Lizzie Borden Society Forum

HI!
I have a question about the keys to the interior doors of your B&B house.

Did you become in possession of any interior door keys, how many, and were any *Master Keys*, or what might be known as skeleton keys?

Thanks a bunch!

Yes, I was given 7 skeleton keys, along with a handful of the newer keys to the house. I found that 2 of the skeleton keys work in the original doors....including the one to the parents room.

Thanks! So you have 2 old keys to the Borden bedroom door?
For skeleton key, might I ask what is the definition of that in New England, or your understanding of the word?
(I thought it meant a *Master key*, which then would open every original interior door- but that, to me is modern apartment parlance).

So what would the other 5 skeleton keys open?

I always thought that a skeleton key was just a type of key, but, after looking up the definition, I guess they are some sort of master key.

skeleton key
noun

1. A key whose serrated or shaped edge is filed in such a way that it can open many different locks.

From this picture you can see that different cuts in the keys may make them useful only on certain locks, but, yet the 2 numbered keys are said to be able to open 95% of all locks.



From this site: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl= ... D%26sa%3DN

Thanks Susan. Neat pictures!

I am usually wary of the language involved and should get specifics as to regional meanings.

But it sounds like there are, so far, 2 keys to the Borden's bedroom door!

***Yes, I was given 7 skeleton keys, along with a handful of the newer keys to the house. I found that 2 of the skeleton keys work in the original doors....including the one to the parents room.***


so i don't start out confused..........this is to say that one of the 2 original keys is to the B's bedroom or that both of these original keys are to the B's bedroom?

Those Skeleton keys bring back memories. The house I grew up in , 150 year old victorian, had skeleton keys for both front and back doors (the same) and interior skeleton keys for attic, cellar and all 4 bedrooms (all the same). Interesting to note the exterior vs the interior master skeleton key was different. Strange that there were so many locks throughout the house as found in many older homes ( with original doors). Why a lock and key to attic? Why a lock and key to cellar, when there is an additional locked deadbolt door on exterior wall? Why a lock and key to each bedroom, with a key that would open all doors. (my house I am talking about, but i am sure the same was with the Bordens, as the same with many older homes). By the way, my mother took away all interior keys, cause I got mad at my older sister one day and locked her in her bedroom with the interior skeleton key and she did not have one in the inside of her bedroom to get herself out. Skeleton keys really make no sense to me and why were there locks on the interior doors where the same key will open everything? And as I found out, skeleton keys can lock someone in or lock someone out. I have also noticed that interior pictures of the crime scenes show interior doors (such as Living room to dining room) in Borden house that have since been removed, but that is common in all older homes today, except the bedrooms and bathrooms of course.

What do you mean interior doors like "living room to dining room in Borden house" have been removed?

I thought I remembered all the doors being there. I don't recall Eleanor mentioning that any of them having been removed. What did I miss ?


Tracy...

Well, one of the videos distinctly shows the dining room door during a re-enactment. So I don't know what was meant.

I need to go back through my own pictures plus, what you had in the HATCHET last year, and the website.

Ghostcat, with the term 'living room'...were you referring to the parlor or the sitting room ?


Tracy...

Look at crime scene photo.......

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y182/g ... ndrew1.jpg


Then look at my photo........

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y182/g ... /ghost.jpg


To the left of couch is a door in crime scene, but not one in my picture. It looks like the entrance to the hallway, not the dining room (dining room door is still there, I got part of the doorknob in one of my photos)

ghostcat1313 @ Sat May 28, 2005 7:59 am wrote:

To the left of couch is a door in crime scene, but not one in my picture. It looks like the entrance to the hallway, not the dining room (dining room door is still there, I got part of the doorknob in one of my photos)

The only doorways I see in the second picture you provided a link to are the door leading from the sitting room into the dining room which is open, meaning the door is not visible. Inside that doorway is the door to the closet in the dining room. So I am not getting your meaning about the door that was removed either. In the crime scene photo the door between the sitting room and dining room was shut. In the second photo provided this door is open.

http://www.lizzieandrewborden.com/Crime ... tfloor.gif


Right you are after looking at first floor plan, what threw me off was the crime scene photo shows no door knob on the left of the door, I assumed it was hidden behind corner of couch, therefore on the right, meaning door would open the other way and be visible (in recent picture)

Melissa is usually correct-- Unless she disagrees with me, then she is wrong.

OK..I thought maybe I had missed something in my couple of stays at THE house. And yes Audrey,...as long as you both agree with me...all is well in Lizzieland.


Tracy...