100 Awesome Blogs for History Junkies

My blog made this list – #4 Under “People”.  Nice to be in the company of such terrific bloggers as Laura James of CLEWS.    Many thanks to those who determined and composed the list.

You can click on any of these live links:

“100 Awesome Blogs for History Junkies

If you’re a history junkie, you surely know by now that the Internet is a great tool for finding information. But did you know that blogs are some of the most useful resources out there? Here you’ll find blogs about periods in history, genealogy, war, and lots more.

Periods

Read about specific periods, like the Victorian era and the American Revolution on these history blogs.

1. Cardinal Wolsey’s Today in History: Read Cardinal Wolsey’s blog for thoughts on Tudor, medieval, and early-modern history.
2. Victorian Times: Victorian Times highlights fashion and dresses in Civil War, Dickens, and Victorian style.
3. Boston 1775: Read about the start of the American Revolution in Massachusetts on this blog.
4. The Victorian Peeper: On the Victorian Peeper blog, you’ll read about nineteenth century Britain.
5. Edwardian Promenade: This blog covers the Edwardian period, from about 1880 to 1914.
6. The Victorian Era: Here you’ll read about fun facts from the 19th century.

Art

These blogs highlight the history of fine art.

1. Dracula vs. Eisenstein: This graphic design blog takes its inspiration from art history.
2. Ponder & Dream: Ponder & Dream is all about graphic designs inspired from military history.
3. Shorpy: This “100-year-old photo blog” highlights history in high resolution.
4. The Philatelic Database: This blog offers a look at stamp archives.
5. Food History: Learn about holiday customs and classic recipes on this foodie history blog.
6. Cycling Art: This blog explores the history of cycling through art.
7. Prima la Musica: Check out this blog to get the official word from Mozart.

War

Read these blogs if you’re interested in the Civil War, soldiers, and World Wars.

1. Civil War History: Read Civil War History to learn about the Civil War, as well as new developments in Civil War history.
2. Out of battle: Read anecdotes and articles about the first World War, specifically the 8th Battalion, AIF.
3. Military History Blog: The Military History Blog blogs about the battlefield.
4. Civil War Memory: Read what a high school history teacher and Civil War historian has to say.
5. Old Virginia Blog: Richard Williams, Jr.’s blog is all about the Civil War.
6. WW1: Experiences of an English Soldier: Read Harry Lamin’s letters from the first World War, posted exactly 90 years after they were written.
7. Australian War Memorial: Learn about official records, animals in war, aircraft, and lots more in this Australian war blog.
8. World War II History Blog: In this blog you’ll find news, photographs, “today in history,” and more.
9. Frontier Battles: Frontier Battles is all about wars for and against empire in America from 1607 to 1815.
10. Blog 4 History: Read about American and Civil War history on this blog about the American experience.
11. American Civil War Stories: Revisit the stories of the American Civil War in this blog.
12. 9th Btn Y & L War Diaries: Read the official war diary of the 9th Battalion of the York and Lancaster regiment.
13. What Passing Bells: This blog follows three different families through the first World War.
14. TOCWOC: The Order of Civial War Obsessively Compulsed is a blog about the civil war written by informed amateurs.

Day in History

These blogs offer a daily look at historical events and people.

1. History’s Mysteries: This blog highlights deaths, presidencies, movies and more monuments from history.
2. Inhistoric: Inhistoric explores sports history one day at a time.
3. The Modern Historian: The Modern Historian’s blog offers a look at a day-to-day history around the world.

Religion

Read about historical churches and church history in these blogs.

1. Looking at Sussex Churches: In this blog, you’ll find photos and history of Sussex churches.
2. Church History: Read this blog to learn about the history of the Christian church.

Genealogy

These genealogy blogs share their family history and offer tips for researching your own.

1. iPentimento: Read about the family history of William Livingston Holmes, the first sheriff of Clackamas County in Oregon Territory.
2. Genea-Musings: Get tips, news, humor and more from this genealogy blog.
3. Searching for Family Branches: This blog discusses the importance of genealogy and legacy.
4. Know Your Family History: Check out this blog to get encouragement and tips for genealogy studies.
5. Irish Roots Cafe: The Irish Roots Cafe is dedicated to Irish family history, genealogy, heritage, and more.
6. A Somerset Family History: This researcher shares interesting findings from genealogy studies.
7. Lord and Lady: Visit this blog to follow the blogger’s family genealogy and get access to a large name database.

Cities, Regions, and Countries

Check out these blogs that highlight a specific area of the world.

1. The Bowery Boys: In this blog, the Bowery Boys will explore New York City history.
2. Sparkletack: Sparkletack is a history podcast that celebrates San Francisco.
3. US History Blog: Read American history thought from an independent scholar on this blog.
4. Our Great Southern Land: The blog of Our Great Southern Land follows the history of Australia.
5. History Rhymes: This blogger offers a discussion on American history.
6. My Strange New Mexico: Read about all of the weird goings-on in New Mexico here.
7. Appalachian History: Find stories, quotes, and anecdotes about Appalacia on this blog.
8. Vanishing New York: Vanishing New York looks at pieces of New York City history that are slipping away today.
9. Chicago History: This amateur historian and student shares her findings about Chicago history.
10. The Virtual Dime Museum: This blog discusses Brooklyn and New York City history, including geneaology, pop culture, Victorian news items, and ephemera.
11. Everest by climbers: Learn about Everest history from climbers and beyond on this blog.
12. Kinetic Carnival: The Kinetic Carnival blog is all about the past, present, and future of Coney Island.
13. Local History: This blog takes a look back at the local history of New York City.
14. Brockville History Album: This blog explores the development of the city of Brockville in Ontario, Canada.
15. Lost City: Lost City investigates Old New York as it’s threatened by new development.

Academic

These blogs offer an academic look at history.

1. History News Network: George Mason University’s History News Network shares breaking news about history.
2. History is Elementary: Read about this elementary school teacher’s take on teaching history.
3. Clio and Me: A teacher of European history and researcher of war and society in modern Germany, this blog’s writer has a lot to offer.
4. The Bell Rang: The Bell Rang explores education throughout history.
5. wig-wags: This blog is written by a graduate student in military history.

Antiques

These antiques blogs will show you interesting items from the past.

1. Dumpdiggers: See some of the items that history has left behind in this blog.
2. Antiquarian’s Attic: Read about “forgotten curios and delights” on this blog.
3. Modern Mechanix: On the Modern Mechanix blog, you’ll read spotlights about inventions of the past.
4. Floyd’s Ancient Wonders: Floyd shares his artifacts, archaeology and more on this blog.

Women

Learn about important female figures in history on these blogs.

1. Women of History: Women of History is full of biographies of fascinating women from history.
2. History of American Women: This blog discusses women in the colonies and beyond.
3. Famiss: Famiss is all about women making and discovering history.
4. Scandalous Women: The Scandalous Women blog highlights female figures from Boudicca to Mata Hari.
5. This Intrepid Band: Read about women who served as military nurses from the Boer war to the end of the Great War.
6. History and Women: On the History and Women blog, you’ll read about notorious women who have left their stamp on the world.
7. Civil War Women: This blog features women who made an impact on the Civil War.

Entertainment

Read about entertainment through the years on these history blogs.

1. Cartoon Brew: Cartoon Brew looks back at animations past.
2. Living With Legends: Hotel Chelsea Blog: The Hotel Chelsea blog highlights events, ghosts, authors, and more from the hotel.
3. The History Movies: This blog offers a look at movies and videos from the past.

People

These blogs take an in-depth look at specific people through history.

1. The Abraham Lincoln Blog: Read this blog to learn about Abraham Lincoln’s life and legacy.
2. American Presidents Blog: The American Presidents blog is all about presidents and first ladies.
3. Beloved Eleanor: Beloved Eleanor highlights Eleanor of Castille, a medieval queen and wife of King Edward I of England.
4. Tattered Fabric: Fall River’s Lizzie Borden: In this blog, you’ll read about Lizzie Borden’s life and crimes.
5. Lincoln Studies: This blog offers a look at Lincoln and the American Civil War.
6. What would Lincoln do?: This blogger considers how Lincoln would handle today’s world.

