Lizzie Borden Society Forum

I'm trying to imagine what it sounded and looked like around the Borden neighborhood during the time of the crime. Does anyone have any idea what tools a stone cutter would have used at that time in history? It seems to me it would have been rather noisy no matter what was used. Also the drawing of the stone slabs into the yard? That would have been on a horse drawn wagon?

"The next yard contains a barn, and is occupied by John Crowe, a mason and builder. On the day in
question John Denny, a stone cutter, employed by Mr. Crowe, was working in there all day. He is
positive no one went through the yard. There were other men drawing stone to the yard all day, and they saw
nothing of any suspicious character." - P. Harrington, Witness Tesitimony

Good post, Suz. Second street (they did not capitalize "street" back then - ) was really busy. Part of the street was 'macadam' - a road made of small, closely packed stone (dictionary definition). I think one might envision it as a quiet, peaceful morning until the air was pierced by Abby's scream ... Obviously nobody heard or saw a thing.

"Town" was just steps away from the Borden house. Carriages going up and down the street. People bustling. I don't know what sound the mills made in the town.

Regarding stone cutting, the 1860's stagecoach stop historic site I volunteered for here was constructed from limestone blocks. I think the blocks were cut and carved using chisels, iron hammers, and wooden mallets. By the late 1880's, the pneumatic hammer was probably available. I believe it was steam operated.

Okay thanks! I was thinking chisels and mallets, but the pneumatic hammer would make a lot of noise too! Even if they were working inside the barn with the doors open for the most part, I think any noise the Borden murders made would have either been mistaken for the work or street noise. Also if they had been busy with their work at Crowe's I don't see how they could have been paying any attention to who was coming or going from the Borden house.

When Harry and I spent some time examining Borden case photographs held at the FRHS one visit, we saw there is a view of Third street of Crowe's Yard, and the Kelly house back yard behind it. You can see all the stuff lying around, and can even see the Kelly wash on the laundry line to the rear!
You will see for yourself what that piece of property looked like.

It's probable that would be in their upcoming book Parallel Lives. I don't know anything about the book but I do figure case views so far unpublished would likely be included.