Fall River History Club meeting
Wednesday, August 18, 2010, 6:30 pm
ANOTHER FIELD TRIP!!!
We are all in for another remarkable treat! Our next History Club meeting will be a special tour, suitable for all ages, of the
Luther’s Store Museum, conducted by Curator Carl Becker
Located at the intersection of Old Warren Road, Pearse Road and Maple Avenue, at 8 Pearse Road, in Swansea, Massachusetts
INFORMATION ABOUT LUTHER’S MUSEUM
Email me with questions.
See you there!
Photographer Marc Belanger has captured the essence of change in Fall River with his latest images. He has graciously given me permission to post them here.
The change is startling, don’t you agree?
The Before was not attractive in the slightest. And the After is a crying shame! In the late 1800′s, the Southard Miller house stood on this site. It was a two family house. In one half of the house (could be upstairs and down, or side by side like a duplex) lived Southard Miller, builder and father of Franklin Miller (painter of the Fall River School). In the other half lived Dr. Seabury Bowen and his family. Bowen, as you recall, was the doctor to the Borden family, who lived katy-corner across the street at 92 Second Street.
Bowen was the first doctor on the scene at the Borden house on the day of the murders, August 4th, 1892. Now stands the Fall River Trial Court. Something tells me this property won’t become something else for a long long time.
And here is a link to Marc’s photostream on Flickr. You MUST see his work. Remarkable!
“Lizzie Borden: The Mystery Continues” will be offered at the Sippican Historical Society on Thursday, Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. at Marion’s Music Hall.
The event will feature a one-hour retelling of the infamous Borden murders by Christopher Daley, a Kingston history teacher who has researched the Borden case extensively.
Lizzie Borden had ties to the town of Marion and was planning to go fishing there the week after the murders at a friend’s home. On the day of the murder of her father and step-mother, she told police she was in the barn looking for lead to make her own fishing sinkers.
The event is free. Donations are welcome and refreshments will be served. For more information, contact the Sippican Historical Society at 508-748-1116 or visit their website.
I saw Chris do his talk two years ago in Tiverton. He gets his facts right and is very informative. I recommend the lecture!
Visit Chris Daley’s website her for more information!
From the Herald News. Deb Allard.
DIRECTIONS:
From Southern Points
Route 95 thru Connecticut to Providence, RI.
In Providence, Route 195 East toward Cape Cod.
Exit 20 off 195 onto Route 105 (Front Street) into Marion.
From Western Points
Route 495 South to Exit 1, Route 195 West.
Exit 20 off 195 onto Route 105 (Front Street) into Marion.
From Northern Points
Route 24 South to 495 South to Exit 1, Route 195 West.
Exit 20 off 195 onto Route 105 (Front Street) into Marion.
Bast, William. The Legend of Lizzie Borden. Television movie starring Elizabeth Montgomery. Directed by Paul Wendhos, produced by George La Maire. ABC/Paramount TV. First broadcase on 10 Feb. 1975.
The entire film is online for your viewing pleasure. Best viewed full screen.
From NewportMansions.org
Celebrating 90 Years of Women and the Vote
Thursday, August 26
11 a.m.
Marble House, 596 Bellevue Avenue
Alva Vanderbilt Belmont, a noted suffragist, called Marble House her “temple to the arts,” and used the house as a setting for suffrage rallies. Today, the arts and women’s suffrage come together as the The Preservation Society of Newport County, the League of Women Voters of Rhode Island, YWCA Northern Rhode Island, Women’s Fund of Rhode Island, the Newport Restoration Foundation and the Newport Historical Society commemorate the 90th anniversary of the 19th amendment.
Join us on the lawn of Marble House for a morning of poetry, music, and readings from historical documents on women’s suffrage by former RI state senator June Gibbs; RI Poet Laureate Lisa Starr; Amber Rose Johnson, the 2010 Poetry Out Loud National Champion from Classical High School in Providence, RI; and Lt. Col. Jayme M. Sutton, Naval War College Military Professor of National Strategy Decision Making.