Odd & Interesting

If you’re interested in history that’s a little offbeat, check out these blogs.

1. Damn Interesting: Damn Interesting often highlights unusual historical events.
2. Vintage UFO: Read tales of UFOs and flying saucers past on this blog.
3. What Really Happened: This blog highlights a history that is hidden from public view.
4. CLEWS: Learn about historic true crime on this blog.
5. So Soon No More: Find alternate history, sarcastic humor and more on this blog.
6. Executed Today: In this blog, you’ll see who was executed today in history, and learn about their lives and how they came to be executed.
7. Questionable History: Brittany’s blog about history highlights interesting facts and findings she’s come across in her quest for information.
8. Obscure History: The Obscure History blog presents little known facts and events in history.

Documents & Literature

You’ll find literature, writings, drawings and more in these blogs.

1. BibliOdyssey: BibliOdyssey explores historic books, writings, and drawings.
2. Strange Maps: The Strange Maps blog highlights unique and interesting maps from today and yesterday.
3. Civil War Literature: Read about books, autographs, and other writings from the Civil War in this blog.

General History

Read these blogs to see a wide variety of highlights through history.

1. The People History Blog: In The People History blog, you’ll read about stories that made the news each year.
2. Informed Comment: Juan Cole’s blog is all about the Middle East, history, and religion.
3. World History Blog: Check out the World History Blog to see lots of different aspects of world history.
4. 101 Greatest Olympic Moments: Explore some of the most exciting times in modern sports history through this blog.
5. His-Story: This blog highlights the important events in the history of the world, particularly Indian history.
6. You’re History: This blog offers a friendly look at entertainment, events, and more in history.
7. Mystic Chords of Memory: This history lover shares her photos and travels.
8. My Adventures in History: Follow this blogger around as she explores adventure in history.
9. The History Tavern: The History Tavern shares interesting stories and anecdotes from the past.
10. Branding Fire: Branding Fire discusses both history and entrepreneurship.”

The Michael Jackson Saga Continues with the “Jackson 3″

The “Jackson 3″:  Paris Kathryn age 11, Prince Michael I age 12, and Prince Michael II age 7 (aka Blanket)

If any of you think this Michael Jackson thing is over – think again. This has a 60 to 90 day news cycle, and then way beyond. Next up: Where the body’s buried, quickly followed by the autopsy reports (coming out now – “white as a T-shirt, bald, collapsed veins);  followed by the doctor investigations, followed by problems with the Trust. Then just when you think things have died down – the DVD or theatrical release of the This is It London Tour rehearsals. Followed by decades of periodic releases of MJ written songs never recorded.

Wait.  There’s more.  There’s the two Princes and Paris. Prince William and Prince Harry move over -  America has its own. The tabloids will be filled in the next decade with what these two young men are doing, who they are dating, and who their sister is dating let alone what she’s wearing. And they will be richer than MJ ever was….gonna get some of gramma’s money,  too, when she croaks.   Already his record sales are up over 2,300%  (no, that’s not a typo).  So forget about it. The Jackson saga has only played out a dress rehearsal today of what’s to come.

It is said a civilization gets the kind of culture it deserves.  And as I have said, our seemingly incurable curiosity and  adulation of celebrities smothers passion or mere concern for more important matters.  If movies were the refuge of those in the First Great Depression, in more contemporary times we soothe our depression through vicarious adulation of superstars.

It wasn’t cunnilingus and psychiatry that brought us to this (apologies to Tony Soprano).  No.  It was celebrity idolatry and satellite t.v.   So you can run but you can’t hide.  The Michael Jackson Saga will be with us for decades.  It will be epic.  And it will be focused on not the Michael we mourned today, but those superstar-destined, obscenely rich legendary celebrities – “The Jackson 3″.

Comment on the Michael Jackson Memorial

“There are certain people in our popular culture that just capture people’s imaginations. And in death, they become even larger,” President Barack Obama told CBS while in Moscow. “Now, I have to admit that it’s also fed by a 24/7 media that is insatiable.”

“You know, this is part of American culture.
Michael Jackson, like Elvis, like Sinatra, when
somebody whose captivated the imagination of the
country for that long passes away, people pay
attention. And I assume at some point people will
start focusing again on things like nuclear
weapons.”
– President Obama

Indeed.  And at some point.  But not today.  Elephants.  Swat Team escort for the casket. World wide coverage.  Facebook doing the Iran Twitter thing. It’s hard to take hold of the fact this is really just one man…a man-child weighing less than 140 pounds with an incredible talent and a messed up psyche. But still – it WAS just an extraordinary singing and dancing talent. He did not find a cure for cancer. He did not save lives from a potential plane crash. He did not end the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq. He did not “change the world” (and I don’t care what anyone says about that).  But he made people feel good through his music and dancing. He generated excitement which always appeals to our base instincts. And now, now, he becomes larger in post life legend than he ever was while living. The media,  for the past week, has served to foster his legend in non-stop 24/7 broadcasts in such a way that has his body of work  soaring through the stratosphere.

He was, after all, only an entertainer. An entertainer. The degree of this present idolatry and adulation has exploded into something that is, in and of itself, even bigger than Jackson.  An entertainer. Wow.

If you leave for mankind a legacy of being the King of Pop who sold tens of millions of records and generated billions of dollars, does that make you more godlike than the person whose legacy was that he/she found cures for diseases or any other thing that enhanced mankind?

What does all this say about us as a people? Not just Americans. But as people? One week a comparatively not so small percentage of the world’s population was impassioned by the events of the Iranian election. The next week – this.

Yes, Barry. At some point. At some point back to concern about real issues. One thing’s for certain. We won’t see a repeat of this magnitude in our lifetimes. And maybe never again. Maybe we will have morphed through technology and electronic gadgetry and medical science into a humankind devoid of its impassioned reactions to deaths of superstars or any emotion capable of exploding on a scale such as this.

Maybe.  At some point.  But not today.

Michael Jackson Memorial

I got tickets to the Michael Jackson Memorial!!! I can’t believe it. I’m so excited! I won 2 tickets on eBay for $10,000. And it was a much better deal than this one.

I had heard on the news that you have to show up at Dodger Stadium today and one of the 2 wristbands will be put on. So I cut off my arm yesterday and shipped it overnight express to the guy who’s picking up the tickets for me.  He will slip my arm up his sleeve and have the wristband put on and then keep it refrigerated until I arrive.  And as a surprise bonus I find out I qualify for handicap parking at Staples Center.

I’m so excited I can hardly sleep.  I called Dr. Murray and asked if he’d drive me in the van (you know the one, the one with the oxygen tanks in it that he drove off in right after MJ died) and give me something to put me down.  We cut a deal that I give him the second ticket, but this will disappoint Billie Jean’s kid whom I was planning to take instead.

Happy Fourth of July!

And thank you Richard Borden for, well, for all those other Bordens. 

Top Ten Reasons Sarah Palin Resigned

Oh, for heaven’s sake – of course there’s more to come out as to why Sarah Palin, aka Governor Platitude Pants (thank you Montana Jack), announced her decision to resign today.

Just for laffs, and nothing to do with Lizzie, consider these possibilities:

(drum roll)

10.  Was in the room when Michael Jackson died.

9.    Knocked up by Gov. Sanford at a Yankee’s game.

8.    Bitch slapped five staffers who’ve had enough.

7.    Planning to leave Todd and move to Argentina with Ann Coulter.

6.   Writing a book and doing lecture circuit more lucrative than milking Alaskans.

5.   Neighbor built huge house blocking view of Russia.

4.   Anderson Cooper expose’ that Trig is really Michael Jackson’s child.

3.   Surgeon soon to reveal she’s transgendered.

2.   Signed up for new reality series: “I’m a Governor, Get Me Out of Here.”

And the Number 1 reason Sarah Palin resigned:

1.   TMZ soon to publish photo of her giving head to a bull moose.

The Kelly House – Lizzie’s Next Door Neighbors

Lizzie Borden’s neighbor, Caroline Cantwell Kelly, age 31, was the last person outside the family to see Andrew Borden alive.   She lived with her husband, Dr. Michael F. Kelly, age 36,  in the house just one door south of 92 Second Street – the house previously occupied by Alice Russell. It is from Mrs. Kelly’s third child, her daughter, pictured below, that we have learned some of the things said (and surely speculated upon)  about Andrew and the Borden family by those who did not refrain from discussing “that awful business.”

