VICTORIAN TEA RECEPTION, Sunday, April 11th , Noon – 4:30pm. Open to all.
To open its newest art exhibit, “FALL RIVER: SPINDLE CITY”, The Greater Fall River Art Association (GFRAA) is hosting a Victorian Tea party for the public. There is no charge, but donations are welcome. Specialty teas, coffees, and baked items popular during the Victorian period will be offered. The tea and exhibit are being held to honor the city’s special place in American history, especially during the Victorian period and industrial revolution of late 19th and early 20th centuries. Art from local artists will be exhibited and sold. A selection of Victorian era and Victorian-style items will also be on sale.
The exhibit will continue on Sundays, Noon-3pm, until June 13, 2010.
The GFRAA is the oldest art association and art school in Fall River. New members can sign up at the reception or anytime.
Address: 80 Belmont St., Fall River. Phone: 508-673-7212.
A recent spate of online articles (here, here, and here) are appearing about UC Irvine neuroscientist James Fallon’s discovery of his relationship to a murderer and an accused but acquitted killer as well. The reason this is somehow significant is that Fallon is currently conducing research and lecturing on the biological traits of murderers. He has correctly identified 30 killers out of a 70 subject experiment by studying the brain scans of the individuals.
This is the interesting part:
A cousin had done some sleuthing, and Fallon learned of eight potential killers among his ancestors, starting with Thomas Cornell, who was hanged in 1673 for murdering his mother — the first case of matricide in colonial America. Lizzie Borden, who was tried but acquitted in the hatchet deaths of her father and stepmother in 1892, is a distant cousin in that same Cornell branch.
Unfortunately, Dr. Fallon is only partly correct in is genealogical research. It has never been proven that Lizzie is related to Thomas Cornell, even though the Cornell family website claims that it is so.
If you read the expert research presented by Kat Koorey on the Lizzie Borden Society Forum, you will see that the Cornells are misidentifying Innocent Cornell with Innocent Wardell. Same first names, different last names. There simply isn’t a connection.
So while Dr. Fallon may be related to Thomas Cornell, he is not related to Lizzie. Which is good news to those who feel that justice was served that day in 1893 when Lizzie Borden was acquitted.
Oh, and the funny part, Fallen admits, is that he has the same scan as the psychopathic killers. Apparently, nurture has a great influence on whether one will kill or not.
An interview with actor Corbin Bernsen (of LA LAW fame) was just posted on Fangoria.com. In it, Bernsen talks about his part as Dr. Fredricks in the new horror flick “Lizzie the Movie.”
Besides Bernsen, the film also sports Gary Busey as the Old Man.
Synopsis:
On August 4th, 1892, Andrew Jackson Borden and Abby Durfee Borden were brutally murdered with an old household hatchet. The blows of the murder weapon were so violent and numerous that their faces and skulls were unrecognizably disfigured. Although acquitted, it is common knowledge that the daughter, Lizzie Borden, is responsible for this savage evil act.
The present day Lizzy Allen suffers from an extreme case of childhood amnesia which not only lays dark her childhood memories but also her relationship or lack there of, of her parents themselves.When Lizzie discovers the news of her father’s death she inherits the house she once lived in…and therefore a new place to live.
But as she begins to settle in she starts to get a glimpse of her childhood memories along with clues as to what really happened in the Borden household in 1892. We follow Lizzy’s journey as she attempts to distinguish between the two and strives to reach her own sanity and happiness while doing so.
Monsterquest, a History Channel series, did an investigation into the Lizzie Borden house in 2008. It has recently been added to YouTube in several segments. Here it is for your viewing pleasure.
Very nifty Lizzie Borden products are for sale every day. This one is especially well done. Notice the juxtaposition of the pink and light blue with the gruesome cartoon image of Miss Lizzie. While I don’t subscribe to this type of depiction of Lizzie Borden (after all she was acquitted), I do appreciate good folk art and support artists who are using Lizzie’s image in their work. At least this creator didn’t just rehash an old photograph. It is original in every way.
“Where did you get that CUTE, CUTE BAG! It’s so .. oh … Is that… an axe on there?”
“Yes. Yes it is. Would you like to see what’s inside?”
Welcome to my store and thanks for checking out the axe lady tote! This is my first tote for sale on Etsy, and it is definately one of a kind! I am going to be making a few more of the Magical Expandable Axe Lady Totes, but each one will be unique by changing color combinations, trim fabrics, accessories, etc.
The bottom of the bag is done in my first attempt at custom designed fabric! It’s a cornflower blue duck cloth showing various types of axe heads in white and their names in black.
Centered here in the front of the bag is a 5 inch padded fabric cameo of the axe lady. She has just a hint of a smirk, an axe in her hands, a snake in her hair, and a cat on her shoulder. Adorable and wicked, waiting for you to turn your back for one second…
The upper part of the bag is done in a blue batik tie-dye looking fabric that coordinates well with the axe heads. It weirdly looks stained and dirty, yet pretty.
