The House

[Shelley]

Mop boards (bottom floor moldings) are 10 6/8" wide, the run of stairs into the basement is 9 steps, the famous closet which contained the dress in the kitchen has slats for 4 shelves and measures 28 6/8" deep by 30 6/8" wide , the mantel in the sitting room is 75". The front hall closet inside measures 31" wide by 17 5/8" deep and it is a tight fit to hide inside it with a carpet sweeper and 7 of those coathooks, the famous doorway near the head of the sofa measures 30 1/4" wide by 79" long, the black sofa wall measures 105" from the diningroom door frame molding back to the corner wall by the kitchen entry door which is 30 1/2" wide. And now it's time for bed.

[Harry]

Great photos, Shelley - THANKS!

I'll dig around tomorrow and see what I can find about the front stairs being carpeted. Seem to remember that they were not. I know they said they didn't find any blood on the carpet and the stairs. But that needs to be put into context.

I think I also read somewhere that the stairs to the attic were not carpeted but I may be confusing them with the front stairs

[Harry]

So far haven't found anything conclusive on the front stairs. However a great deal on the back stairs.

Without a doubt the stairs leading from the back entrance to Mr. and Mrs. Borden's room were carpeted. The stairs leading from the second floor landing to the attic however were not carpeted.

Bridget at the Preliminary is questioned about the carpeting from the back door to first landing. Page 50:

"Q. These back stairs you went up and down were the same ones Mr. and Mrs. Borden went up and down?
A. Yes Sir.
Q. They were carpeted way down to where the kitchen was?
A. Yes Sir."

On page 56 she says essentially the same thing and then on 86:

"Q. If I understand you, this room that was burglarized, when the house was entered sometime ago, was a room that led out of Mrs. Borden's room? You could get into it by going up the back stairs?
A. You have to go into Mrs. Borden's room first.
Q. That leads out of the back stairway?
A. Yes.
Q. Those stairs are carpeted, and have been for years?
A. Yes Sir."

On the room leading to the attic Bridget has this to say at the trial:

"Q. You came down your back stairs, of course?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Which are not carpeted---the upper part?
A. The upper part ain't.
Q. That is, from the second to the third story there is no carpet on it?
A. No, sir.
Q. But from the second story to the kitchen entry there is a carpet on the stairs?
A. Yes, sir. There is from the hall leading from Mr. Borden's to the first story stairs, there is a carpet in there down to the lower floor.
Q. And the only thing on the route up to your room that is uncarpeted is the stairs?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. That lead directly to the attic?
A. Yes, sir."

Knew I had read that somewhere. Now to find those pesty front stairs ...

[Shelley]

Thanks, Harry- I had remembered Bridget saying that about the first run of stairs up back, but not the bit about the run to the third floor. Going in many of the houses in historic Newport and Victorian homes in general, the servants' stairway never had carpet-poor things. I have only seen the 1892 front stairs from the side near the front hall radiator in a photo and there does not seem to be any carpet edges showing from the side. Often there was a central runner held down by brass rods, which I do not see either. Doing some experiments, if one is in the guestroom upstairs and someone comes up uncarpeted front steps, footsteps are clearly heard. Shoe soles were leather and made a noise, and I have always been fairly sure Abby must have seen, heard or seen and heard her attacker coming up the stairs-of course she may not have suspected the person would be an attacker!

This weekend I have some angles to shoot on the second, third floor and cellar.

[Kat]

Thanks for all the pictures!!!

Here are Kieran's measurements of The Sofa (T114):

7' 1" long
2' 3" wide
Seating area is 4' 11''
Seat is 18" high from floor
Top of arm is 28" from floor.

He doesn't say, but we noticed from the photo, that it has casters, so it could be moved.

[Shelley]

This is good news. LeeAnn and I measured the current sofa and found the actual inner space to be just under 5 feet so this current sofa IS a really close replacement for the real thing. Those slanty armrests really eat up space. Poor Andrew could have stretched right out otherwise.

[Kat]

Are you going to tell the source for the red tablecloth?

[Shelley]

Uh-oh! Caught red-handed again! I am bugging Len about it. He says it is in his book. But now- I have to go watch the special at 10 on the Black Dahlia!