Eva Kelly Betz 1897-1968

Caroline, pregnant with their first child (Christopher Cantwell Kelly, 1892-1919), was heading for a doctor’s appointment when she saw Andrew coming from the east side of the house to the front door.  It would only be about 20 minutes later that the first call for help would go out – Lizzie telling Bridget she must have a doctor and sending her across the street to Dr. Bowen’s.   She knew there was a doctor living next door but she didn’t send Bridget there to fetch him.  Like Bowen, Dr. Kelly may not have been at home either.

The Kelly house has had so many changes to the exterior over the past century that it’s hardly recognizable.   However, if you look through the front door as shown above you can see the original steps and front door to the Kelly house as it was in 1892.

Part of this structure was a Bed & Breakfast even before 92 Second Street became a Bed & Breakfast!  It most recently was a dwelling and hair salon with a paint shop adjacent.  The paint shop was an add-on in an “L” configuration, must like the Leary Press.

This is a view of the rear of the Kelly house as it is today with St. Mary’s in the background.

The so-called Kelly house has been on the market by an unmotivated seller for over a year.  The owners of the LBB&B next door have been inside and concur the old Paint shop business is laid out much like the old Leary Press.  As for what will happen to it, perhaps Bristol County will buy it, tear it down and use it for in-close parking for the new Court House – accommodation for the judges and attorneys.   Wouldn’t suprise me.

Back to Eva Kelly Betz.  We first learn of her from Agnes DeMille’s highly collectible book above, published by Little, Brown & Co., 1968.   (Review of Dance of Death).  It was from Eva that Ms. DeMille obtained so much of the information she used in her book about the Borden family.  Eva remembered growing up there, and while the founding families didn’t talk about the infamous Borden case, the Irish Catholics certainly  did.

Agnes DeMille and Senator Joseph Welch ventured to Fall River in their research of the case, primarily for input for Agnes’ ballet, Fall River Legend, which still plays in New York every year.  While there, their chief hostess was Eva Kelly Betz.  They also met with the granddaughters of the Defense attorney Jennings and District Attorney Knowlton.  The first half of the book deals with the Borden case and the second half with planning and execution of the ballet.  Quite a wonderful book and another collectible.

Both Eva Kelly Betz and author Edward Radin (The Untold Story, Simon & Schuster, 1961 – he believed Bridget did the murders), were invited guests of DeMille’a at the premiere performance of the ballet.

(Click on images below for larger view).

If, as Eva states above, Andrew had some of his first wife’s jewelry “but no one in the family knew about it”, it must have been a startling surprise to Lizzie and Emma.

Although Eva Caroline Kelly Betz was born 5 years after her brother, Christopher Cantwell Kelly, she lived until 1968, nearly 50 years more after his death at the age of 27  in 1919.  Her best known book, William Gaston:  Fighter for Justice was published in 1964, and is considered a collectible.    She mentions she taught school in Fall River and while there is an Eva Kelly in the 1921 FR Directory (she would have been 24), her mother, Caroline, is not listed.  I can’t help but feel sorry for Caroline, having lost first her husband and then two years later her son.

By her own accounts, the Kelly’s were readers and writers.  (You’ll note she does not mention in this piece that growing up she lived next door to the infamous Lizzie Borden).   She characterizes her parents as “intellectual” (unlike Ellen Egan – sorry, had to slip that in).

Michael F. Kelly, M.D., 1856-1916
His wife, Caroline Cantwell, 1861-1951
Their son, Christopher Cantwell Kelly, 1892-1919
Eva Kelly Betz, 1897-1968
Joseph P. Betz, 1895-1965
Peter Betz, 1924-1959

All of the above are buried at St. Patrick’s cemetery in Fall River.

More Lizzie Borden Collectibles for Sale

From the “Comments” section on my blog comes this nice remark from Keith about my Lizzie Borden collectibles.  I’ve been giving lots away over the past year and have just dug up more from storage.  I have original Porters, Rebello’s, Knowlton Papers, etc. etc.  Email me what you’re interested in and I’ll send you images.

I’ll also be posting more stuff for sale here in the very near future.

Keith Judson Says:
June 27, 2009 at 1:42 pm

“Hi Faye,

I just received the Lizzie Borden CD and all I can say is WOW! You have amassed an incredible amount of information – it is a “Lizzie Fan’s” dream.

Thank you so much for sending it as well as the other Lizzie artifacts.

Keith Judson
Reno, NV”

Be watching for new items and new images.

Alone Painting – Part 2

I previously wrote about this painting once owned by Lizzie Borden HERE.

As I understand it, this ‘”Alone” painting was very popular – much like Walter Keene’s “big eye” paintings of children  that have been copied over and over.  So i think the Alone painting was made into prints and even subsequent artists copied it.  If you have the original artists original – it could be worth a fortune.

Jim and Ronda D. have sent me images of their “Alone” painting – an original signed “FR Janseen”.  I’ve searched and found there are so many variations of the spelling for the same people, one of which is Father Arnold Janseen (1837-1909) who was founder of the Society of World Ministries and cannonized by the Pope.  But no indications he ever painted.  in fact, the signature on that link does not match either one on the two paintings shown here.  Nonetheless, they have this “original” and if theirs is the original-original, I imagine it would be worth in the six figures to the Vatican.

On the other, perhaps this “FR Janseen” painted his original from another source.

It is possible the original painter was Peter Janssen (1804-1908) who was praised for his “They All Follow The Star” in this November 10, 1907  newspaper report

One thing for sure – Lizzie did not give away an original of the painting known as “Alone”.

Mary Livermore and “Poor Girl” Lizzie

Mary Livermore had been a friend to Sarah Morse Borden, mother of Lizzie Borden and Emma Borden.  She was a staunch supporter of Lizzie during her incarceration and Trial, but she paid a price for that support.  Read of her harrassment by the press – not totally unwarranted by the way – at this link:

im3510_20080818_145529

I wonder what Ms. Livermore thought of Lizzie’s prompt move to “The Hill” when she purchased Maplecroft as reported in the papers the second week of July, 1893?  Indeed, after Lizzie’s stay in Newport beginning three days after the Trial (June 23), and her visit with Emma to Taunton to thank Sheriff Wright and his wife (June 27), most of their time was spent looking for a new home where “cultured girls”  lived, i.e., The Highlands.

In fact, they purchased #7 French Street even before they settled with Abby Borden’s relatives on her money and possessions, as can be read at this link:

im3510_20080818_144504

Thus, Lizzie and Emma secured their new and much improved digs less than two months after her “Not Guilty” verdict.

Home, Sweet Home, Lizzie darlin’.

Ownership of the House Next Door to “Maplecroft”

UPDATE:  Not only do I get emails like this one from “JC” (also scroll down to see “Recent Comments” on the right side of this page) but there were several negative comments on the FRHN online site about Ms. Koorey.  People posted that she was not liked, had caused some grief to friends of people in Fall River, and was all about “look at me! Look at me!” in her unabashed self promotion.  I’ve found out Ms. Koorey demanded the FRHN remove those comments.  Clearly she’s frantic to protect a reputation that is already tarnished.  Here’s “JC’s” comment with the IP address partially deleted by me:

—–Original Message—–
From: JC [mailto:donotreply@wordpress.com]
Sent: Saturday, June 20, 2009 1:12 PM
To: phaye@npgcable.com
Subject: [Tattered Fabric: Fall River's Lizzie Borden] Comment: “Ownership of the House Next Door to “Maplecroft”"

New comment on your post #2512 “Ownership of the House Next Door to “Maplecroft”"

Author : JC (IP: 71.2211.clsp.qwest.net)

E-mail :

URL    :

Whois  : http://ws.arin.net/cgi-bin/whois.pl?queryinput=71.22

Comment:

“What a great listing for researching Fall River online.  Thanks for the links.

btw, sk is not received well here in FR.”