Event is free and open to the public.
Well, the 4th of August, the anniversary of the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden, has passed, and so also, just like the spring follows the winter, the owner of Lizzie Borden’s Maplecroft has taken his home off the market.
You can almost tell time by the appearance and disappearance of the clumsy sign on the front lawn. Each year the price rises, this time to an exorbitant $885,000. Methinks he thinks he will catch a fool.
At least no one fell for it. According to the property assessors office, the value of Maplecroft, for tax purposes, is $328,300.
Deb Allard of the Fall River Herald News has published a handy guide for the Lizzie Borden goings on for August. The highlights include tours, exhibits, theatre, and lectures.
By Deborah Allard
Herald News Staff Reporter
Posted Aug 11, 2010 @ 02:45 PM
FALL RIVER —
Anyone who loves the mystery of the Borden murders invariably loves the month of August. This year’s 118th anniversary was no different. It brought Lizzie revelers from all over to see the annual reenactment at the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast and the new Bordenabilia exhibit at the Fall River Historical Society.Anyone who missed out on those great Borden bites, needn’t fear — Lizzie doesn’t sleep (her fans won’t let her).
FALL RIVER
The Fall River Historical Society, 451 Rock St., will continue its Bordenabilia exhibit until Oct. 15.On exhibit is the blood-stained bedspread and pillow shams from the Borden guest bedroom displayed unfolded and on a bed for the first time since the Aug. 4, 1892 murders of Lizzie Borden’s father and step-mother Andrew and Abby Borden. Also displayed are Abby’s braid, Abby’s dusting cap, a cape owned either by Lizzie or her sister Emma, a cape owned by Lizzie and Emma’s birth mother in the 1850s, original trial exhibit photographs, a scrapbook kept by Lizzie’s attorney, selections from The Knowlton Papers, other evidence in the hip-bath collection, selections from the unpublished Rufus Hilliard papers, personal letters, photographs, books, case evidence, correspondence and other possessions of the Borden family, including silver goblets emblazoned with a “B” that belonged to Abby and Andrew Borden.
Hours are Tuesday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is $8 which includes a tour of the Victorian granite mansion. Photos are not allowed. For information call 508-679-1071 or visit www.lizzieborden.org.
The Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast, 92 Second St., the site of the actual Borden murders, is open for tours throughout the year. Visitors can view where Andrew and Abby were murdered, and step inside Lizzie Borden’s bedroom.
Tours are offered daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the hour. Tour prices are $12.50 for adults, $10 for seniors and college students with ID, and $5 for children ages 15 and under. Children under 6 are admitted free.
Photos are allowed in the house. For information, call 508-675-7333 or visit www.lizzie-borden.com.
MARION
“Lizzie Borden: The Mystery Continues” will be offered at the Sippican Historical Society on Thursday, Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. at Marion’s Music Hall.The event will feature a one-hour retelling of the infamous Borden murders by Christopher Daley, a Kingston history teacher who has researched the Borden case extensively.
Lizzie Borden had ties to the town of Marion and was planning to go fishing there the week after the murders at a friend’s home. On the day of the murder of her father and step-mother, she told police she was in the barn looking for lead to make her own fishing sinkers.
The event is free. Donations are welcome and refreshments will be served. For more information, contact the Sippican Historical Society at 508-748-1116 or visit www.sippicanhistoricalsociety.org.
NEW YORK
The Blue Coyote Theater Group will present the world premiere of David Foley’s Nance O’Neil, directed by Gary Shrader.Nance O’Neil was an actress friend of Lizzie Borden. David Foley’s Nance O’Neil, imaginatively elaborated from a historical footnote, examines the fascinating relationship between these two women. Were they in love? Or were there other motivations at play?
The relationship between Nance O’Neil and Lizzie Borden has been rife with speculation. As a spinster, Lizzie’s sexuality has always been in question. With rumors of Nance’s numerous affairs with other women, some high profile, several historians and researchers have speculated that Nance and Lizzie were indeed lovers. However, historically this remains as elusive as Mr. and Mrs. Borden’s killer.
