Mondo Lizzie Borden

Today, the Fall River Herald News published an OUR VIEW opinion column endorsing Every House Has A Story.

So far, the feedback has been very positive to this city-wide initiative, supported not only by the Preservation Society of Fall River, Arts United Fall River, Save Our Neighborhoods, and the city of Fall River (and the Mayor’s office).

The Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities is looking at this as a pilot program for other cities in the Commonwealth!

OUR VIEW: If these walls could talk, 06-21-09
The Herald News
Posted Jun 21, 2009 @ 12:00 AM
How often do we find ourselves examining our surroundings and wondering what discoveries we could make and lessons we could learn “if only these walls could talk?”

History is everywhere, especially in Fall River, an old mill city with many homes and factories more than 100 years old. Personal stories are written all over the walls of closely packed triple-decker tenements and sprawling stone-and-brick mill buildings — stories just waiting to be told. Now, thanks to a new community-based Web site, those walls are coming to life, promising to impart the kind of wisdom and advice for future prosperity that only history can provide.

“Every House has a Story” was born out of local historian Stephanie Koorey’s curiosity about the history of her own home, which, she discovered, was once owned by Fall River’s most notorious resident, Lizzie Borden. Every house, Koorey figured, has an equally fascinating story to tell; one that should be shared with the masses. Now it can be on http://everyhousehasastory.org.

The Wikipedia-like Web site allows anyone to contribute his or her own personal property tale. The Web site also provides a quick tutorial on how to research one’s own home and provides resources to research house deeds, architectural styles and chain of ownership, among other pieces of information.

The organizers hope the community embraces Every House has a Story and the site eventually features hundreds of stories detailing the history of the city’s homes, and telling the story of the city itself. The program is as community-oriented as it gets, offering Fall Riverites the chance not only to tell of their own place in the city’s history, but to detail the stories of those who helped make Fall River what it is, helping contribute to and sustain the fabric of the community. It can involve homeowners, politicians, even students. Every House has a Story is partnering with B.M.C. Durfee High School, which is allowing work on the Web site as part of its summer reading program.

Young and old are encouraged to become amateur sleuths, examining property records, census figures and newspaper clippings, and exploring every nook and cranny of one’s own home. The Web site provides an invaluable educational experience, expanding one’s knowledge of local history, architecture, demographics, even politics and governance. It also encourages residents to become more resourceful and curious, keys to learning and progressing. Who knows what fascinating discoveries are waiting to be found?

Such community pride as Koorey has obviously achieved can be difficult to find. No, Fall River is not a perfect city. It has more than its fair share of crime, poverty and pollution. It has a high unemployment rate and low educational attainment compared to more affluent cities in the commonwealth. But few communities can boast the cultural diversity, fascinating history and potential that can be found in the Spindle City. In a way, Fall River is a reflection of what America once was. It is not a rich city — financially, anyway — but is made up of hardworking, blue-collar people with diverse backgrounds who take pride in an honest day’s work and making a small contribution to society. There is honor in such a life.

“I think a sense of place is important to loving where you live,” Koorey said. “If people start realizing their connection to the city, then we won’t take it for granted.”

Every House has a Story helps Fall River reflect on its colorful past and find that honor once again.

I introduced the Mayor of Fall River today at a press conference held by the Preservation Society of Fall River, Arts United, Save Our Neighborhoods, and the City of Fall River. He was gracious with his complements of our new initiative titled “Every House Has A Story,” where citizens and interested parties can participate in recording and preserving the stories of their homes in Fall River.

The website is EveryHouseHasAStory.org and we invite people who have lived in the city, but may not even live here now, to log in, create an account, and post your history of your house.

“Every House Has A Story,” is a program to inspire children and adults of all ages to expand their pride in their city, with its rich cultural diversity and history—whether they live in a Victorian mansion in the Highlands or a three-decker up the Flint.

An article appears in Friday’s Herald News, which was posted online tonight.

On Tuesday, June 16, actress and playwright Jill Dalton and director Jack McCullough will appear on WSAR radio to talk about their work on Lizzie Borden Live and their successful efforts to bring the show to Fall River.

Jill wrote and stars in the play and has developed a special affinity with Lizzie Borden, an historical “character” that she felt compelled to write about. With Fall River native Jack McCullough’s directorial vision, the show has evolved into a phenomenal production of Lizzie’s later life, after sister Emma has left her.