****************

Stefani Koorey posted on her blog, “Mondo Lizzie”, about a grass roots project which attempts to put people in touch with the history of the houses they live or lived in to foster pride in their community.  Below is the video posted in the Fall River Herald News of 6/18/09.

A separate article explains the project further and provides the link to the project home page and it can be read HERE.

It confused me when Stefani referred to “my house”, implying ownership of  328 French Street  – the house next door to “Maplecroft” (where Lizzie Borden resided for the entire second half of her life).  Stefani has incorporated this property with its ownership history into the project as  if it were her own house.

At the project home page given in the second article, a nifty comprehensive listing is provided of public access sites for researching data on properties, such as deeds, mortgages, grantor/grantee, etc.  I used many of these over the years and thanks to the digital age, over the past several years access can be done “remotely”.  Using these public records sites for property research is easy.

For example, if you don’t know who the owner of a property is you can find out through the public access records of  PATRIOT PROPERTIES which is very easy to use.  This fairly new public records online site gives information on sale price, assessed value, deeds, mortgages, any liens, etc., etc.  Pretty cool, huh? Just type in the Fall River Street name and scroll down to the property address and click to get the information.    By typing in the street name of  “French” and scrolling down to the address of 328, you get the name of the owner -  and it isn’t Ms. Koorey.

Bristol County Registry of Deeds on Rock Street

The  BRISTOL REGISTRY OF DEEDS online public access is fairly new, i.e., the past year. By typing in the name of the person or business who owns the property and clicking Search, you get information on Deeds and Mortgages, date of sale, etc.   (I used to have to wait until my visits to Fall River and spend hours inside the Registry of Deeds on Rock Street to get this type of data).

If you’ve already tried these two resource sites you’ll see how easy it was to verify true ownership of 328 French Street.  One has to wonder why a person would convey a false impression as to their status as a property owner, especially when that person makes it known they quit their tenured teaching job as a junior college theater history professor to move to Fall River primarily to live next door to “Maplecroft” and chase the Lizzie Borden legend.   Sadly, when Ms. Koorey was on WSAR Radio this week helping to promote the Lizzie Borden Live! play, she asked the radio host, Mike Herren, to mention on air that she was still looking for a job.  He did and I was quite embarrassed for her.  I wondered if she chose to give an impression of being a Fall River property owner to lend more credibility to her project which is targeted for Fall River property owners?  Perhaps that impression was better than merely stating she was a transplanted Floridian to Fall River of just one year.

Meanwhile, and more importantly, for those wanting to do further research, here are the public records resources:

• Deeds and Abstracts list land owners. These are found at the Bristol County Registry of Deeds, 441 North Main Street.
• Maps and Atlases show the city from the past. These can be found at three locations: The Fall River Public Library in the Fall River Room, the Bristol County Registry of Deeds, and the Fall River Historical Society.
• City Directories tell us who lived at what address and what their occupation was. City Directories can be found in Microfilm at the Fall River Public Library, in an incomplete set at the Bristol County Registry of Deeds, and at the Fall River Historical Society.
• Published histories about the City of Fall River are available at the Fall River Public Library, and online at the Keeley Library.
• Old copies of the Fall River Daily Globe [1889-1929], the Evening Herald [1905-1928], the Daily Evening News [1868-1926], and the Fall River Herald News [1929-present] can be found on Microfilm at the Fall River Public Library. There are also reels of microfilm with other early Fall River newspapers, a few dating from before the Civil War. Recent issues of the Herald News are available in print. Old newspapers can be a valuable source of information as well as providing a portrait of daily life in different time periods; unfortunately, they are not indexed and often lack a table of contents, so researchers should be prepared to spend some time, especially with 19th century materials. Also note that newspaper obituaries were not standard until around the 1920s; ancestors who died in the 19th or early 20th century may not have had a printed obituary.
• US Census Records are on Microfiche at the Fall River Public Library, and online through AncestryPlus.com (use this source for free with a Fall River Public Library card) at the Fall River Public Library. Census Records are available for the years 1850, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930.
• Water Permits indicate when water mains and/or meters were installed, which can then be used to verify the date of construction of a building. You can find this information by calling the Fall River Water Department at 508-324-2720.
• Survey of Historic Properties are forms that were completed when the city was applying for historic status from the Massachusetts Historical Commission. These pages contain valuable data and information regarding properties all over the city of Fall River. You can find this information at the Fall River Historical Society.
• The Obituary Index can be used to research people and relatives who lived in your house. The index is online at the Fall River Public Library.
• The Fall River Collection at the Fall River Public Library has materials relating to the people and history of Fall River. The collection includes vintage postcards, maps, vital records, city documents, church records, family histories and books. Here you will find information on immigrant groups, businesses, mills, the Fall River Line, schools, churches, historic buildings and the history of Fall River.
• Other sources at the Fall River Public Library include: Vital Records – Various city demographic records, such as births, marriage intentions and deaths, are available in microfiche for the years 1803-1889. These are not indexed and are arranged by date, not name, so searching can be a challenge. Draft Registration Cards – World War I draft registration cards are available on microfiche. Local Histories and Genealogies – Many books of Fall River, Massachusetts and New England history are available in the Fall River Room. There are also genealogical and biographical works, including some individual family histories. 
Church Records – A limited number of church records have been transcribed and are available in the Fall River Room.
• Fall River Property Assessment Data is now online at Patriot Properties.
• Local Fall River History Slides are online.
• Durfee High School Yearbooks are online for selected years.

Lizzie Letters

Reading letters written in Lizzie Borden’s own hand is always a fun and interesting exercise.   We’ve found them in books, newspapers, estates, libraries, and private collections.  They keep popping up.  There are plenty more out there.   Lizzie was consistent in doing what was proper to the customs and practices of the time, and this included her letter writing.   Here is a sampling of some of the letters we know of which give us a glimpse into this woman who continues to fascinate.  Just click on each image for a larger, clearer view.

The noisy bird letter:

Brayton’s son discovered the letter in an old desk and subsequently gave it to the 1st Congregational Church who had it mounted and displayed in the Church office as you see above.

The Fall River Historical Society promises (again) to have the new book Parallel Lives out by the end of the year.  Part of the promotion are little ticklers like this intentionally cryptic letter written by Lizzie.  If each character (which disguises the true word) represents the actual number of characters in the word, translating becomes a little more easier.

Lizzie’s vanity case

A fairly new letter discovery was published in David Rehak’s book, Did Lizzie Borden Axe For It? (3rd edition, 2007, page 197).

She wrote this note just ten days after turning 52, and 20 twenty years after the murders. Also, this was written just 3-1/2 months after the sinking of the Titanic. The interesting provenance of this note can be found in Rehak’s book, which is a very entertaining read and reviewed HERE.

Translation:

“C/O A. Stomell & Co. The toilet case came to me safely
and is very satisfactory. I have a fitted suitcase with toilet articles in white, can you put a blue (bluish?) B. on each piece if they were sent? Very Truly Yours, Miss L. A. Borden, July 29, 1912″

Funeral Instructions

Translation:

My funeral to be strictly pri-
vate with a short prayer at
the grave.

At the house I wish read
“The Crossing of the Bar”
Also the 14th chapter of St. John
and the 23rd Psalm.
Also sung the first and fourth
verses of “My Ain Countrie”
& wish to be laid at my
fathers feet.

A small headstone to match
the others of my family
Lizbeth to be cut on the stone

Lizbeth Andrews (?)
with the date July 1861 (?)