Nance O’Neil begins Wed. Sept. 8 for a limited engagement through Sat. Oct., 9. Opening Night is Wed. Sept. 15 at 8 p.m.
The performance schedule is Wednesday to Saturday at 8 p.m. Performances are at the Access Theater, 380 Broadway, just north of White Street. Tickets are $25 ($15 during previews) and are available by calling SmartTix at 212-868-4444 or online at www.smarttix.com.
The Lafayette-Durfee Historical House has partnered with Citizens for Citizens in a program that hires senior citizens.
They now have a tour guide for the House and are expanding their hours. The House will now be open from Wednesday through Sunday through the remainder of the season.
Hope you all have a chance to visit.
94 Cherry Street
Fall River, MA
UPDATE FROM L-D HOUSE:
The Lafayette Durfee House 94 Cherry Street Fall River MA will now be open for tours on Wednesdays through Sundays from 1PM – 4PM starting on 8/18/10.
This is the home of Col Joseph Durfee who led the Fall River militia during the War for Independence and was frequently visited by the Marquis de Lafayette during this time period. Displays will include clothing, furniture, weaponry medical and surgical instruments and much more.
Please visit our website at www.lafayettedurfeehouse.org. Admission is free but a three dollar donation would be greatly appreciated.
Hours are from 12PM-4PM for further information or directions contact via email at lafayettedurfee @yahoo.com or call 508 813 8230.
Wake Up to Poetry! A Morning Poetry Reading!
Saturday Morning, August 28, 2010 from 10AM to 12 Noon
Featuring Ada Jill Schneider, Jon Gagne, and Rosanne Litchman
Somerset Public Library 1464 County St. Somerset, MA (508) 646-2829
Ada Jill Schneider is the winner of the National Galway Kinnell Poetry Prize, and began writing at the age of fifty-three. Her lyrical poems about growing older, the rewards of long love, and family relationships combine attributes of wisdom and wit to strike a universal chord. She reviews poetry books for Midstream magazine and directs “The Pleasure of Poetry,” a program she founded, at the Somerset Public Library in Massachusetts. She received her MFA in Writing from Vermont College.
Ada is a frequent contributor to The Literary Hatchet, a free online literary journal.
This week’s issue of the Fall River Spirit, what I call the happy newspaper that never prints bad news, did a super fantastic story on the special Lizzie Borden exhibit at the Fall River Historical Society. It is titled “Sheet of the Crime.”
Phil Devitt was a really good interviewer and it was a pleasure to speak to him. I was the tour guide on August 4 so I am quoted quite a bit in the article. The most learned comments come from Assistant Curator Dennis Binette. It was an honor to conduct the tours that special day.
The exhibit runs until October 15. Details are in a previous entry on Mondo Lizzie and in the Spirit article linked here.
The Spirit is free and on newsstands until next Thursday.
Here I am.
Giving a tour of Bordenabelia on August 4, 2010
Yesterday, on the 118th anniversary of the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden, I had the honor and privilege to conduct the tours of the new Lizzie Borden exhibit at the Fall River Historical Society. I met people from all over the country, each one fascinated by the enigma that is this woman.
Some came because of the publicity that was generated by the news that the Society would be displaying for the very first time the bedspread and pillow shams that were on the guest room bed at 92 Second Street, as the attack on Abby Borden occurred beside them on the floor. Some came because they wanted to learn more about the case, and were happily doing the Lizzie things in Fall River, including a visit to the Lizzie Borden B&B to see their yearly reenactment of the crimes. Yet a few had no idea that yesterday was of some significance to the story, and were merely out and about visiting museums!
One gentleman was genuinely surprised to learn he had accidentally visited BOTH locations on the anniversary of the murders—a date he had no idea was of any significance! He was pleased with himself for his inadvertent luck, and had actually thought that the big show at the B&B was their daily fare. How sweet!
