Stefani Kooreyby Stefani Koorey
First published in April/May, 2005, Volume 2, Issue 2, The Hatchet: Journal of Lizzie Borden Studies.
Being the newest owner of 92 Second Street, would you be so kind as to let us know a bit about yourself and your background?
I’m 34 years old, born on September 18, 1970. I’m a native New Englander, born and raised in Rhode Island, and have known the story of Lizzie since I was a child, so I have always had an interest. I only recently found out that there was a Wilber on Lizzie’s jury. Some of my other interests that keep me out of trouble (most of the time) are acting, bodybuilding, reading, gardening, fishing, riding (dressage), any and all horror . . . especially the Rocky variety! I applied for the role of Janet with the RI cast in 1989 and ended up playing Frank for 11 years. I was also the first female Frank to be asked to join the cast of Harvard Square in Boston MA (1991-93). B-movies, Japanese sci-fi (Godzilla rules!) Monty Python and musical theatre…Tim Curry is currently starring in Spamalot on Broadway . . . What a combo! A Monty Python musical starring one of my favorite actors!!! I MUST GO SEE HIM!!!
Prior to buying Lizzie’s, I was a manager for GNC for 3 years, and before that, I drove a tractor trailer for 9 years. Somewhere between all that, I managed to go to URI and study Oceanography, Marine Biology and Early Childhood Education.
Does ownership of the house afford you the opportunity to act in any way, and if so are you/would you be depicting a Borden character?
Yes, I have portrayed both Lizzie and Bridget. I usually don the Bridget outfit while giving tours…or, if I haven’t finished cleaning the rooms in time before the tours start. At least then Dee can explain (or I can excuse myself) why I’m running thru the house with a pile of towels in my arms. Lizzie and Emma (Eleanor and I) gave their first high tea a month ago for the local Red Hatters. Father (Ed) also joined the festivities and entertained the ladies. They were a lot of fun. I am now reading/learning all about tea parties.
Do you live in the house all the time and if so what is your favorite room?
No, I don’t live here . . . it just seems that way. I own a house in Warwick, RI (well, I pay the mortgage on a house in RI . . . I go home to water my plants). I spend about 65% of my time at Lizzie’s, 20% at Donald’s, and 10% at the gym. My house and plants get the rest.
I sleep at Lizzie’s many nights when there are no guests. I usually stay in Bridget’s room. I like it on the third floor, it’s nice and quiet (sometimes) . . . I do occasionally get woken by ‘something’ and then lie there for the next hour listening to the house and all it’s ‘special’ sounds . . . doors opening, footsteps, voices . . . but it’s all good.
If you are sensitive to atmosphere, does the Borden house have one?
I was much more sensitive when I was younger. I saw, dreamt and felt things when I was a child. I lost ‘it’ when I turned 12, but still feel enough to know that this house is definitely active.
What are your overall psychic impressions of the house as a whole? And, are there any special spots or areas that give you particularly strong feelings?
The house fluctuates. Some days are much stronger than others as far as its mood . . . yes, the house has ‘mood swings,’ That’s the only way to describe it. The strongest rooms for me are the basement and the third floor. I don’t scare easily, but have been ‘unglued’ a few times when I’m alone in the basement. . . (Why the F*** did I put my office down there!?!)
Prior owners and visitors have told of paranormal activity in the house. Have you seen anything along this line firsthand? Have you heard of anything from guests or employees?
Many guests come to the house laughing, joking and begging for something to scare them . . . then when something DOES happen . . .
Well the good news is that I’ve only lost 6 guests since July . . . when you open the door to let them in and they’re already whimpering on the doorstep, it’s a good indication that they might not make it till breakfast! Eleanor and Dee have some stories to tell . . . but you’ll have to come and visit the house to hear them!
It has been reported that the B&B recently purchased some of Lizzie’s personal library from Maplecroft. Could you share some of the titles with us?
Yes, we recently acquired some books from Mrs. Featherline. Mr. Featherline’s great aunt was the 2nd wife of Ernest Terry, Lizzie’s chauffeur at Maplecroft. The titles are The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary, The Bishop of Cottontown, Hazel of the Heatherland, When Ghost Meets Ghost, The Inner Shrine, The Christian, David Elginbrod, and For Loves Sweet Sake (the last is a book of poems).
Have you formed an opinion as to whether Lizzie was innocent or guilty?
I don’t know if she was guilty. But I’m pretty sure she wasn’t innocent.
There is a TV show called “Ghost Hunters” on the Sci-Fi channel, where a group will travel to a house that is supposed to be haunted and try to prove it. They are very fair minded – they don’t make mountains out of molehills. They are not psychics; they are looking for evidence of the world beyond. Would you be willing to contact the show and see if they would like to visit and see what evidence they can gather?
We have contacted the show and are waiting for a response. In the meantime, Fangoria was here at the house three weeks ago filming for their new show. I don’t have a date on that airing yet, but you can check for potential times/updates at their website FangoriaTV.
Will you ever add mutton to the breakfast menu?
Maybe . . . I’ve thought about it. I actually looked when I went to the grocery store, but Campbells doesn’t make anything that is even close.
Are there any plans for 92 Second Street and Maplecroft joining forces to promote each other as tourist attractions?
Donald and I actually talked about buying Maplecroft. But we decided to focus our efforts into restoring this house first. As far as I know, Mr. Dube (Donald and I have not met him), had opened the house to the public in the past and it didn’t work out for him. He no longer has any interest in becoming a tourist attraction. It doesn’t deter me, however, from sending all my tourists to Oak Grove Cemetery via French St.
Which is your most popular room to rent?
It’s a tie between John Morse and Lizzie.
Have you discovered any ‘hidden treasures’ since you’ve taken over the house?
The one thing that I found, that has piqued my curiosity, is actually in Andrew’s bedroom. When Andrew bought the house, that room was a kitchen and the stove was where his bed is now. In the closet, there is a small door looking into the back of the chimney area, and it appears that there, from the shape and angle of the bricks, was once a beehive oven. So, when the house was built, was that originally a fireplace? Anyone know??
What is the current status of the demolition of the Leary Press building and the proposed changes to the property?
As of right now, Leary is still standing. We are waiting on the weather. Leary Press currently covers 9,000 sq. ft. The entire Borden property. Our plans include restoring the house, adding some much needed parking, planting the side yard and building a replica of the barn.
Could you offer some details of the barn reconstruction?
The barn will house a reception area and gift shop on the first floor. The second floor will be my office (NO MORE COLD, SPOOKY BASEMENT!!).
Are there any more plans for more Luminol tests to be done in the house, such as on the bottom floorboards where Abby was slain?
No, no plans as of now. I had the carpet peeled back in the JM room only to find that someone has bleached the floor. So I don’t know if a luminol test will do much good now.
There was a pile of lumber against the back fence in August of 1892. Will you try to recreate that, too?
We’ll see . . . Our parking spaces are more important than the wood pile.
Have you ever visited Maplecroft? If so, what is your feeling of the “after trial” Lizzie as opposed to the Lizzie you have come to know by owning her former residence?
No, I have never been inside Maplecroft, nor have I seen any photos of the interior. But I’ve been told that it was beautiful inside.
Is there any possibility that the B&B will consider having the old privy in the back yard dug up and searched? This really is the last important UNSEARCHED place on the property!
The privy area is currently sitting under a 1 ft. thick concrete slab that covers a 3,000 sq. ft. area. It will be broken up and when it is, we will dig into a few areas near to were the back of the barn was. Between Ed and Len, I’m sure we will be pointed in the right direction of where to dig first.
