• R.I.P. Ed Thibault, December 18, 2012

    December 19, 2012 /

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    It is with profound sorrow that I post the sad news about the passing of my old friend Ed Thibault today. We had been friends for over 20 years and worked at the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast together for many years. Ed and I began the Second Street Irregulars together in 1993. Affectionately called “Mr. Lizzie”, Ed was the go- to guy on all things Lizzie back in the 80s and 90s. He gave tours of the Borden home, visited schools and civic groups and was never too tired to sit and chat about the case. We played Mr. and Mrs. Borden for many years. The photo below was for Monsterquest 2008, our last time together in the roles.

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    I am missing my old friend already. Ed had been suffering for a very long time with respiratory and heart ailments and had spent the past 6 weeks in Charlton Hospital before being released to a rehab and nursing establishment. News of funeral arrangements will be forthcoming. Lizzie Borden had a champion in Ed who never believed she was guilty.

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    Ed accepting his Lifetime Achievement Award from the Second Street Irregulars at the Q Club, 2011.

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  • August 4th is Coming Soon !

    July 18, 2012 /

    The Pear Essential Players Present

    A Dramatization of August 4th on Second Street 

    Saturday, August 4, 2012

    Reserved Tickets are Now On sale at

    The Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast Museum

    Turn back the clock to the morning of August 4, 1892.  The bodies of Abby and Andrew Borden have been discovered cruelly murdered at their home on Second Street.  The friends and neighbors have gathered around daughters Emma and Lizzie as the police and doctors collect evidence and question the inhabitants of #92.  Can you help the police solve the mystery?  Who could have committed such a grisly deed? 

    A drawing for the day’s tour visitors will be held after the last performance for a Gift Certificate for Two for a night at the Bed & Breakfast.  The Drawing is at 4:15 p.m. Follow the Pear Essential Players on Facebook and at http://pearessentialproductions.org/ 

    Abby Borden- Shelley Dziedzic

    Andrew Borden- Don Sykes

    Lizzie Borden- Carol Ann Simone

    Emma Borden- Barbara Morrissey

    Uncle John Morse- Joe Radza

    Bridget Sullivan- Suzann Rogers

    Marshal Hilliard- Ray Mitchell

    Officer Phil Harrington- Mark Lomastro

    Dr. Bowen- Jack Sheridan

    Mrs. Phebe Bowen- Ellen Borden

    Addie Churchill- JoAnne Giovino

    Dr. Dolan- Michael Shogi

    Miss Manning- Eliza Marks

    Nellie Bly, Intrepid Globe-Spanning Reporter- Katrina Shogi

    Undertaker Winward- Jerry Pacheco

    Alice Russell- Kristin Pepe

    A new Miss Lizzie is making her debut!  Tickets go on sale July 15th! Call 508-675-7333 to reserve.

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  • Old City Hall Eagle

    April 11, 2011 /

    The early 1960’s heralded a time of great demolition and restructuring in the heart of Fall River. The Quequechan river was filled in in some places, redirected and channeled in other places to make route 195 a possibility.  Down came the wonderful old city hall with its clock tower and fabulous golden eagle perched at the very top. Down came many other brick and granite and mortar buildings nearby. At the time it seemed like progress, in retrospect, many today rue the day when the grand old edifices came down and the new government center, which some claim was designed in the “Brutalist” style went up with route 195 passing directly beneath it.  The golden eagle was saved, as was the magnificent paneling inside and two of the tall granite columns on the front facade.  The eagle is on display at government center and the Second Street Irregulars were treated to a fascinating tale by Chris Donovan  about the day the eagle came down during a stop the Second Street Irregulars made to meet the mayor last week.

    (video by Chris Striker Bound)

     

    (Eagle looking very small atop the old City Hall)

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  • Lambie Awards for 2011

    April 7, 2011 /

    The Best Actor Award was a tie this year- for the first time.  Will Clawson and Ray Mitchell, both employees of the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast Museum are also Pear Essential Players and last August 4th, on the anniversary of the murders, took up the roles of Officer Harrington and City Marshal Rufus B. Hilliard.  The Second Street Irregulars (the “Muttoneaters”), award the golden statuette yearly for best performance in a Borden case-related role.

    Will Clawson as the popular and well-beloved Phil Harrington (the man who described Lizzie’s wrapper in such detail and died tragically on his honeymoon the year Lizzie was acquitted)

    Ray Mitchell as City Marshal Rufus Hilliard

    The best actress award this year went to Kristin Pepe for her sympathetic portrayal of long-time Borden friend, and former neighbor, Alice Russell.  Kristin played the role of Bridget Sullivan in 2009 and 2010 was her first time in the role of the lady who saw Lizzie burn the dress in the woodstove and who was the recipient of the exciting news divulged by Lizzie on the night before the murders that “something is going to happen, Father has an enemy. . .” Kristin was also a Lens of Sherlock recipient several years ago when she tracked down Emma Borden’s alma mater, Wheaton Female Seminary. Congratulations, all!

    Kristin (center) with Barbara Morrissey (Emma, on the left) and Lorraine Gregoire (Lizzie on the right) on August 4, 2011.

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  • Reunion of the Second Street Irregulars

    April 4, 2011 /

    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.

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  • “Muttoneaters” visit Lizzie’s Dogs

    April 3, 2011 /

    This weekend’s annual gathering of the Second Street Irregulars, “Muttoneaters” included a visit on April 1st to Pine Ridge Animal Shelter to visit the three Boston bull terrier dogs belonging to Lizzie Borden which are buried in the pet cemetery there.   A bouquet was left for Laddie Miller, Royal Nelson and Donald Stuart.

     

    (photo credit:  Barbara Morrissey)

    The weather was sunnier the following day when the group visited the Faxon Shelter on Durfee Street to deliver a basket of puppy and kitten treats and to pose for the shelter newsletter with a few four-legged friends.

    Both Borden sisters left generous cash gifts to the shelter in their wills.  Photographs of the Misses Emma and Lizzie Borden can be seen on the wall at the shelter.  It was a busy day for adopting pets.

    (photo credit:  Jack Faria)  “Lizzie & Emma Come to Call” Shelley Dziedzic & JoAnne Giovino

    http://www.animalrescueleaguefr.org/  Donate Today!

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