These 2 fabrics are separated by black zippers that wrap almost completely around the bag. The zippers have pulls that are tiny silver axes and a little bow of pink and blue ribbon. When unzipped, the bottom of the bag will drop down about 7 more inches, exposing my second attempt at custom designed fabric. This is done in a magenta duck cloth and has the Lizzie Borden poem in the foreground with the names of some of the key characters and some ‘descriptive’ words in the background.
The duck cloth makes this bag sturdy enough to tote just about anything. The bag is lined with quilt batting to help protect any delicate items insideand the strap and lining are done with the blue batik used for the upper portion of the bag, and a sort of purple/magenta batik also with a tie-dye look. Handles are super long and padded, and can easily be lengthened or shortened by adjusting the bow or making a knot. You can double the strap and wear
the bag comfortably over one shoulder, or wear it slung across your body when you have a really heavy load in there. (Body parts?)
When expanded, this bag is just about big enough to carry a case of beer. Who knows why you would want a case of beer in your totebag… but who am I to judge?
There is one internal pockets that is about 5×6. There is a key keeper strap with a swivel hook and another strap with a carabineer. (This bag is BIG when expanded and you might toss in something else you need to put a leash on.)
The tote comes with 2 soft accessory pouches, one is about 4x3x2 and the other is 6x4x3. Both have a zip top. Both feature the axe lady on the front. The larger has a strap so you can carry it alone like a wristlet, or just toss it inside as a makeup bag or organizer.
Tote specifications:
The base is 15×4. It’s 11 in. tall zipped and 18 unzipped.
Dry clean or wash in cold and hang dry.
Ken Souza, the former editor of the Lizzie Borden Quarterly, explains Arnold Brown’s theory that the illegitimate son of Andrew Borden did the killings. As told in Brown’s Lizzie Borden the Truth, the Legend, the Final Chapter.
And then, there is this choice tidbit from Jules Ryckebusch about DNA. Hmmm. Never heard that one before!
FALL RIVER, Mass. –A new U.S. Navy ship is being named for the seafaring Massachusetts city of Fall River.
Navy Secretary Ray Mabus joined Gov. Deval Patrick for the ceremony Thursday honoring the Fall River, which will be the Navy’s fourth Joint High Speed Vessel for transporting troops, equipment and supplies.
Mabus said the ship embodies the patriotic spirit of Fall River and the thousands of its residents who have served in the armed services.
It’s not the first time a ship has been named after the city.
The first, the USS Fall River, was a cruiser commissioned in 1945 and used largely on training missions. The tip of the bow of that now decommissioned ship is on display at Battleship Cove in Fall River.
MUFON Case # 22457
Event Date: 02/20/2010 09:39
City: Fall River
Region: Massachusetts
Shape: Disc
Duration: 00:05:00
Distance: Over one mile
Location: City
Terrain: River
Visibility: Clear
Summary: Shot photo of UFO in distance while taking photos of Coast Guard helicopter.
Report:
On February 20, 2010, at 9:39 AM, my toddler son and I were walking on the boardwalk at Fall River Heritage State Park, Fall River MA. We saw a US Coast Guard helicopter fly directly overhead very low to the ground along the edge of the Taunton River, heading north. Because my son loves helicopters, I took my digital camera out and started photographing it.
As I was shooting photos, the helicopter turned west and accelerated quickly across the river toward Somerset, MA. I saw an object in the distance, moving at a steady speed in a northbound direction. One of my photos captured this object. At first, although I did notice it, I didn’t pay it much attention, assuming it might be a plane departing TF Green Airport in Providence RI. The object continued to fly in a northerly direction until it was out of sight past the treeline along the river.
However, when I uploaded the photos to my computer, I looked at the one of this object and noticed that it doesn’t appear to have wings or a tail section. I showed my wife and several friends, and all agreed that although the object is difficult to see clearly due to its distance, it does not in fact appear to have wings or a tail.
The first attached photo is the original unedited photo. I was standing on the aforementioned State Park boardwalk, facing west. The second photo is cropped and zoomed to show the helicopter and object relative to each other.
My friend Don Hammontree, singer, photographer, video artist, has posted one of his songs from his new CD “Brutalist School”—titled Quequechan. He has created a music video incorporating his photographs of Fall River, many of which you might recognize.
It is a really fine song. Take a listen.
The second video from Don Hammontree’s latest CD “Brutalist School” (download it at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/hammontree3 or at iTunes), “Quequechan” is the singer/songwriter’s tribute to Fall River, Massachusetts, his home of more than 11 years. Most of the photographs of the city shown in the video were taken by Hammontree, an avid photographer.
Fall River, a city of around 90,000 people that sits on the Massachusetts/Rhode Island border an hour south of Boston. In its heyday, it was one of the largest textile manufacturing centers in the world. Famous Fall River-ites include suspected axe murderess Lizzie Borden, master chef Emeril Lagasse, news host George Stephanopoulos, former Boston Celtic Chris Herren, and Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne.
A native of Peoria, Ill., Don Hammontree is a singer/songwriter, writer and photographer. “Brutalist School” is his third CD, following “Mount Hope Days” (2003) and “The Mumbai EP” (2005). He is also the author of the self-published novel “Baptized in Formaldehyde,” a day-in-the-life, coming-of-age, sex-drugs-and-rock-and-roll story for the whole family.
