Hell

The following blog entry has nothing to do with Lizzie (hmmm?). ***********************************************************************
The following is an actual question given on a University of Washington chemistry mid-term exam. The answer by one student was so “profound” that the professor shared it with colleagues, via the Internet, which is, of course, why we now have the pleasure of enjoying it as well.

Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic (absorbs heat)? Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle’s Law (gas cools when it expands and heats when it is compressed) or some variant. One student, however, wrote the following:

First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time. So we need to know the rate at which souls are moving into Hell and the rate at which they are leaving. I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving. As for how many souls are entering Hell, let’s look at the different Religions that exist in the world today. Most of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to Hell.

Since there is more than one of these religions and since people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all souls go to Hell. With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell to increase exponentially. Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because Boyle’s Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand proportionately as souls are added.

This gives two possibilities:

1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks loose.

2. If Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in Hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell freezes over.

So which is it?

If we accept the postulate given to me by Teresa during my Freshman year that, “it will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you”, and take into account the fact that I slept with her last night, then number 2 must be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is exothermic and has already frozen over. The corollary of this theory is that since Hell has frozen over, it follows that it is not accepting any more souls and is therefore, extinct…leaving only Heaven thereby proving the existence of a divine being which explains why, last night, Teresa kept shouting “Oh my God.”

(THIS STUDENT RECEIVED THE ONLY “A” IN THE CLASS.)

Incredible Mardi Gras Photos

As Mardi Gras celebrations abound this week for cities like Rio and Venice, there is hardly a match for their opulence, glory and grandeur. Here is just a small sampling of these amazing photos taken in the past few days.

The posting here really doesn’t do them justice so PLEASE, PLEASE view them in full force and effect from the website by clicking “HERE” at the end of this post.   Absolutely breathtaking.   Sort of makes New Orleans look like a pup.

Ana Maria Tavarez reacts after being crowned the Tenerife Carnival Queen 2009 during a carnival gala in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Spanish Canary Island of Tenerife, late February 18, 2009. (REUTERS/Santiago Ferrero)

A woman performs atop a Beija Flor samba school float at the Sambodrome in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, Feb. 23, 2009. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Beija-Flor samba school dancers parade at the Sambodrome on the first night of the Carnival samba school parade in Rio de Janeiro on February 23, 2009. (VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)

Dancers perform on a float during the parade of the Mocidade Alegre samba school in Sao Paulo, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

A horse is seen inside La Fenice theatre during a rehearsal of the Cavalchina Grand Ball, one of the highlights of the Carnival in Venice, Italy February 21, 2009. (REUTERS/Michele Crosera)

Unidos de Vila Isabel samba school dancers perform on the first night of the Carnival samba school parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 23, 2009. (VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)

Revellers from the Tom Maior samba school parade during the carnival in Sao Paulo February 20, 2009. (REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker)

You can view more images HERE.

Book Review: “Did Lizzie Borden Axe for It?” by David Rehak

(Recycled post)

The third and revised printing of David Rehak’s 270 page softcover book, Did Lizzie Borden Axe for It?, contains a never before seen note written in Lizzie’s hand shortly after the sinking of the Titanic. This book is now available (along with Mr. Rehak’s other books) thru Lulu Press as seen by clicking HERE.

This is a different kind of Lizzie book. Traditionally, the Lizzie books have a sequential, narrative progression, spilling forth the saga of the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden against the backdrop of Fall River, Massachusetts and peppered with some new (and often outrageous) theory of who dunnit. Not this book. No long, flowing narratives here. No in-depth research filling chapter after chapter. Instead Dave takes us on a thoroughly enjoyable Mr. Toad’s wild ride weaving in and out, up and down, over and around and back again, giving us punches of “in your face” data to quickly absorb, question, and quickly move on.

In the Introduction he says he deals with the facts “as we know them”. Well, not entirely. For example, an early error is in the constricted Timeline that has John Morse visiting his niece and nephew, “the Emerys” on Weybosset street. Nonetheless, with almost bullet-point speed he whisks us through “Lizzie didn’t do it”, then rebounds with “Lizzie did it” having laid out the basics and offers conclusions – not opinionated but taken from reportings of the day.

Then we are off and flying again into the skies of “whys”. Why was Lizzie thought to be a lesbian – featuring Nance O’Neil; why does Lizzie linger; why was Lizzie a romantic being, and so on. Along the read-ride we bump into Lizzie’s alledged boyfriend (David Anthony), the alleged illegitimate son of Andrew (William S. Borden), her disloyal friend (Alice Russell), her loyal supporter (Mary Livermore). If television’s TMZ and “Access Hollywood” were turned into a book on Lizzie, this would be it. Fast flashes that move from one salacious tidbit to another, the reader learns something new, re-processes something already known, and finds points to question and challenge – depending upon the level of expertise of the reader.

While Mr. Rehak asserts he makes no claim as to her guilt or innocence, it is clear he has a real affection for the inscrutable Miss Borden and sways from an unbiased hand more than once. For this we can forgive him. Most authors attempting to maintain neutrality often write with a slight transparency allowing the reader to draw the correct conclusion.

There are two things that have never been published in any book on the Borden case before and they appear in this book only. One is revealed to the public in printed form for the first time.