[Kat]

I don't think so. He should conserve his time.
I recall a Red-haired Alice Russell (? was she?) and Jenning's red notebook and Lizzie's red portieres at her doors in her room but no red tablecloth in the dining room. I've red his book maybe 3 times.

I recall the white *dinnerware* that was kept on the dining table. Maybe Bridget describes the tablecloth?

Edit here: I am going to keep looking. I have more time than you guys at the moment.

[Kat]

Found a reference to red!
What do you think?

Preliminary Hearing
Bridget
Q. Wherebouts did you say she put the ironing board?
A. On the dining room table.
Q. Was the table in the middle of the room?
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Was it set with dishes?
A. Yes Sir.
Q. You kept it set all the time?
A. Yes Sir.
Q. You did not clear it away, and put on a red cloth, or something, but kept it set all the time?
Page 193 (23)
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Did she lay the ironing board right on the table, or from the table to somethingelse?
A. Right on the table.
Q. Which part of the table was that, do you remember now, near the kitchen door, or what?
A. I should say on the corner of the table. She left it on the dining room table.
Q. Which corner of the table?
A. As she came from the kitchen door in, the same side.
Q. Nearest to the kitchen?
A. Yes Sir.

[Shelley]

Looks good to me! Hurray!

[Kat]

Yea but:
It is saying she did not put on a red cloth, right?
The question was: you did not and she said yes.

Was that some kind of custom?
When the table was not set people would put on a red cloth?
But Bridget always kept the table set.

[Shelley]

I took that interchange to mean that they must have, in their search seen a red tablecloth and asked if she had put it on that day after clearing off the ironing board. The ironing board must have been on the end of the table with the dishes set for lunch already down on the table. My granny used to always pre-set the table and turn over the cups and glasses to keep out flies!

[Kat]

That's interesting...Hmmm...
He says "put on a red cloth, or something"... [italics mine]

It's the "or something" I think that gets me thinking he might be referring to his own experience....

[Shelley]

I can find no tradition about the use of red cloths. Nearly all Victorian bedlinen, towelling, and formal dining room napery was white or ecru (unbleached)as a rule. Sometimes decorative piano shawls, what we call "throws", afghans, or decorative embroidered or colored table doilies or squares , runners, etc. on the table when it was not set for use. A favorite color was Turkey red, and redwork was very common on homey household items or framed wall mottoes., many were religious in nature. This was called redwork and sometimes turkey work.I have been collecting these for years-charming things. Pillow shams were favorite articles for redwork. The pair below are 1890 -many said Good Morning/Good Night, Sleep Well. Awake Refreshed or sentiments of that nature.

Often people interpret Victorian as pastels but dark rich colors were favored for home decor in the 1890's and red was a real favorite.

[Kat]

That is so cool! Thanks Shelley for the pics!!

[Susan]

I was always under the impression that most of the fine linen used was in a white color also, but, after doing a search I came up with this info. Perhaps Turkey Red was a very in thing at the time for tablecloths?

"During most of the late 1800s, Queen Victoria, who had lost her beloved Prince Albert, made it fashionable to be a widow. The fashion became the dark, somber, and opulent Victorian colors and styles that characterize the textile fabrics from 1850-1900.

Table linens of this period were dark heavy tapestries, fringed Turkey Red and white damask cloths, and heavily decorated plush and velvet table toppers. The dark, somber crimsons, browns, and gold found in Victorian table linens were soon succeeded by the less dramatic but more spirited bright color schemes made possible by the creation of new chemical dyes from Germany.

American manufacturers could now use aniline dyes to produce a vast array of new colors. These peacock greens, blues, magentas, violets and raw pinks were popular until the so-called Aesthetic Movement of 1899 subdued everything, and olive greens and grays and dull blues became accepted as evidence of artistic morality and good taste."

