Lizzie Borden Society Forum

I noticed this photo of Maplecroft taken in 1952, located on the back cover of "Lizzie Borden, Did She or Didn't She" - a book of the case coverage from the Evening Standard newspaper.

It is so well kept here! Such a difference from how it's been these past years.

There is another color used for the trim. Does anyone know what it was? It must have looked quite charming then.

The triple back porches on the far right look like they were painted an even darker color than the trim. And looks like there's a full stained glass window on the second story side, facing east (?).

Wa' hoppin'? (My imitation of Ricky Ricardo.)

I've heard there are now tourquoise-colored window boxes on the long side!

Yes Augusta:

That's a great little publication of news paper accounts on events in Lizzie's time. I love the crude line drawings, the one showing the carriages alongside the Taunton jail ready to transport Lizzie to New Bedford. There are many line drawings of people and places connected with the case. COUL! What a long ride by buggy and horse that must have been for Lizzie. Wonder if anyone followed along? Also the reports on the Manchester murder, showing a line drawing of the house, with the little dog house and dog dish. Line drawings of the ax displayed with a huge chunk missing from the cutting blade, to say nothing about all the advertisments of the day. Great stuff.

For any one not fimiliar with it, it's in large paperback format 11"x 14." Published by "Historical Briefs" in New York, which did a group of these, 25 or so, News Paper accounts, mostly centered around the 40s and 50s, with much on WWII.

Yes Augusta, Maplecroft looks fine in that photo, intacted is the word. The railings along the back porch and roof are all gone, but could be easily duplicated.

Also on the back, along with the photo of Maplecroft, is a great photo of the Ax with the broken handle. You can see that the squared off head and the slot in the blade for lifting nails used mostly by roofers. Photo is close to life size showing the hard forged steel and it's inperfections.

.Great Augusta, got me to dig up my copy from my desk draw where it has sat since I purchased it back in 92. (1992, not 1892)

I visited Fall River in 1987 and took a photograph of the present day "Maplecroft". It has the name of the house carved on the step. At the time it was owned by a Fall River attorney. Does anyone know if he still owns it?

The house changed hands in 1980.
Mr. Silvia was an attorney, and owned it 33 years with his wife Mary, but sold the place by the time you were there- for a reported $60,000. Mr. Robert Dube owns it now- he is called a "contractor" in the article.
-From FRHerald News, Oct. 16, 1980.

However he is in insurance I think and a fire adjuster?

This may have been discussed before I don't know. With all the discussion we had about what the colour of 92 second street was in 1892, it makes me wonder what colour Maplecroft was when Lizzie had it.

I believe it was Kat that had posted or passed that information to me quite some time ago. If I recall correctly, the clapboarded lower section of the house like a Bronze green and the upper shingled portion was a gold color. I believe at some point during Lizzie's tenancy that the house was painted white or all one lighter color as was the fashion of the day.

Thank's Susan. I can kind of see it being those colours in one of the older pictures of the house in the gallery. In the other older picture it is much darker.

You're welcome, Tony. I was hoping that if someone had the article or book info on Maplecroft's house colors might see this and post it. That house must have been something in its day, even before Lizzie added her additions and interior decor. I would love to see the house painted back in true Queen Anne fashion.

I should look that up for you Susan- you are always so helpful. I will try to get to it. Remind me, maybe?

The Herald News of July 30, 1977 says:
Maplecroft, the 13- room, three-story house, still painted the same shade of gray that was used in her [Lizbeths's] day, was purchased with some of the estimated half million dollar estate she had inherited from her father.

Thanks, Kat, so it was painted a gray color at some point in Lizzie's life. Do you have the info about the before colors? If it involves alot of searching, don't worry about it. I haven't been able to find it in the archives yet, I am still thinking that it was something posted in the past.