Forum Title: LIZZIE BORDEN SOCIETY
Topic Area: Fall River and Its Environs
Topic Name: Mansion at 456 Rock Street

1. "Mansion at 456 Rock Street"
Posted by Susan on Nov-16th-02 at 4:39 PM

Found this wonderful little site of a house in Fall River claimed to be 1 out of the 3 Durfee-Borden homesteads to still stand.  Enjoy. 

http://www.drawrm.com/co.htm


2. "Re: Mansion at 456 Rock Street"
Posted by Kat on Nov-16th-02 at 9:51 PM
In response to Message #1.



"We had a horse hair covered sofa in a corner of our dining room . Surprisingly enough, it did get used. It was not unusual with especially long dinner parties for someone to get up from the table and go over and lie down for half an hour or so and take a short nap before going back to the dinner table for the rest of their meal. We also served tea there in the afternoon on the table located next to the sofa."

--I found this comment and photo especially interesting, as we know Abby had a lounge in the dining room, but from our 21st century perspective, we couldn't figure out why....Maybe not necessarily that the Bordens had big dinner parties, but for tea?
-Thanks for the interesting browse, Susan!


3. "Re: Mansion at 456 Rock Street"
Posted by Susan on Nov-17th-02 at 4:19 PM
In response to Message #2.

With the amounts of food that the Bordens served at the table it would make sense to have somewhere to lounge after a heavy meal.  I'm thinking of Thanksgiving and all that rich food and the guys all unbuttoning that top pants button and needing to go lounge after the meal.  Perhaps it was like that at the Borden's?  Maybe Andrew or Abby needed to rest after a heavy meal? 


4. "Re: Mansion at 456 Rock Street"
Posted by kimberly on Nov-17th-02 at 9:39 PM
In response to Message #3.

Maybe the just had an extra sofa. They might have
had them buy one get one free or something.


5. "Re: Mansion at 456 Rock Street"
Posted by Kat on Nov-17th-02 at 10:17 PM
In response to Message #4.

Lizzie says they served tea.
I just always thought it was in the sitting room...I don't know why.
Supposing Abby only allowed eating in the kitchen or dining room?
My mother was like that--food only at a table.

So you wouldn't have tea at the D.R. table, but in the *eating room* after all, on the lounge.

Yes, they could have had all sorts of extra furniture.  Andrew had retired from being a furniture store owner, after all.


6. "Re: Mansion at 456 Rock Street"
Posted by Kat on Nov-18th-02 at 4:34 AM
In response to Message #1.

It took me awhile to realize that your house is very near the Fall River Historical Society, which is located at 451 Rock Street Ms. de Mille is quoted as saying, in Dance of Death , pg. 17: "No one was socially elite who lived south of Franklin St. or west of Rock St."


7. "Re: Mansion at 456 Rock Street"
Posted by Susan on Nov-18th-02 at 11:31 AM
In response to Message #6.

Pretty cool!  Could you imagine living like 2 doors up from the FRHS?  It looks like a wonderful neighborhood and that wrought iron fence is just a thing of beauty!!  Thanks for the picture!    Isn't Rock Street right around the corner from Second Street?  To think there was such a nice area so close to Lizzie's own home must have been maddening to her!

(Message last edited Nov-18th-02  11:32 AM.)


8. "Re: Mansion at 456 Rock Street"
Posted by Kat on Nov-18th-02 at 8:01 PM
In response to Message #7.

I went to the map link in Archive that Harry provided and gave the address 451 Rock Street and I believe this black house marker is the FRHS.  It seems a few miles away from Second Street which is called, on this map, Lizzie Borden Museum.
Remember deMille's quote...


http://www.earthaentrepreneur.com/default.asp
Go to the upper right corner, in the BLUE section and click on "EarthMaps".



(Message last edited Nov-18th-02  8:08 PM.)


9. "Re: Mansion at 456 Rock Street"
Posted by Kat on Nov-18th-02 at 8:11 PM
In response to Message #8.

I hope I am reading this map correctly, with it's icon's.  Someone who has been there may want to comment?



 

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