Lizzie Borden Society Forum

Victorian Vistas, Volume II, has this little article on page 412. It's dated July 11, 1893. The name of the paper is not listed.

"Purchased A House.

Misses Borden Secure Charles Allen's
Residence Located On The Hill.

Price Paid For It Said To Be Large.

Neighbors Afraid Of The Assessors.

The Misses Borden, Emma and Lizzie, have at last bought a house on the hill in the very center of aristocracy, It is the Charles M. Allen house, 7 French Street. .... The house is comparitively new and is one of the most approved modern style of architecture.

It is a two and one half story Queen Ann cottage ... The price offered and paid fairly staggered some people in the vicinity who fear that assessors will take the selling price as a basis of the valuation of property in the vicinity. The young ladies will move from Second Street as soon as possible."

Then on July 12 a follow up article:

"It appears that the sale of the Charles M. Allen residence, 7 French Street, to the Misses Borden was made through G. M. Haffards & Co., brokers. The price paid for the estate has not been made public, but it is understood to have been close to $13,000. The residence has been built about four years and is located very conveniently."

Seems they were more worried about their taxes than having an accused and acquitted murderess in their midst.

There's a reference to the agent/broker and the sale in Rebello pg. 282.
There's a drawing of the house, and below it is written almost the same blurb as you've got there. It also adds:
"The announcement of the sale of the building attracted a small crowd of curiosity seekers to the place Tuesday night, who passed and repassed the building, curiously examining the future home of Lizzie Borden."

Sounds like the neighbors should have been more worried about property values going down?

And to think people still pass and repass that same house because of Lizzie!