The minister of the Church
the Ascension is to conduct (?)
the services.

Grave to be bricked.

Lizbeth A. Borden
March 31 – 1919
Fall River

Lizzie Borden Preliminary Hearing – FREE

By clicking the “Preliminary Hearing” page above, you can read the entire transcript of this proceeding in the Lizzie Borden case, absolutely FREE. You can also cut and paste the entire text into Word and save it to your hard drive for later printing if you wish.

The Preliminary Hearing in the Lizzie Borden case was held August 25, 1892 through September 1, 1892.  It was near enough to the murders that memories were sharper than when shared by the same witnesses at the Trial ten months later.

(Click on all images for larger view)

The first hard copy availability of this primary source document was made over 15 years ago through the Fall River Historical Society.  They received Defense Attorney Andrew Jenning’s copy, with his handwritten notes, and sold copies through their gift shop

At the time of the Hearing, newspapers reported on the daily testimony but it was the New Bedford Evening Standard that printed all of the Preliminary Hearing after the Trial -  including Lizzie’s Inquest testimony – which had been read into the record.

The book above contains the full transcript and although it is in very small print, it has wonderful illustrations.

I made copies of the original source document from the FRHS and bound them as shown in the first image above and sold them on eBay over a decade ago.  In 2000, I began transcribing the document in Word format and put them on CD’s as a Research and Reference source into this case.

The above image gives a description of the content of those CD’s, inclusive of my own transcription of the Preliminary Hearing.

I sold the CD’s for many years in different formats beginning in 2001.

Often times I sold the CD with other Lizzie collectibles.

The CD, with my own Word transcription has been copyrighted for years.

I also made a hard copy of my transcribed document from 2001 as seen above and this, as well as the CD’s have been sold or given away for years, including sold at the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast in Fall River, MA.

Harry Widdows, Stefani Koorey and Kat Koorey edited their own version of a transcribed Preliminary Hearing and sell it through LuLu Press and the FRHS for around $40!

Now you can read this most interesting document absolutely FREE, cut and paste the text into MS Word and have it on your hard drive.  You can even do word searches.

Again, just click on the “Preliminary Hearing” page to this blog at the top and Enjoy!

My Interview With Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin, media slut politico, is really making a big deal out of Letterman’s joke the other night.   So I envisioned myself interviewing her on a morning talk show.  Might go something like this:

Me:   Good morning. How are you today?

SP:   First of all, let me say I would have hoped we could get off to a pleasant beginning. I do not think it appropriate to question my personal health simply because you cannot form a conclusion as to the condition of the weather. Personally, I don’t think the weather is the main issue in today’s politics. Main stream Americans have more on their mind in today’s economy.

Me:   Wow.

SP:   Are you referring to my outfit or my hairdo?

Me:   Good lord.

SP:   Yes, he is a good Lord. And I know, and all true Americans across this country know that our Lord is blessing us with our faith and will provide and take care of us in our times of discord and doubt.

Me:   Right. Governor Palin, you are promoting a multi billion dollar pipeline project that will deliver oil to Canada and then fanned out to the 48. Do you see this project coming to fruition in our generation or the generation of our children?

SP:  First of all, let me say that our children are innocent in the eyes of God and should be not used by the media, such as these talk shows, to promote one’s own kinky secrets.

Me: What in the world do you mean by that?

SP: I think my meaning is pretty clear. You used the pipeline project as a phallus symbol and created a very offensive joke by bringing in children of American families. I don’t think any decent American would find humor in a sick joke implying rape by a foreign object on little children.

Me: (aside) Can somebody hit me over the head because I think I’m already unconscious.

Me: Governor Palin, when was the last time you had a psychiatric examination?

SP: (smiling) Oh no you don’t. I won’t fall into that. But I will, after this interview is over, look up the definition of psychiatric and I’ll get back to you.

Me: Our time is up, Governor, and I will allow you a final comment.

SP: There is no truth to the rumor that Todd paint’s my toenails. Todd is a hunter. Not a painter.

Me: Thank you. Thank you. (aside) Somebody get me a god damn drink!

–
******************

My favorite quote:

On the dogmas of religion, as distinguished from moral principles, all mankind, from the beginning of the world to this day, have been quarreling, fighting, burning and torturing one another, for abstractions unintelligible to themselves and to all others, and absolutely beyond the comprehension of the human mind.
– Thomas Jefferson, letter to Archibald Carey, 1816

Lizzie Borden Videos…..

Image by Danny Evans

….seem to be everywhere. And they are mostly copied from one place to another, i.e., YouTube to MySpace to Hulu to Blog posts, and on and on.  Video Regurgitation.  Some are really bad and some are quite entertaining.  But consider all the cell phones with video capability out there.  And those B&B tourists who have them and do a minute video and call it their Lizzie Borden movie.  Here are some samplings.  (Just click on them).

Salem Exhibit “MySpace” Video

Excellent bio with the lovely Helen Pierce, courtesy of Hulu.

“Emma Bordon the Axe Killer’

The next one is a “legitimate” from the old t.v. series and taken from Lillian De La Torre’s play.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents The Older Sister

The following is my own personal favorite of the short, original creations:

They all have one thing in common:  The continual perpetuation of Lizzie Borden as a one-dimensional, axe-wielding persona encapsulated in an inaccurate quatrain solidifying her as a demented psychopath.   She was not.  She was a woman of taste and deportment.  She was a woman with a strong sense of her Borden roots, a strong belief in God and the hereafter, exquisite taste and a quick, intelligent mind.  She valued those friendships that demonstrated their loyalty and, likewise, unforgiving to those who had, or whom she perceived to have demonstrated betrayals.  There’s something to be said about that when it comes to her love of animals.

Lizzie Borden was not a psychopath.  But she’s endured as a pop culture icon with a false image so embedded in the minds and imaginations of those who study not closely – albeit widely – on the internet.  The content of almost all of the videos  proves the point.  It seems hardly a week goes by without someone, somewhere on the internet making reference to Lizzie Borden but most always in the context of that one dimensional persona.  “I’m gonna go Lizzie Borden”, “The committee will do a Lizzie Borden on the proposed budget”, yadda, yadda, yadda.

What is particularly sad is when the Fall River Historical Society finally publishes it’s book,  Parallel Lives, (at a retail price of nearly $50 and a limited market for heavy reading on the Borden case) it will have limited sales (we’re not talking the new Harry Potter book here) and will fail to alter her pop culture image amongst the masses.  Anyone who thinks differently can’t see the forest for the trees.  Nonetheless, this book promises to be of the same quality as the FRHS’s first book, The Knowlton Papers.  Further, its new findings and photos will ensure its worthiness as a “must have” acquisition by Bordenia collectors and scholars.

As an example of the general disregard by the masses to the facts of the case, it was pretty much proven BACK IN 1893 that the murder weapon was a hatchet, not an AXE, for one thing, and anybody who’s read even one book on the case would know that.  But it doesn’t matter, as 90% of the time she is identified with the axe, not a hatchet.  The masses like their psychopathic, pop culture icons the way they are.  That’s why they don’t bother with research by digging into available facts in books, forums, or subscribe to periodicals.

Education.  Ain’t it a bitch?

Gay’s Studio Photo of Christian Endeavor Society Ladies (?)

Gay’s Studio at 257 N. Main

The purported image of Lizzie Borden below is NOT Lizzie.  Whether or not this group of ladies were members of the Central Congregational Church Christian Endeavor Society, as the owner of the original photograph believes (he was half owner of the Carr-Osborne house), is a matter of conjecture.   As a matter of fact, the legitimacy of this being Lizzie Borden was debated, investigated and brought to a rightful conclusion years ago  in the now OOP Lizzie Borden Quarterly.

“Here is a photo take in the late 19th century. A group of young women who pose for a studio portrait. Perhaps a church group. A few years ago this platinum print was described as possibly the Christian Endeavor Society of the Central Congregational Church of Fall River, Mass. The thought was that this image include Lizzie Borden.