I have been invited to be on the radio as well, in the half hour before the team speaks about the show, discussing the history of the case and the fascination that Lizzie inspires worldwide.

Mike Herron (”The Hurricane”) will be conducting the interviews on his Hurricane’s Highway Home show.

There is a listen live link on the radio station’s site. My browser does not recognize it as a working media button, but I use a mac. Perhaps your computers, if a PC, will have better luck. Listen in! The radio show starts at 3:30 p.m.

Ric Rebelo is working on a master’s project titled Lizbeth: A Victorian Nightmare. It is all about the Lizzie Borden case and asks the question Who Killed the Bordens?

Five minutes of the project has been put together and posted on YouTube. It stars your truly (in my worst hairdo ever!), Len Rebello, author of Lizzie Borden Past & Present, and Jules Ryckebusch, former editor of The Lizzie Borden Quarterly.

The Fall River Historical Society, both online and in the brick and mortar gift shop on Rock Street, carries many Lizzie Borden items for sale, including the publications of PearTree Press.

Check them out for the two latest issues of The Hatchet: Lizzie Borden’s Journal of Murder, Mystery & Victorian History, The Preliminary Hearing in the Lizzie Borden Case, and Do Come in And Other Lizzie Borden Poems by Larry Allen.

The Spring 2009 issue of The Hatchet: Lizzie Borden’s Journal of Murder, Mystery & Victorian History is now available for sale in both subscription (online pdf) and print.

If you want to subscribe, for only $15 per year, to the Online edition, please visit The Hatchet.

If you would like to purchase the print copy, for only $14.99, please visit the sales site for The Hatchet.

The Preliminary Hearing phase of the Commonwealth vs. Lizzie A. Borden began on August 25 and lasted until September 1, 1892. The copy given to Lizzie’s lawyer, Andrew Jennings, is the only one known to have survived. It has recently been discovered that this copy is, in fact, both incomplete and inaccurate, having been altered and edited for some long-forgotten reason. This new edition of the Preliminary Hearing combines a number of transcriptions from various sources in an effort to reproduce, as accurately and authentically as possible, the day-by-day proceedings of this all-important legal event in the history of the Borden murders of 1892. This new edition, for the first time, reads in the order in which the witnesses were called, includes the closing statements of the defense and prosecution and the judge’s summation and verdict, and contains the entirety of Lizzie’s own Inquest testimony which was read into the official record but not reproduced in the original transcription.

A new edition is now available for sale for only $29.99. Published by PearTree Press. B&W interior. 7″ x 10″ format. 526 pages.

Fall River Herald News columnist Marc Dion has penned a lovely piece about the new Fall River History Club. It appears on the paper on Monday, January 12th. It is a must read!

Of course, Lizzie Borden is mentioned. It is Fall River history! And yes, I am in it too.

Read the full text here.

The proof has finally been approved and the print copy of the November issue of The Hatchet is now available for sale.

You will note that the price has been GREATLY reduced from what was available on our previous print on demand partner. Instead of a price close to $28, we are offering this issue for ONLY $14.99!

Click here for info on this issue’s contents.

You can buy all of our books through this page.

Or the November Hatchet directly through this page.

Here is a quick update regarding the Alice Russell house.

Alice Russell was Lizzie Borden’s friend. Alice was the first person Lizzie sent Bridget for after the doctor was not at home that fateful day in 1892. Alice stayed the night with Lizzie and Emma on August 4-5, and it was Alice who spoke out to the grand jury about Lizzie burning a dress a few days after the murders. It was Alice’s last minute testimony to the grand jury that prompted them to issue their indictments.

Now the Alice Russell house, the home she lived in for many years in her adulthood, is slated for demolition. Not for progress, but for a parking lot. The house is over 120 years old and dates from the 1880s.

Save Our Neighborhoods is meeting with SouthCoast Hospital group in early January to express our desire to see Charlton Hospital build their parking lots up instead of out, thereby avoiding the elimination of entire blocks of single and multiple family homes. The destruction of the neighborhoods is the prime focus of the meeting. It includes the Russell house because that house is on this block, slated for demolition.

Al Lima and I will be present at the meeting with SouthCoast’s VP of Marketing and Public Affairs. I will let you all know how it goes.

