Lizzie Borden Society Forum

I have been wondering about something. I know when Lizzie moved into Maplecroft, she did have indoor plumbing and electricity, but did she have a phone, too? I don't ever remember reading about if she had one.

Yes, Lizzie did have a phone at Maplecroft. Her telephone number was 378.

(we spoke about this on another thread, where I displayed her name and number in the phone book.)

Oh that's cool. I just couldn't remember if she had one and if it had been talked about. I wonder how many phone calls she got. I wonder if she did any gossip! LOL!

I am sure Lizzie Got some good prank Phone calls back in the day..ahh, life before caller ID.

snokkums @ Sat May 31, 2008 8:38 am wrote:Oh that's cool. I just couldn't remember if she had one and if it had been talked about. I wonder how many phone calls she got. I wonder if she did any gossip! LOL!

I wonder if they had "party lines" back then? I remember in the 1960's where you could pick up your phone and eavesdrop on other people's conversations. Imagine listening in on one of Lizzie's and Emma's or Lizzie and Nance, wow.

Smudgeman @ Sun Jun 01, 2008 4:22 pm wrote:I wonder if they had "party lines" back then? I remember in the 1960's where you could pick up your phone and eavesdrop on other people's conversations. ...

I also remember the party lines of the 1960's, Scott. As I recall, you really had to watch what you said on the phone because if someone was listening in on your conversation - it would be all over town in no time flat. People stated their business and got off the phone as quickly as possible. Teenagers were not allowed to spend hours on the phone like they do today.

I wonder what Lizzie would think of cell phones?

Lizzie's phone number is also given in the Lizzie Borden Quarterly cover article by William Ulrich "The Carvings of Maplecroft".

In one of the Lizzie books it says that a reporter called Maplecroft and Lizzie promptly hung up on him. In another piece (it was probably Len Rebello's article in 'The Hatchet' on Emma's leaving Maplecroft in 1905) it says that the Boston Post reporter first called Lizzie, then after being unsuccessful there he contacted Emma. Those are the only instances I know of where her phone is discussed.

It was interesting to read in some testimony that back then in FR, they sometimes used the phrase that they "talked through the phone".

I'd think that Lizzie's servants answered the phone.

Well, I guess I got lucky during the Party Line Days. A teenager who lived in back of us used to get on there for hours with his girlfriend. (I just loved when that would happen!)