in "Lizbits", "Lizzie Folks", 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, In the News, Just Plain Lizzie, Murder Most Foul, On stage, Pear Essential Players, Potpourri, Read All ABout It, Second Street Happenings, True Crime

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Some of the cast will be appearing at the Fall River Public Library on Tuesday, August 3rd at 6:30 for a special reading by Richard Behrens from the new Lizzie Borden: Girl Detective!  Tickets are presently on sale at the museum 508-675-7333.  Advanced ticket purchase is suggested to avoid disappointment on the 4th.  Tickets are usually sold out by noon. First performance at 10: 30 a.m.

Cast interviews and photos may be found at http://pearessentialproductions.org/

Lizzie Borden:  Lorraine Gregoire

Detective Seaver  Ben Rose

Abby Borden:   Shelley Dziedzic 

Andrew Borden: Logan Livesey

Bridget Sullivan  Kathleen Troost-Cramer

Emma Borden:  Barbara Morrissey

Addie Churchill:  JoAnne Giovino

Alice Russell:     Kristin Pepe

Uncle John:  Joe Radza

Officer Medley:   Justin Dunne

Miss Manning from the Herald:   Molly O’Brien

“Cub reporter and Girl Detective” from the Herald, and Miss Manning’s assistant: Kathryn Woods

The Distinguished Undertaker Winward:  Michael Brooks

Officer Harrington:  Will Clawson

Marshal Hilliard;  Ray Mitchell

Changes at #92

29 Saturday May 2010

Posted by in 92 Second Street improvements, Borden Family, Borden House Interiors, Borden Spaces and Places, Fall River, House & Testimonies, Painted Ladies, Potpourri, Second Street Happenings

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You can’t miss the changes over the past 3 weeks on Second Street.  All the windows of #92 have been draped with heavy plastic, making the view from inside the house through the windows very eerie.  Much scraping and peeling have left the yard deep in paint flakes as Rhino Shield Paint Co. have stripped the clapboards down to the wood, patched and primed the surface for the final coat which has a lifetime guarantee.  The house will be promoted by the company as an example of their workmanship.

After the scorching temps of Wednesday, the house got a final touch-up yesterday when any crackling in the primer was scraped away and re-primed.  Color coming soon!  The front door will finally receive its original two-toned scheme which will be fun to see.  Two windows (kitchen and bath on the first floor) have been completely replaced and beautifully framed in wood surrounds.  Getting ready for the busy summer season!

(front door, 1892 with two shades)

Lizzie Borden- W.A.S.P.

26 Wednesday May 2010

Posted by in "Lizbits", August 4th, Borden Family, Famous Massachusetts Cases, House & Testimonies, Just Plain Lizzie, Lizzie in Print, Read All ABout It

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Florence Virginia King (b. January 5, 1936, Washington, D.C.)  an American novelist, essayist and columnist penned the following about the Borden case and Lizzie for the National Review in 1992. It may be read at this link http://old.nationalreview.com/king/king200408061231.asp

 True Bordenphiles will spot all of the errors- but still good reading all the same.

To be a fly on the wall!

05 Monday Apr 2010

Posted by in "Lizbits", "Lizzie Folks", August 4th, Borden House Interiors, Borden Spaces and Places, Case Personalities, Crime Scene, House & Testimonies, If Walls Could Talk, Just Plain Lizzie

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If we could only go back to August 4, 1892 in a time machine, there are plenty of places  in #92 Second Street one would wish to be on that fateful day.  Borden neighbor, Addie Churchill, was first on the scene after being attracted to the spectacle of Bridget Sullivan racing up and down the Borden driveway.  Lizzie’s cool quip,

 “Oh do come over Mrs. Churchill, someone has killed father”-

or words to that effect have resounded down the century as being somewhat strange under the circumstances.  Addie enters the house and gets the story from Lizzie, who is sitting in the turn of the lower steps of the back stairs.

(Prelim.) Addie Churchill

Q. What did you do or say?

A. I opened one of the windows and said “Lizzie, what is the matter?”

Q. Go right on now,

A. She said “O, Mrs. Churchill, do come over; somebody has killed father.”

Q. Go right on, if you please.

A. I closed the window, and went directly through my house out the front door, and went over to her house, and opened the screen door, and went in. Then she sat on the second stair at the right of the screen door, the back stairs.

Q. The stairs, as I remember the plan, came down, the foot of the stairs is very near the back door?

A. Just as the right of the door as you go in.

Q. She was sitting then opposite where she had been standing?

A. Yes Sir.

Q. What happened then?

A. I put my hand on her arm, and said “O, Lizzie”, I said “Where is your father”? She said “in the sitting room”. I said “where were you when it happened”? She said she went to the barn to get a piece of iron, and came back, heard a distressed noise, and came in, and found the screen door open.

Can you picture her there?