We still have never been able to confirm that notation. Various scholars of note have debated the subject of this photo. The pencil notation “Gay” was the leading photography studio of Fall River and the style and pencil signature is consistent with the era of this mounting. This image was found in storage in a Fall River home and purchased around 1984-85.

We did receive a signed letter from a noted authority on Lizzie Borden in which they stated: “I have little doubt that the figure at the lower right, middle row is Lizzie Borden.” “It was her official duty as treasurer of that society (Christian Endeavor Society of the Central Congregational Church) that kept her from going to Marion with friends on the fatal day of August 4, 1892.” “At the time of the murders, and later at the trial, there was never any reference made to a Lizze look-alike.” A number of years ago The Fall River Historical Society had a different opinion and declined to authenticate the image. Inquiries?”

By clicking HERE you will find the source for the above. Scroll down on the first page to “Emphemera” and click that and scroll down to more info on this photo.

William H. Moody

The prosecution team in the matter of the Commonwealth vs. Lizzie Andrew Borden included the formidable William Henry Moody, whose stellar career surpassed all others associated with the case.  An extraordinarily handsome man, in my opinion, he remained a life-long bachelor.

If Lizzie continued her reading of Harper’s Weekly, she may have seen the December 29, 1906 issue below and its cartoon cover story on one of the men who played a part in a “most interesting occasion.”  Most all of the text which follows comes from that article.

William Henry Moody was born on December 23, 1853, in Newbury, Massachusetts, the son of farmers. He graduated from Phillips Andover Academy in 1872 and Harvard in 1876, leaving Harvard Law School after four months to read law under Richard Henry Dana. After admission to the state bar in 1878, Moody practiced law in Haverhill, Massachusetts, where he was elected city solicitor (1888-1889). In 1890, he was named the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Massachusetts.

In 1895, he was elected as a Republican to fill a vacant seat in Congress, and subsequently elected three more times. He impressed his congressional colleagues with his command of legislative details and debating skills, and served on the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

Theodore Roosevelt first met Moody in 1895 and quickly came to admire a man with a similar physical build, athletic interests, and a progressive Republican perspective. In 1902, Roosevelt appointed Moody as secretary of the navy.

Moody served in that capacity for two years, working to expand and improve the U.S. naval fleet, and reform the navy’s organization.

In June 1904, the president named him as the U.S. Attorney General. In his new position, Moody became a key advisor to the president and played a leading role in the prosecution of the administration’s antitrust lawsuits, successfully arguing Swift and Company v. United States (1905) before the U.S. Supreme Court. He agreed with Roosevelt’s distinction between “good” and “bad” trusts.

The Justice Department under Moody negotiated agreements with large business corporations that it deemed were working in the public interest, such as International Harvester and U.S. Steel, but prosecuted Standard Oil because its economic power and business activities were considered contrary to the public interest. As attorney general, Moody took a case concerning peonage of blacks to the Supreme Court, and ordered contempt proceedings against a sheriff who allowed a black rape suspect to be lynched.

Harper’s Weekly was concerned about the centralization of governmental power during the administration of Republican Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909), and in December 1906 criticized an address in which Secretary of State Elihu Root called for federal intervention in situations where the states failed to act. Root’s speech, which the newspaper assumed was actually written by President Roosevelt, is excerpted in the caption of the featured cartoon. The cartoon warns that William Moody, whom the president had recently named to the U.S. Supreme Court, will be a judicial tool by which Roosevelt can expand federal powers at the expense of state control through new “constructions of the Constitution.” On the right, Secretary of War William Howard Taft sits studying the “Simplified Constitution” while waiting his turn for the next appointment to the Supreme Court.

When Justice Henry Brown resigned from the U.S. Supreme Court in 1906, President Roosevelt tried unsuccessfully to convince Taft to take the position and then considered appointing a Southern Democrat. Finally, on December 12, 1906, the president announced the selection of Moody, emphasizing the attorney general’s nationalist philosophy by describing him as a follower of Alexander Hamilton and John Marshall, not states’ rights advocates Thomas Jefferson and John C. Calhoun. The Senate approved the nomination on December 17.

During Moody’s brief tenure on the Supreme Court, he wrote 67 opinions, including 5 dissents. His most famous dissent came in the Employers’ Liability Cases (1908) in which his minority opinion upheld the constitutionality of a congressional statute protecting employees involved in interstate commerce. The constitutional power to regulate interstate commerce, he argued, included the authority to legislate labor-management relations. Despite his general support of enhanced federal powers, Moody’s most important majority opinion (later overturned) ruled that the federal constitutional provision in the Fifth Amendment against self-incrimination did not apply in state courts (Twining v. State of New Jersey, 1908). Moody’s judicial career was cut short when he developed debilitating rheumatism in early 1909 and was increasingly forced to neglect his judicial responsibilities. In 1910, Congress passed legislation that permitted Moody to qualify for federal retirement benefits, and he retired from the Supreme Court.

A saddened President Roosevelt remarked, “there is not a public servant, at this particular time, that the public could so ill afford to lose.” Eventually incapable of moving his arms and legs, Moody lived seven more years with the painful disease, cared for by his sister until his death on July 2, 1917.

Lizzie Borden and the Month of June

Partial extracts from my historic timeline for the month of June follows.    It helps one gain a perspective on what influenced Lizzie Borden and the world she lived in.   Well, sort of.  One can also watch old films like Pollyanna to get a peek into the mores, customs, societal hierachy of the Victorian and Edwardian eras.

Speaking of Pollyanna, I watched it the other day and was particularly struck by its accurate depiction of the power the founding families had within their communities, including the Church.  Just as Polly Harrington (Jane Wyman)  dictated what her church minister (Karl Malden) would trumpet from the pulpit, made me wonder if the Bordens and Durfees influenced what their ministers would speak on for the Sunday sermons at the Central Congregational Church.

June 20, 1635	John Borden, wife, and two children set sail for America.
June 9, 1772	First naval battle of the Revolutionary War, British customs schooner Gaspee is burned off Rhode Island.

June 17, 1775

Battle of Bunker Hill in Boston.

June 18, 1804	Name of “Fallriver” changed to “Troy”
June 2, 1832	Caleb Blodgett (later Judge at Borden Trial) is born in Dorchester, New Hampshire.
June 12, 1836	Justin Dewey, later Judge at Borden Trial, is born.
June 26, 1838	Mary Augusta Demarest is born in NYC; later writes “My Ain Countrie”.
June 9, 1861	John W. Coughlin born; later three-term Mayor of Fall River.
June 19, 1863	Earl P. Charlton born in Chester, Conn.  (Later becomes richest man in Fall River).
June 9, 1863	Ricca Allen is born in Canada, later friend of Nance O’Neil and Lizzie Borden.
June 6, 1865	Andrew Borden, 43, marries Abby Durfee Gray, 37, (43 days before Lizzie’s 5th birthday).  Emma is 16.
June 16, 1867	Helen Leighton born in Millbridge, Maine.
June 28, 1870	Jerome C. Borden marries Emma Tetlow. (Did 10 yr old Lizzie go to wedding?)
June 19, 1874	Andrew has running water installed in the Second Street house with service from city.
June 25, 1876	General Custer and entire regiment killed at “Battle of the Little Big Horn.”
June 29, 1876	Mill #2 of the American Linen Company, foot of Ferry St., suffered fire damage in the two upper stories.
June, 1879	Spinner’s strike, major summer long strike of mill workers.
June 11, 1885	William Almy dies in Fall River.
June 17, 1885	The Statue of Liberty, a gift from France, arrives in the U.S.
June 2, 1886	President Grover Cleveland marries Frances Folsom in Blue Room of the White House.
June 15, 1887	Dedication of BMC Durfee High School.  William Lambert is first principal.
June 4, 1890	Lizzie signs her passport application for Grand Tour to Europe.
June 16, 1890	The first Madison Square Garden, designed by McKim, Mead & White, opens in New York City.
June 21, 1890	Lizzie sails on S.S. Scythia from Boston to Liverpool, England, embarking on 19 week long “Grand Tour”.
June 24, 1891	Daylight “robbery” at the Bordens.      (KP74)
May/June 1892	Andrew kills pigeons roosting in the barn.  Morse visits end of June.
June 30, 1892	Morse spends one day at Bordens; takes Butcher Davis’ daughter & Emma for a ride.            (CI 96)
June 1, 1893	Grace Hartley graduates from Fall River High School.      (FRHN 3/21/2004)
June 3, 1893	Jose Correiro arrested in Manchester case. (Jury is sequestered and does not learn of this arrest.)
June 3, 1893	Lizzie transfers to New Bedford Jail on Ash Street.
June 5-20, 1893	THE TRIAL OF LIZZIE BORDEN
June 1893	Grace Hartley graduates from Fall River High School.      (FRHN 3/21/2004)
June 5, 1893Monday	Court convened at 11:28 am.  111 questioned before the 12 jurymen are were selected.  Charles I. Richards chosen as jury Foreman.
June 6, 1893 Tuesday	Indictment is read; William Moody opens for the Prosecution.  Lizzie faints and is revived.
June 6, 1893 Tuesday	Civil Engr. Thomas Kieran called, gives measurements, testifies a man could have hid in front entry closet.