An 1887 example of Turkey Red jacquard tablecloth



And an 1890s felt table cover



From this site:

http://www.fabrics.net/joan703.asp

[Shelley]

These are lovely and that is a great site we use in textile class. Formal dining dictated white to be sure, and that second cloth pictured above would probably be a decorative one . Detergents and washing techniques were so harsh -with mangles and lye soap, that bed linen, neck linen collars and cuffs, towelling, handkerchiefs and daily table nappery were white because it could stand up to frequent washing and washing products. Prussian blue was another agent used for blueing on whites. Stout cotton, linen and wool could really take a beating. Those flat irons were hot too, and scorching was always a problem. Some of the deep color dyes- red especially- "ran" even in my day. Informal dining in the kitchen, picnicking and the like had its own code of what was proper. And napkin rings saved the day. A family member might get 4 or 5 days out of a napkin without having to be washed. Some of the rings are beautiful, and affordable on Ebay. I often wondered if the Bordens had them. The pillow shams from the guestroom at the historical society must have been beautiful once-fine batiste cotton with tight pleated ruffling- and the coverlet of fringed matlasse was so popular too. Abby was pretty accomplished in housekeeping!

[Susan]

Thanks, Shelley. I'm wondering if maybe the idea was that if you had a fine white linen tablecloth on the table, when done dining, that it was covered over with another cloth to protect it? That way the table could be used for other activities and when it was time to set the table just peel back the covering cloth? I'm still trying to make sense out of that question in the preliminaries about the red cloth.

Oh, and BTW, thank you for all the house measurements, they are very useful with a project my brother is working on for me. With the mantel measurement that you listed for the sitting room at 75", is that the height of the mantel or the width? We were curious as to the height of it, it looks to be higher than most mantelpieces I've seen in modern construction.

[Shelley]

That is the width of the mantel. I will get the height this week. It is not a higher mantel than usual- just what I would call average and typical both then and now.

[Shelley]

A detail of the old 1872 radiator pattern. Some have been painted cream, some metallic silver. Sort of a leaf and small flower design. Same pattern throughout the house.

[Shelley]

Measurements for the sitting room mantel.- Width of mantel 75", height from floor to top 52", width of mantel 5 7/8"-about average all in all.

[Harry]

Thank you, Shelley for the photo of the radiator. Pretty fancy. It shows the level of detail that one doesn't see when just passing through the house.

Great job on all your photos!

[Shelley]

Opps! Big error- the mantel is 7 7/8" wide!


Thanks Harry- I try to look for the details! Comes of being a Virgo you see. I checked last night to see if all the radiator designs are the same- they are. Andrew must have made one big order.

[Kat]

Thanks! And thanks for the correction!

I've checked Rebello's book for a maroon carpet in the guest room- I said I'd check the book if you would check the man- - and I came up empty.

Can you ask Len about the source?

[Shelley]

I checked the man- he says- look in the trial transcript.

[Susan]

Thank you for the mantel measurements, Shelley! That helps alot, we were doing guesswork where the mantel height kept coming out too high.

[Shelley]

No problem! My mantel is 52 "high at home- must be standard.

[Harry]

I've checked Rebello's book for a maroon carpet in the guest room- I said I'd check the book if you would check the man- - and I came up empty.
Can you ask Len about the source?

I found this in the Preliminary, page 162+. Dr. Dolan is being questioned:

"Q. Did you notice the carpet where Mrs. Borden lay as to the style and pattern?
A. It was a very large pattern, a kind of a reddish color.
Q. Was not it a clotted blood color?
A. It was a blood color.
Q. Was not it clotted blood color too?
A. It was not clotted blood color.
Q. Any part of it?
A. No sir.
Q. Was not it dark?
A. It was not as dark as dark clotted blood.
Q. Whether it was not so dark that it simulated it, so that it resembled ordinary clotted blood, rather than fresh blood?
A. Yes sir."

In the Trial, page 863, again Dr. Dolan. He is shown 2 pieces of carpet, one from the sitting room and one from the guest room. This just says that the color of the guest room carpet was lighter than the one in the sitting room.

"Q. Did you take a piece of carpet from under Mrs. Borden's body?
A. I took a piece of the carpet although I did not remove it myself.
Q. Who did?
A. I could not tell you, sir?
Q. Do you recognize that piece of carpet? (Showing a second and a smaller piece of a lighter color than the first)
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What is that?
A. That is the piece that was under Mrs. Borden's body.
Q. Does it present the appearance now as when you first saw it?
A. Of course it is older and all dried up now and dirtier than it was."

There is mention of the word "maroon" by Officer Wixon but it is in reference to the color of the blood spots. Page 448+

"Q. Whereabouts was this blood which was dark and coagulated?
A. Under the face. She lay upon the floor face down.
Q. How did its color in darkness or brightness compare with that of Mr. Borden's?
A. Oh, it was very dark. I should think---it looked to me as though it was dark maroon color."

