Say GoodBye to Alice Russell

Alice Russell’s house at 18 Hillside Street in Fall River was recently purchased by SouthCoast Hospital Group, a consortium between Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, and Tobey Hospital in Wareham.

That means it will probably soon be torn down and the land used for either a parking lot or a new medical building.

The same group purchased 38 Hillside Street, an old rope 3 story mill building, and tore it down rather quickly afterwards.

By purchasing 18, a two and a half family home, three decker, there is now only one house in between the torn down mill and Alice’s home. When they buy the house next door, they will own all the property on this side of Hillside, a street that borders their Prospect and Hanover parking lot.

From the Knowlton Papers: RUSSELL, MISS ALICE MANLEY 1852 – 1941: born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, daughter of Frederick W. and Judith (Manley) Russell. She was a niece by marriage of Mrs. Delia S. Manley. Employed as a clerk for several years in Fall River, Massachusetts, she later taught sewing in the public schools of that city. In 1908, she was promoted to supervisor of sewing, retiring from that position in 1913. She resided in Fall River for the rest of her life. She was a witness at both the inquest and the prelimnary trial but it was not until the grand jury hearing that she revealed her “burning of the dress” testimony. She was also a witness at the trial of Miss Lizzie A. Borden in June of 1893.

Thanks to Michael Brimbau for the news and photos.