June 6, 1893 Tuesday	Jurors travel to Fall River; visit Kelly’s house, Wade’s store, Crowe’s stone yard, Chagnon’s house, Kirby’s yard, Alice Russell’s house, Gorman’s store, Clegg’s store and banks.  Tour finished at 4:00 pm.
June 6, 1893Tuesday	Jurors taken to Mellen House, Franklin & North Main Street where they spend the night.
June 7, 1893 Wednesday	James A. Walsh, photographer testifies as to the accuracy of the pictures he had made of the victims and the house on the day of the killing.
June 7, 1893 Wednesday	John Vinnicum Morse examination conducted by Moody, not different from that as in the Preliminary Hearing.  Lizzie smiled as her uncle tried to calculate her age and shook her head vigorously when he stated she was “33.”   (She was only 6 weeks shy of 33),
June 7, 1893 Wednesday	Abraham G. Hart, Treasurer of Union Savings Bank, testifies as to Borden’s movements on morning of the 8/4.
June 7, 1893	Edwin Booth, brother of John Wilkes Booth, dies.  Had home in Middletown, RI.
June 9,  893Friday	John Minnehan, patrolman assigned to follow John Morse on August 5, 1892, dies at age 48 in Fall River.
June 12, 1893 Monday	Lizzie’s Inquest Testimony ruled inadmissible.
June 13, 1893 Tuesday	AG Pillsbury arrives by train from Boston, consults with Knowlton & Moody & returns same evening.
June 14, 1893 Wednesday	John T. Burrill, Cashier of  Union National Bank, Everett M. Cook, Cashier of the First National Bank, Jonathan Clegg, a hat dealer, Joseph Shortsleeves, a carpenter, and John Maher, a carpenter give testimony as to Andrew’s movements August 4th.
June 14, 1893	Judges ruling excludes Eli Bence’s prussic acid testimony .
June 14, 1893	At Knowlton’s request during Dr. Draper’s testimony, Dr. Dolan brings in the skulls of Andrew & Abby. Lizzie is allowed to retire from the courtroom.                                (TT1046)
June 14, 1893 Wednesday	9th Day: C. C. Potter’s son (Freddy) finds hatchet w/gilt on roof of Crowe’s barn.  Carpenter Carl McDonnel claims it is his hatchet; prussic acid testimony (Eli Bence) ruled inadmissible.
June 15, 1893	FR Evening News reports hatchet found on roof of John Crowe’s barn.                           ( FREN18)
June 15, 1893 Wednesday	Opening statements by Defense are given by Andrew Jennings.
June 16, 1893 Wednesday	Emma Borden testifies.
June 16, 1893	Governor Robinson reads from Bridget’s Inquest Testimony (a missing document)                (TT)
June 17, 1893	Carpenter McDonald claims Crowe’s roof hatchet is his.   (FRHN)
June 18, 1893	Carrie Poole, Lizzie’s friend residing 20 Madison Street, New Bedford, dies.
June 19, 1893 Wednesday	Governor Robinson gives closing arguments; Knowlton begins his closing.
June 20, 1893 3:24 pm	13th Day: The Jury retires to deliberate.
4:32 pm	Lizzie Borden pronounced “Not Guilty” at 4:35 pm.                                         (TT1928)
8:15 pm	Lizzie & Emma arrive by coach w/Mrs. Holmes at 67 Pine St. in FR; small reception follows.  Lizzie spends night there.  Large crowd gathered at 92 Second St.                             (CaseBook228)
June 22, 1893	Reupholstered sofa is delivered back to the house on Second Street.                                                                         (LR1111-112)
June 23, 1893	Lizzie visits the Wm. Covel’s in Newport, RI, has classic picture of her “standing behind the chair” taken.
June 23, 1893	Morse attempts to get mileage reimbursement from Iowa to New Bedford from Co. Treasurer.                                                (FRHN)
June 27, 1893	Lizzie & Emma go to Taunton to visit Sheriff Wright’s wife.
June 4, 1900	Mary Howe (Baker) is born, daughter of Grace and Louis Howe.
June 5, 1905	Newspaper article states Lizzie writing play for Nance O’Neil.                      (Spiering p208)
June 5, 1905	Boston Globe reports Emma moving out of “Maplecroft”.
June 21, 1905	Bridget Sullivan marries John M. Sullivan in Anaconda, MT.
June 2, 1906	Emma Borden departs on White Star liner RMS Cymric, departing from Boston for Queenstown & Liverpool, enroute to Scotland.
June 30, 1908	Lizzie writes to Asst. Supt R. I. Hospital re her maid Hannah B. Nelson.                                             (Gateway Mag. Summer 1997)
June 15, 1909	Marshal Hilliard retires.
June 19, 1911	Opening Day of Fall River’s Cotton Centennial
June 23, 1911	President Howard Taft arrives in Fall River for Cotton Centennial celebration.
June 10, 1912	Grisly axe murders of 2 adults and 6 children, all while they sleep, in Villisca, Iowa.
June 25, 1914	Animal Rescue League of Fall River established as a corporation (Later becomes Faxon Animal Rescue League).
June 29, 1914	Austrian Prince, Archduke Ferdinand shot by Serbian assassin, in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, leading to World War I.
June 28, 1915	Patrick Doherty (Captain, FRPD) dies in Fall River, Mass.
June 15, 1918	Lizzie and Emma sell 230 Second St. (changed from #92)  to John W. Dunn.              (LR557)
June 19, 1919	Naval Fighting Ship commissioned “Moody” launched. William H. Moody’s sister, Mary E. Moody, sponsored the ship.
June 22, 1922	Emma Borden signs the Codicil to her Will.
June 1, 1923	Leontine Lincoln dies. (Grandfather of Victoria Lincoln and a founder of Fall River Historical Society).
June 1, 1927	Lizzie Andrew Borden dies of heart failure at 8:30 pm at her home “Maplecroft” in (59 days short of her 67th birthday).
June 4, 1927	Nance O’Neil’s interview about Lizzie appears in New Bedford Standard.
June 7, 1927	Lizzie’s Will is filed in Taunton Probate Court.
June 10, 1927	Emma Borden dies in Newmarket, New Hampshire at age 76.
June 12, 1927	Helen Leighton interview saying Lizzie was bitterly unhappy, suffered from depression.                                                  ( FRHN)
June 13, 1927	Emma Borden is buried at Oak Grove Cemetery.
June 30, 1927	Emma’s Will is filed in Taunton Probate Court.
June 3, 1939	Arthur Sherman Phillips writes to son of Defense Attorney Robinson asking to be forwarded Lizzie’s answers to the questions he posed her back in 1892.
June 23-27, 1936	Grace Hartley Howe attends Democratic Nat’l Convention in Philadelphia as a Delegate At-large.
June 14, 1955	Grace Hartley Howe, Lizzie’s cousin and legatee, dies at the age of 80 in Fall River.         (FRHN)
June 1, 1961	Adelaide Churchill home destroyed by fire.              (LR44)
June 13, 1981	Author Victoria Lincoln Lowe dies at age 76.  Her body given to Science at John Hopkins University.
June 22, 1994	Josephine Vohnoutka McGinn (wife of John) dies in Fall River.
June 1, 2001	Jules Ryckebusch retires from Bristol Community College and names Gabriela Schalow Adler Publisher of The Lizzie Borden Quarterly.
June 2, 2004	Robert Dube files for variance to convert garage to single family residence on Maplecroft property.
June 7, 2004	FR Herald News reports 92 Second Street purchased by Donald Woods of Portsmouth, RI.; says he will tear down “Leary Press”, increase parking & rebuild the barn.
June, 2008	Lizzie Borden Took an Axe, or Did She? – A Rhetorical Inquiry by Annette Holba is published.
June, 2008	Leonard Pickel announces he will open a Lizzie Borden Gift Shop & “Museum” in Salem, MA.

