Lizzie Borden Society Forum

Every once in a while, I come across pretty 'cool' factoids which relate to the case to varying degrees. I'm creating this thread to share some of these findings and will update with new ones periodically.

Fun Fact #1
Andrew Borden was 5' 11" compared to the average male height in 1892 of 5' 7". While he was tall by general standards, he was the 'shrimp' in his own family. His sister, Lurana, was reportedly six foot tall! !
Might be a case of over stereotyping, but I would think that would make Hiram Harrington over six foot.

Fun Fact #2
Doctor Chagnon, the Borden's neighbor on the back side and owner of the famous pear orchard, sired 20 children! 13 with his first wife, zero with his second and 7 with his third and final wife. His second wife, with whom he was childless, was Marianne, who testified at the Borden trial.

Fun Fact #3
Daniel Emery, husband of Lydia Emery, was a renowned conchologist (seashell collector), living out his final decades in the Tampa area on the gulf coast. His home still stands (I've driven by it as part of my Borden obsession). He died in 1950.
As a reminder, it was to his home that John Morse visited while the Borden's were being murdered.

That was interesting. I'm glad he enjoyed an engaging hobby in retirement.

The only thing I can think of to add to the thread is Bridget Sullivan was from Allihies, Billeragh townland, County Cork, Ireland which was known for copper mines. Butte, Montana is also known for copper mines, so it makes sense some of her relatives likely were amongst the large Irish population of Butte and Anaconda.

There is also the June 1892 Harper's magazine article mentioning Butte and Anaconda and how much more domestic servants were paid there compared to back East. I wonder if it was a combination of the two incentives that sent her far away from a life she almost certainly wanted to put far behind her.