[Shelley]

Bravo! Orchids to you Harry! (but no maple syrup)

[Shelley]

Hmm- now do we deduce from this that the sitting room was also some shade of dark red too?

[Shelley]

How the eye sees color is pretty fascinating too- rods and cones and all of that. So many visible shades to the human eye- here's a red spectrum from cerise, to vermilion, to maroon to crimson and scarlet- all depending on the addition of blue, red, and yellow.

[Harry]

Hmm- now do we deduce from this that the sitting room was also some shade of dark red too?

That's a good question, Shelley.

I think we possibly can because if the color was something other than red it would have been mentioned. Why would they just say it was lighter if they were two different colors? I guess they could but that doesn't sound likely, IMO.

[Shelley]

I think we can safely assume both rooms had some sort of red - it was such a popular color from Civil War days right into the turn of the century. Recently I went to Roseland in Woodstock and talked to the New England Preservation Society (used to be SPNEA) and they found a swatch of carpet in a dark closet to reproduce for the entry way at Roseland. I was thunderstruck! It was fire engine red with flowers on it, in a hall that had orange stained glass in the entryway transom and sidelights, and the exterior of the house was- salmon!! But that dark red, maroon, wine, burgundy, turkey red - whatever you want to call it- was just everywhere- especially in Gothic revival churches of 1870's-1890's. Most disconcerting was the change in carpet pattern from room to room- it still is when I prowl around the house. What we do tend to forget is that these wild colors were not as overwhelming when viewed by gaslight or candlelight. The dark, rich wallpaper and red portieres in Lizzie's room must have been lush too. Ah, love those textiles and color!

[Shelley]

Somewhere I believe I heard the carpet was an Axminster (!!good grief- pun unintended).

This link shows a carpet showroom in Fall River and explains Wilton and Axminster wool carpets.
http://www.burrows.com/hist.html

[Oscar]

Shelley, This might be slightly off topic, but who were the "re-enactors" I met on August 4th at the house. The gentleman who played Mr. Borden, I recogonized from the many Lizzie videos I have. I believe he's an attorney, but don't remember his name. I almost thought Mrs. Borden was a manequin when she was laid up on the floor in the sitting room, she was so still, poor Mrs. Borden!

[Shelley]

Eddie Thibault has played Andrew for eons- beard and all. Bridget was a new tour guide, Kathleen, the new Lizzie was day manager Dee Moniz. This was my first outing as Abby- a much easier role than Lizzie!
Ed is not a lawyer- just looks like one.

[Oscar]

Shelley, I think I had mistaken Ed for John Corrigan, who is a lawyer and appears in many of the Borden videos for commentary.

I hadn't realized that you were the one who had played Abby, nice job. My friend Tom and I were in the first re-enactment tour. Tom is slightly hard of hearing and when you approached him in the parlour and started talking to him, while you were in character, he had no idea who you were or why you were talking to him. Abby asked him about his coming to the house to talk with Andrew about buying some property. I made a quip about Tom buying the property on Ferry St., which I quickly realized, those not knowing that there had been a Borden property there, might have thought I was saying something derogatory about my friend. Oh' Well. Tom was oblivious to the whole thing anyway. His hearing tends to be worse in crowded rooms. We enjoyed the tour, although it was very crowed in those rooms! It's much more fun to stay overnight and wander the house.

[Oscar]

error

[Shelley]

Oh yes- I remember you! That first tour was far too crowded- it was twice the size it should have been. Things ran much more smoothly the second time through the afternoon. I'd love to see you if you are around on weekends. I usually have a few hours free when guests are out to dinner.

[Shelley]

Fine detective I am- I just notice you live in Rochester NY! But the offer still holds!

[Oscar]

Shelley, Rochester is a bit of a hike to FR, but I'm sure I'll be back and would enjoy seeing you and the rest of the staff again! There is something special about that house too. Maybe it's just all the associations attached to it, but it is a unique place to be and experience.

I agree, the first tour was too large and chaotic, but I wanted to be there at the "right" time, 11 AM.

[Kat]

Any impressions you'd like to share?
And is there a particular part of the House you were drawn to?

I seem to be drawn to the cellar.