The Fall River Tragedy – Rare Book FREE Online

The first book to be published on the Lizzie Borden case was right after her Trial in 1893 by Edwin Porter, a reporter for the Fall River Globe and a chum of some of the police officers who provided some inside information.

The first edition, the original, is not easily found and when it does appear, such as on eBay, usually sells for $300 or more.  Some antique book dealers list it as high as $2,000.  The book itself is really not all that rare.  I addressed this issue in detail in a previous blog which can be found by clicking HERE.

Lizzie’s lawyer, Andrew Jennings, on behalf of the Borden sisters and John Morse,  threatened Porter and the publisher with legal action if any pictures of “the family” appeared.  Well, pictures of the “dead family” appeared and no suit followed.

When the book was first published, it was sold on subscription, and one of the “Lizzie Legends” is that Lizzie bought out the printer and had the copies burned.  Not true.  A goodly number were purchased – and to some Fall River notables at that. The one found AT THIS SITE was owned by Charlotte Brayton and she donated it to the Harvard Library.   The Braytons were one of the prominent founding families of Fall River.

By clicking to advance the pages , you will immediately see the handwritten inscription on the inside cover:  “Israel Brayton”.  This particular Israel Brayton* was born in 1874 and died in 1961.  He married Ethel Moison Chace (1880-1960), and they had three children, including Charlotte Brayton (1913 to 1994).  Charlotte never married.  For whatever reasons, Charlotte preferred to donate her father’s copy of The Fall River Tragedy to Harvard rather than the Fall River Historical Society.  Lucky thing for us she did.

The book is rich in photos of key players not found in other books and includes the old “Ferry Street” homestead, the house Andrew deeded to the girls over the Whitehead fiasco.  Well, that house was practically a prototype of the home he purchased in 1872 at 92 Second Street.  Greek revival, two-family home.  Andrew was worth a small fortune by 1872 but he didn’t exactly move “up”.   Anyway, here’s a picture of both houses:

Virtually, the same house.  Two stories and an attic built for 2 families with identical floor plans on the first and second floors.   Lizzie was 12 when they moved and she could not have been too impressed.  The only difference was after a short while they had “the whole house”.  So that was different.

Thanks to the Harvard Library, and thanks to Charlotte Brayton, you can now READ, AND PRINT OUT THE ENTIRE BOOK FOR FREE – AND AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED.   NO WORD DOCUMENT HERE.  HERE YOU CAN ENJOY IT JUST AS IT WAS LAID OUT – NOT RETYPED IN WORD FORMAT AND UPLOADED TO A FORUM SITE WITHOUT ANY IMAGES.  HERE YOU GET THE REAL DEAL.   ENJOY!  IT’S FREE!

CLICK HERE —>  FALL RIVER TRAGEDY

*Source: The Braytons of Somerset and Fall River by Roswell Brayton, page 34. (Note: Charlotte is pictured with several generations of Braytons in this book; also pictured are her father and mother.)

Lizzie Borden Live! in Fall River June 20th

This is not to be missed.  I saw it 3 times when she played in Sedona, Arizona.  Wrote a review which can be seen by clicking HERE.

PRESS RELEASE

Lizzie Borden Returns

Lizzie Borden is coming back home to Fall River on the 116^th anniversary of her acquittal in New Bedford Superior Court this June 20th.    New York writer and actress, Jill  Dalton,  resurrects the spirit of Fall River’s most infamous character in a chilling, solo performance entitled, Lizzie Borden Live.

“I wanted to give Lizzie a voice to tell her own story following

her day in court,” stated Ms. Dalton.  “That’s something she was not able to do

when she was doped up on morphine during her famous murder trial.”

Lizzie Andrew Borden was found innocent in a court of law, but judged guilty in the court of public opinion.  She was condemned by society and shunned in her hometown.  Ms. Dalton powerfully evokes Lizzie’s emotional turmoil and psychic trauma. She wrote the play from Lizzie’s point of view so that “the audience can hear her side of the story for the first time.”

The legend comes to life with humor, empathy and insight when Lizzie steps on stage at the Eagle Performing Arts Center on 35 North Main Street at 8 PM on Saturday, June 20^th.   This production, sponsored by the Luso American Gallery of Antiquities, is funded in part by grants from the John and Abigail Adams Program of the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Four Cities Collaborative of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism.

“In addition to this state support, the Mayor’s Office and the Arts Uniting Fall River collaborative have participated in the planning and promotion of this community event and fundraiser,” noted LAGOA curator, Stephen L. Cabral. “Our organization is committed to promoting the arts, preserving our cultural history and providing scholarship funds for promising students. Lizzie Borden Live will help support these goals.”

Jill Dalton is an award winning New York actress with a long list of television and theatre credits.  She has appeared in Law and Order, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, As the World Turns, All my Children, One Life to Live and Saturday Night Live.   The East Lynne Theater Company in Cape May, New Jersey commissioned this play, which opened to standing ovations from the audience and critics alike.  Ms. Dalton won the 2007 Jacoby Award for her portrayal in Lizzie Borden Live.

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This dramatic crime thriller is set 13 years after the double murder at Maplecroft, the Highlands mansion Lizzie bought with money inherited from her father.  According to the Red Rock News of Sedona, Arizona:

“Dalton gives a compelling performance capturing the

humanity, humor, irony and sadness of a woman who had time

to reflect on horrific events.  She enacts a Lizzie that has never

been portrayed anywhere in stage, screen or literature. ”

Fall River native son, Jack McCullough, is the director of the show, which has toured New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Arizona.  Mr. McCullough, a graduate of the Trinity Repertory Conservatory in Providence, RI, has also made his mark on stage and screen, but prefers to work behind the scenes of Lizizie Borden Live.  Jack has envisioned this homecoming since the play first opened.  He insists that this production will make the audience think twice.

“We are very excited about performing on stage in the heart

of Lizzie’s old neighborhood.  Jill and Lizzie have a compelling

story to tell.  People come to see Lizzie expecting to find a monster

and instead they discover themselves.”

Check your calendar and order your $40 tickets from LAGOA, Inc. by calling 508-673-6624.   Seating is limited to 160 so make your reservations now.  The doors of the Eagle Performing Arts Center will open at 6:30 PM.  Harpist, Judy Mitchell will set the musical tone for the night, and members of the Mutton Eaters, dressed in period garb, will greet and engage the guests at the light buffet and cash bar prior to the show.

Lizzie Borden Live challenges the audience to rethink the legend that is Lizzie Borden.  Think you know her?  Think again!

Stephen L. Cabral, Ph.D.

Curator/President

Luso American Gallery of Antiquities, Inc. (LAGOA)

484 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA  02720

Tel.  508-673-6624

www.lagoagallery.org