If any of you would like to submit letters of support in this regard, please mail them to me at : PearTree Press, P.O. Box 9585, Fall River, MA 02720. You can address the recipient in the letters as SouthCoast Health System.

Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Join in the discussion on the Alice Russell house here.

Boston University Broadcast Journalism major Ryan McCune has posted his final project on Vimeo. Like his partner, Karlyn Smith, Ryan detailed the trademark infringement lawsuit filed against the True Story of Lizzie Borden in Salem by the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast/Museum in Fall River.

In this assignment, he had to present whatever story he told without his own voiceover, relying on the real people to tell the tale. He interviewed Lee-Ann Wilber, Leonard Pickel, and me, Stefani Koorey, for the project.

It came out really well! I hope you enjoy it too!

The Battle for Borden from Ryan McCune on Vimeo.

Link.

Boston University Broadcast Journalism majors Karlyn Smith and Ryan McCune invited me to participate in their final exam project one cold day just this last October. It was a pleasure meeting these two gentlemen. I was impressed by their professionalism and they won me over immediately when they brought me a large hot chocolate for the shoot.

According to their project rules, the story they wanted to tell could not be narrated by them, but had to be entirely told through live interviews and photographic evidence.

The story they chose was the trademark lawsuit filed by the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast/Museum in Fall River against The True Story of Lizzie Borden, Gift Shop and Museum in Salem, MA. All the parties involved agreed to be interviewed, which was a huge coup for Karlyn and Ryan.

The first of the two projects has been completed (they assisted each other, but submitted individual works for their grades) and it was posted today on Vimeo.com. Karlyn has granted me permission to embed the video here for you to see.

I invite you to sit back, relax, and enjoy these two excellent filmmaker/journalists do their thing.

Starring Lee-Ann Wilber, Leonard Pickel, and me, Stefani Koorey.

A Tale of Two Lizzies from Karlyn Smith on Vimeo.

Today’s Fall River Herald News. Emma and I made the front page!

Click the images for larger versions.

Mondo Lizzie Borden has always endorsed a blogger’s code of ethics. It is great to see more and more online journalists taking this all to heart and joining in the commitment.

Our rules have always been simple:

Our commitment to professional behavior, even when the cause is a controversial one, is paramount. Our reputation is at stake and we know it.

From CyberJournalist.net:

A BLOGGERS’ CODE OF ETHICS
Be Honest and Fair
Bloggers should be honest and fair in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.
Bloggers should:
• Never plagiarize.
• Identify and link to sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources’ reliability.
• Make certain that Weblog entries, quotations, headlines, photos and all other content do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.
• Never distort the content of photos without disclosing what has been changed. Image enhancement is only acceptable for for technical clarity. Label montages and photo illustrations.
• Never publish information they know is inaccurate — and if publishing questionable information, make it clear it’s in doubt.
• Distinguish between advocacy, commentary and factual information. Even advocacy writing and commentary should not misrepresent fact or context.
• Distinguish factual information and commentary from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two.

Minimize Harm
Ethical bloggers treat sources and subjects as human beings deserving of respect.
Bloggers should:
• Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by Weblog content. Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced sources or subjects.
• Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief.
• Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of information is not a license for arrogance.
• Recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than do public officials and others who seek power, influence or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone’s privacy.
• Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity.
Be cautious about identifying juvenile suspects, victims of sex crimes and criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges.

Be Accountable
Bloggers should:
• Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.
• Explain each Weblog’s mission and invite dialogue with the public over its content and the bloggers’ conduct.
• Disclose conflicts of interest, affiliations, activities and personal agendas.
• Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence content. When exceptions are made, disclose them fully to readers.
• Be wary of sources offering information for favors. When accepting such information, disclose the favors.
• Expose unethical practices of other bloggers.
• Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others.

My recent find of the Emma Borden photograph has sparked some interesting discussion on the Lizzie Borden Society Forum.

But one of things I adore about this image is that the lighting was such that we get a clearer view of her eyes. The older Emma photograph that we know shows a dark and sad Emma—dark eyes, I mean.

The new one shows eyes that are remarkably like her sister Lizzie. Don’t you think?

Emma is on the top of the photo, Lizzie the bottom. Family resemblance?