[mbhenty]

,,

[Shelley]

Actually one of the psychics stays there on a cot in the cellar for thrills. I find the room with the opening in back of the chimney creepy and avoid that at night alone if I can. Now that man in the chimney is always peeping out over the cauldron, even going to get towels is a goosebump prospect. Lee Ann is making a reading room in that middle room under the black sofa-it is coming along with rug and bookcase in place, a worktable and chairs.

[Oscar]

When I stayed overnight in July, I found myself very drawn to the 2nd floor, Lizzie's room and the sitting room. There was no one staying in the 2nd floor rooms that night and I felt safe or secure enough to wander about up there alone. There was someting intriguing about it. Something about the vibes up there, I don't know how to explain it. I was very pleased that Lee-ann was so comfortable having people move about the house like that. I suppose you have to have a certain amount of trust to run a B&B and get used to having complete strangers in your space.

I also was intrigued by the basement and went down with Lee-ann. Basements tend to make me nerveous, even in my own house and the house I had lived in as a kid. It was the first time I had been down there. The tour I had been on back in Martha's day, did not go down there.

BTW: I think Lee-ann and her partner have done a tremendous job with the house and I hope they continue to refine and restore it, it's definitely a work of art in progress.

[Shelley]

They have indeed, and the restoration of the barn
and side yard has done so much not only for the case and story, but for the neighborhood.

The one thing I hear every week from guests is "We can take photos" We can go anywhere?-wow!". The enthusiasm of the many guests to go back in time, try to visualize, try re -creating the actions really keeps my enthusiasm high, and often a fresh set of eyes comes up with a new slant.

So many historic properties hit you with "NO photos allowed anywhere" the instant you walk in the door. I understand about conservation of course, but it sure is great to have such unlimited possibilities on Second Street. Some guests never go to bed- just wander around all night thinking and taking it all in. Although diagrams are helpful- there is nothing which compares to living in the crime scene to help understand the crime.

[Oscar]

"So many historic properties hit you with "NO photos allowed anywhere" the instant you walk in the door".

Yeah, Like the Fall River Historical Society!!!

[Angel]

When I stayed overnight in July, I found myself very drawn to the 2nd floor, Lizzie's room and the sitting room. There was no one staying in the 2nd floor rooms that night and I felt safe or secure enough to wander about up there alone. There was someting intriguing about it. Something about the vibes up there, I don't know how to explain it. I was very pleased that Lee-ann was so comfortable having people move about the house like that. I suppose you have to have a certain amount of trust to run a B&B and get used to having complete strangers in your space.

I also was intrigued by the basement and went down with Lee-ann. Basements tend to make me nerveous, even in my own house and the house I had lived in as a kid. It was the first time I had been down there. The tour I had been on back in Martha's day, did not go down there.




BTW: I think Lee-ann and her partner have done a tremendous job with the house and I hope they continue to refine and restore it, it's definitely a work of art in progress.

When one is a guest at the bed and breakfast does LeeAnn or a manager stay overnight there too? If so, where do they stay?

[Shelley]

There is always someone on the premises. The house runs in three shifts, like a regular hotel. Dee and LeeAnn usually take the 9-4 together, one doing house tours, one in the gift shop and reservations. The 3-11 is the shift I take for guest check ins and night house tour (although we usually do not get to bed til 2! 11- 9 is the third shift with the overnight person sleeping either in one of the vacant rooms or in the hayloft in the barn. LeeAnn is almost always the third shift person. In summer we have Ben and Emily and Kathleen on days, and usually one night a week, with longtimer Eleanor usually doing one weeknight and Sunday. Due to the distance I live from the house, I take Friday and Saturday and just stay over Friday night to keep from having to drive back to CT.

The intrepid Dave is still cook after 10 years, and arrives about 6:30 or 7 a.m. to start breakfast. On full house days, Ed Thibault helps with breakfast and large group tours.


The day tours have expanded and are much more fun- being 45 minutes instead of the former rather rushed 30 minutes- and if the group is not huge, they can go an hour. The visitor's center and gift shop are wonderful too, with a screen to watch Lizzie docs, view exhibits and visit with Dee or Lee Ann while waiting for a tour. Much nicer for our guests and visitors, with great stuff to buy and a visitor restroom near the old "Privy".