Lizzie Borden Society Forum

My house was built in 1892. It is a large, brick home built in the French "Chatesque" style.

In my Butler's Pantry, on the wall there is a bell box. It was once used to summon servants to the room they were wanted in.

Thayne has been spending a few hours here and there for the last 6 years puttering with it-- and FINALLY it works! TODAY!

WOO HOO!

Now that is COOL! It looks quite elaborate.

Now get yourself a "Maggie" to summon.

This sounds way cool ! Explain to me how it works..please ?


Tracy...

Each room, (even the one you will be staying in) has a cord... You pull it and the little medallion corresponding to that room flips down and a bell gongs (More like a clink these days) and "Maggie" heretofore known as Josh Hartnet appears in a loin cloth with a palm fan.. WAIT! I mean-- IF I had a personal servant they would appear!

Oh....my....I do believe I feel faint...oh...Josh...catch me....ahhh.


Tracy...

Very cool! Thanks for the pic!
What's a snuggery? Is that the nursery?

The snuggery is a small room "behind" the parlor.

I didn't know it was called that until we saw the original architects rendering of the house.



We use it as a quiet room... We sit in there to read, visit and snuggle!

Very pretty house, did you decorate it yourself?

Yes, It is furnished with a mix of (what I think to be) big comfortable furniture and French antiques.

Snuggery-cubby: a small secluded room

Boy, Audrey, that is some small room! It does look like a wonderful space to sit and catch up on some serious reading.

Cool info on the bell box. How does Josh or anyone know which bell was rung? Does the disc stay down on the bell so that you can tell?

It does remain down until it is "clicked" back in place... The glass covering the discs is a door and can be swung open on hinges.

So let me see if I have this right.

Josh could be in any room when you pull the bell. That would trigger the medallion falling (for your room) in each bell box. He would go to the bell box in the room he was in, take a look to see which medallion was down and go to that room.

When you reset the medallion in your room does that reset them in all the other rooms?

Is this right, or am I way off?

The bell box is in the Butler's Pantry. I imagine it was once loud enough to be heard in the kitchen.

The servant would be in the kitchen, hear the bell chime and go look at the box-- see which disc had fallen, open the door, click it up and go see what his/her master/mistress needed.

Thanks, Audrey, thats so cool and that it still works! Have you checked any of your town's census reports or know your home's history and who the occupants were? And, who the servant(s) was (were) that would respond to the bell?