Lizzie sign debate

From the August 13, 1997, New Standard:

Council takes a whack at Lizzie signs
By Ric Oliveira, Standard-Times staff writer

FALL RIVER — City councilors wanted to kill four signs directing tourists to the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast, but buried the hatchet and allowed the measure to pass. The signs depict Lizzie Borden and have a maroon silhouette of an ax pointing in the direction of the bed and breakfast, located in the house where the celebrated murders were committed. Several councilors felt the ax was an inappropriate symbol, considering the city’s efforts to stop violence.

The proponents of the signs have spent more than $500 in design work and had received the proper permits to place the signs on public ways. However the last hurdle was the council, which debated the issue longer than any other issue on the agenda last night. In a city trying to boost tourism, the debate over the ax seemed ironic considering the dozens of signs depicting Battleship Cove scattered throughout the city.

Councilors offered two arguments in opposition. They said the approval would cause a deluge of other businesses seeking signs pointing to their properties. The other argument related to the poor image the hatchet presents to tourists and the city’s youth. Councilor Joseph Camara called it a subliminal message. Others, including Leo Pelletier, Mark Gustafson and William Whitty said the signs were done in poor taste. But arguing on behalf of the signs were bed and breakfast employees and even a Bristol Community College professor, who pointed out the hatchet was synonymous with Lizzie Borden and was an eye-catching way to get drivers’ attention. But four of the nine councilors could only see the blood.

“It does fit with the Lizzie Borden story all good and well,” said Councilor Pelletier. “But I do not think the hatchet should be in there. In my opinion I do not like the ax. I have no problem putting signs up, and you can have the signs, but without the ax,” Mr. Pelletier told the proponents.

“That sounds like censorship to me,” responded Ron Evans, who runs the bed and breakfast. “The ax is eye-catching it makes people notice the sign.” Mr. Evans then proceeded to show a half dozen books written about the legendary murders. The books all depicted axes on the covers, some with dripping blood and skulls. “We showed the sign to over 250 people and none of them had any problems with it,” said Mr. Evans, who was accompanied by the establishment’s owner, Martha McGinn. Some councilors could find no hidden message in the ax and questioned the debate.

“I like the sign,” said Councilor Thomas Kozak. “I don’t think the sign will promote violence. Salem is synonymous with witches and Fall River is synonymous with Lizzie Borden. I think some people are taking this to an extreme.”

“That particular symbol is the crux of the whole mystery surrounding the case,” added Steven Walsh who voted in favor of the proposal along with Councilors Paul B. Hart, Mr. Kozak, Gus Suneson and Raymond Hague. But others disagreed.

“It is not subliminal, it is blatant,” said Council President Whitty. “The sign blatantly depicts a murder weapon and having it on a public way is inappropriate.”

“Maybe in your opinion it is subliminal,” responded Mr. Evans. “We are not trying to get across any hidden message.”

Mr. Whitty said he was also concerned that allowing the signs would set a precedent in the city. He said if these signs were allowed, other for-profit businesses would be inundating the council with requests to advertise on city streets. Councilor Pelletier agreed with him but both were chopped down when Councilor Kozak pointed out that the council voted 9 to 0 last year to allow a haunted house banner to be placed across a city street. In fact, the same request was approved by the council last night for 20th Century Promotions,
which holds an annual haunted house in the city. Councilors did not even have a picture of the banner to scrutinize but passed the request unanimously.

“We have already set a precedent,” said Mr. Kozak. “I think we are overreacting to what the sign depicts. It is amazing that we get inquiries from around the world about Lizzie Borden but we don’t have a sign in the city pointing to where it happened.”

Agreed, said Mr. Suneson. “Lizzie Borden is Fall River. It is history. There is nothing you are going to do about it. Put up the signs. It is a damn good idea for tourism.” Despite having to have a roll call vote, the measure passed, five to four, to the joy of the proponents.

“Lizzie only needed five good men,” said a jovial Mr. Evans. “She got 12 in her trial and now she has five more.” She also has four new signs pointing to her home.