A busy performer, Hammontree has played throughout the American Northeast, Midwest and South, as well as in Poland and Ukraine. For his latest shows, please consult
From the latest New England Historic Genealogical Society Newsletter:
NEHGS Irish Genealogy Tour
Discover your Irish heritage with the New England Historic Genealogical Society in Dublin, Ireland, May 23–30, 2010. This weeklong guided research tour will give you access to a treasure trove of records in Dublin and the benefit of consultations with some of the foremost experts in Irish genealogy. Your tour features guided research at various repositories in central Dublin, including the General Register Office, National Library, National Archives, and Registry of Deeds, among others. Daily programming includes tutorials, research tips and techniques lectures, personalized consultations and group dinning events. For more information visit www.newenglandancestors.org/9062.asp.
I have to say I watch this web-only show. I keep up with each episode and find it fresh and interesting. 30 Odd Minutes is the brainchild of Jeff Belanger. He is interested in all things paranormal and has created a great informal interview show that is well worth watching. His cohorts and coworkers include Matt Moniz, Rob Bailey, Andrew Lake, Andy White, and Sarah Samways. Check out their bios here, and don’t forget to mouse over the pictures for a laff.
30 Odd Minutes has produced a show on the Lizzie Borden house.
Here is their description:
Episode 27 – “Live” from Lizzie Borden’s
In Episode 27 we come to you “Live” from the haunted Lizzie Borden house in Fall River, Massachusetts. Okay, not totally “live” because we filmed the episode about a week before it aired. Nobody does a documentary like the 30 Odd Minutes crew! And Lizzie Borden is no different. Just like our studio show we do the whole thing live, straight-through, in one take. You get a tour of the house, learn about some of the history, hear from the manager, Lee Ann, and learn from our special guests: EVP specialist, Mike Markowicz, and the host of Spooky Southcoast Radio, Tim Weisberg. You just don’t know what will happen during this show. Do we uncover evidence of the paranormal or just a prank? Tune in to find out! If the truth is out there… 30 Odd Minutes will find it… but only by sheer accident.
Bloody Rare Books has had a placeholder for a long while where their Lizzie Borden Collection was one day supposed to go. Well that day has finally arrived and I am happy to say that the site is spectacular!
With research and writing by Richard Behrens, of “Lizzie Borden: Girl Detective” and GardenBay Films (which produces the Lizzie Mini films), this section of the rare book store site is jam-packed with Lizzie info, including a most excellent retelling of the trial of Lizzie Borden.
Bloody Rare indicates that their Lizzie Borden inventory will be uploaded soon. I can’t wait!
Some students at Waltham High School (MA) have put together a short video on the Lizzie Borden case. It is a straight retelling of the story, with a strong emphasis on Lizzie’s probable guilt.
The students cite their sources at the end of the show, but get many of the facts of the case incorrect. Can you spot their mistakes? Comment on your findings below.
A group of rather inventive T-shirt designs have popped up recently on Zazzle.com.
Zazzle is the world’s leading platform for quality custom products. Zazzle’s proprietary technology enables individuals, professional artists, and major brands, including Disney and Hallmark, to create and offer billions of unique products for customers worldwide. Zazzle’s rapidly expanding product base covers every topic imaginable and includes t-shirts, business cards, invitations, in addition to a variety of custom gifts. Upon creation, products are instantly and accurately visualized on the site and offered in the Zazzle marketplace. When ordered, each product is made on-demand, typically within 24 hours. Launched in 2005 and based in Redwood City, California, Zazzle’s vision is to redefine commerce, powered by the world’s imagination.
Here are a sampling of their Lizzie Borden wearables.
There is an interesting contest that unfortunately ends today where people can submit their ideas for a film poster for a movie that never existed, but models itself as a parody on B movies.
JohnLennon15 submitted a poster for a fake film titled “I Married Lizzie Borden.” It is pretty imaginative and well done (see below). I think it might win as it seems to me to be the best of the entries.
Here are the rules:
Yes, it’s B-Movie time! Your goal? To create a convincing poster for one of those enjoyable B-Movies (or lower down the alphabet).
Sound’s simple? Well, we’re going to make it even more challenging! Your goal is NOT to mock films, not to parody them – your goal is to take a randomly generated B-Movie title and make a poster that is as believable as possible for the movie you’ve imagined!
Here’s what you do!
* Go to the B-Movie Generator and generate a title you want to do the poster of.
Now, when you do this poster, you also have to include the following on your entry at the site it’s hosted at:
* The year it was made.
* A summary of the plot and characters.
* Any other extra detail to make it more believable.
So if your fake picture is from the 70′s, the poster is going to be in a different style than say, the 90′s or the 50′s. This also gives you a chance to find a style that fits your artistic skills and interests, from the cut-and-paste oddness of grindhouse posters to some of the strange and lush art of the 70′s and more!
A few resources to help those of you looking to do a blast from the past:
* Some 1970′s posters.
* Some 1960′s posters.
* Some 1950′s drive in posters.
So go on, let’s see what kind of wonderfully cheese films you can create – that never were.
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