I had loads of questions, including from kids, and was pleased that so many had an informed understanding of the case and were, like me, upset at all the gossip and innuendo that surrounds this story. Of course, the number one question posed was whether I believed that “she did it,” but since I cannot prove anyone in particular did the dastardly deed, I have not an opinion on this matter. I am not being coy, or holding my cards close to my chest, or keeping my theories secret because I am writing a book—I sincerely cannot prove any theory so I cannot offer even an educated guess. There are so many suspects, so many possibilities, so many ways in which these murders could have been carried out, that it can make your head spin.
I met a woman in person for the first time whom I had communicated many times before on the Lizzie Borden Society Forum–and it was like old home week for us. She had an amazing theory, quite original really, about the killings. I cannot share it with you as I am not at liberty to say what was in her mind after studying this case for years. But suffice it to say it was food for thought and made me reexamine the evidence yet another time to consider her theory. I love it when that happens!
The day was like a whirlwind. I was interviewed by the Fall River Spirit, filmed by channel 10, and the story of the exhibit was picked up by the AP and appeared in papers all over the area. 4 pm arrived before I knew it, which made me kind of sad. I was having so much fun talking about Lizzie with people that I didn’t want it to end. My day was filled to the brim with interesting experiences and conversations. The folks were grand and the day could not have been more fun.
Thank you Michael Martins and Dennis Binette for allowing me to be part of this amazing day, in this amazing museum, in this amazing town.
And you, yes you, —you who are reading this blog— get on down to the Fall River Historical Society and see this exhibit. You will be happy that you did. And that is my guarantee!
photo by Dave Souza, Herald News
Previously, we reported that the Fall River Historical Society had planned a brand new Lizzie Borden exhibit titled Bordenabelia! Well, it opens today! This is exciting because for the first time since the murders, the bedspread and pillow shams that were on the bed in the guest room where Abby Borden was hacked to death are on display, on a replica bed.
In addition, there is a large collection of never-before seen artifacts, most of which have been only recently obtained by the Society in their pursuit of information for their forthcoming book Parallel Lives: A Social History of Lizzie A. Borden and Her Fall River.
A feature article appears today in the Fall River Herald News.
Author Richard Behrens did a lovely reading last evening at the Fall River Public Library from his new book Lizzie Borden: Girl Detective.
Special guests include Donald Woods co-owner of the Lizzie Borden B&B, and the cast of the August 4th reenactment, the Pear Essential Players!
Here is that talk in case you missed it!
Richard Behrens Reads from Lizzie Borden: Girl Detective from MondoLizzie on Vimeo.
The ever-enterprising owner of Lizzie Borden’s former home on the Hill, Maplecroft, has once agin put out the FOR SALE sign. Asking price is $885,000.
If he is true to form, the sign will come down when the tourists, who are in Fall River for the events surrounding the 118th anniversary of the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden in 1892, are gone.
Click on image to see larger picture.
The Fall River Historical Society is presenting a new exhibit of Lizzie Borden and Borden Murder material, titled “Bordenabilia.”
Never-before displayed and newly acquired material,
including:
• The Borden Guest Room blood-stained bedspread and pillow shams, displayed unfolded for the first time since the murders on a replica bed
• Abby Borden’s dusting cap
• Original trial exhibit photographs
• Scrapbook kept by Lizzie Borden’s attorney, Andrew Jennings
• Selections from The Knowlton Papers
• Selections from the “Hip-Bath” Collection
• Selections from the unpublished Rufus Hilliard Papers
• Personal letters, photographs, books, case evidence, correspondence, clothing, and possessions of the Borden family
A representative exhibit of the Fall River Historical Society’s vast Borden holdings, recognized as the central repository of items related to Lizzie Borden and the Borden Murder Case
Wednesday, August 4 through Friday, October 15, 2010
Special Tour Guide August 4th: Borden expert Dr. Stefani Koorey
Tuesday through Friday, 9 AM until 4 PM
Saturday and Sunday, 1 PM until 5 PM
tours conducted on the hour
No cameras or cell phones will be allowed in the exhibit.
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