First, this portrait of Andrew J. Borden as a young man – perhaps taken at the time he married Sarah Morse Borden. Neither this image or similar image has appeared in a book up to this time. Second, and more importantly, something “new” in Lizzie’s own hand: a note she wrote not long after the sinking of the Titantic wanting the initial “B” placed on toiletry items for her matching case. It gives us insight into Lizzie’s own vanity, her keen eye for quality, and maybe even tells us how much that “B” as in B O R D E N meant to her.

I have permission from author Dave Rehak to include that note in this blog so here it is as introduced in his book.

Below are images from my own digital copy of the original note.

I would recommend to any Bordenia collector to purchase Dave’s book for these images alone. However, as the reader traverses through the uneven flow of these pages, he/she will come upon many new images not published previously except in his own editions. In addition, one can’t help but chuckle at some of the fantasy in the form of poems, psychic contacts with meeting Lizzie, and particularly “Lizzie’s New Hat”, all the more solidifying the fact this is like no other Lizzie book and stands as an “Anomaly of Audacity” to put a twisted contemporary pun on it.

David Rehak has done us all a favor, regardless of the factual accuracy and lack of scholarly research and citations. He has given us a marvelous compendium representative of the orbit that spins around our Miss Lizzie, and he’s done it with originality, good humor, and a fast track ride wholly entertaining and worthy of our attention.

I wrote about this new edition coming out in a previous blog entry where I explained the facts of why a second edition was “rushed to print.” This third edition has corrected the abysmal editing errors that were an unfortunate result. You can read why this happened HERE. If you have the first edition – hold on to that baby – it’s value just soared! And having a collection of all 3 is what the true Borden collector aspires.

It was my pleasure to provide Dave with several of the images in the book, some not published before. In the 7 years I have known him, I’ve found him to be a kind man – a sensitive man, and one I’m proud to call a friend. I recommend you purchase this unique collectible and treat yourself to that wild ride!

On the Trail of Lizzie Borden – by Charles Reis, Jr.

Countless guests video tape their stay at the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast and often times put them up on YouTube.com. Some are more entertaining and informative than others. Charles Reis, Jr. has done a very good job with this 4-part presentation of his January 30, 2009 visit.

Random Shots of Fall River

Here’s some shots I just picked at random from my different digital albums of Lizzie Borden’s home town – Fall River. Also some of nearby locales. Enjoy.

Mary Borden Hartley rests near her father, Cook Borden – the mother and grandfather of Grace Hartley Howe.

The beautiful church seats at The Narrows, 45 Anawan Street.

Staircase at The Narrows – imagine the millions of steps up and down by the factory workers, holding the railing, descending after a 14 hour day.

Central Congregational Church

Academy Building Courtyard fronting on Second Street

Sitting Room closet shows bounded Trial transcript. and my “Journey to Maplecroft” game on second shelf.

Rear view of the “Kelley house”, directly south of 92 Second.

The “Henry House”

Kennedy Park

Main Library, post renovation.

Sitting at the bench, New Bedford Superior Court

Oldest house in Fall River

One of the few remaining “grand” carriage houses

Lafayette-Durfee House

From the corner of the grand old carriage house looking at the former Sarah Brayton house.

Seashells at the sea shore.

Center courtyard off the kitchen at Central Congregational

You can’t stand here and get this shot anymore.

Refrigerator at Lizzie Borden B&B.

Home for the Aged – rear view.

Views from Swansea, across the street from Marconi’s

Bet you’ve never seen this shot before.

David Rehak book, Did Lizzie Axe for It?  has first time published portrait of Andrew Borden seen above.

Center Street as seen through window of New Bedford Whaling Museum

Old Gardner cemetery in Swansea

Newport

The Month of February

Fall River looking down North Main – late 1880’s.

Lobby poster for Al Jolson in The Jazz Singer, 1927 -the year of Lizzie’s death.

A sampling of what happened back in Lizzie Borden’s day during the month of February.

Date	Event
February 1, 1894	Spinners line street between Spring & Columbia on both sides of Main St., declaring strike.
February 1, 1893	Robinson joins Lizzie’s defense team.
February 2, 1920	#230 (formerly #92) Second Street house purchased by Mark Mandel from John W. Dunn.
February 2, 1928	Pocassett Mill fire – City Hall, Union Bank bldg, etc. destroyed – over $35 million in property loss.
February 2,1894	Emma signs discharge of Executor duties of AJB estate, witnessed by Henrietta & Elizabeth Morse.
February 2-4, 1926	Lizzie enters Truesdale Hospital for gall bladder operation.  Registers as “Mary Smith”.
February 2, 1902	Philip H. Borden dies in Fall River.
February 3, 1854	Abraham Borden deeds house on Ferry Street to Andrew.
February 4, 1927	The film “The Jazz Singer” starring Al Jolson premieres as the first “talkie”.
February 6, 1940	Weetamoe Mill fire, loss of $450,000.  This mill was owned by the City of Fall River.
February 6, 1844	McKee Rankin (Nance O’Neil theatrical agent) is born in Canada.
February 6, 1879	Charles Churchill, husband of Adelaide, dies at age 35.
February 7, 1965	Nance O’Neil, 90, dies in the Actors Fund Home, Englewood, New Jersey (nursing home).
February 7, 1910	Emma & Lizzie deed 9 acres land e/side Gardner’s Neck Rd, Swansea to Preserved Gardner.
February 10, 1905	John Morse leaves Iowa for Boston.
February 10, 1893	Officer Phillip Harrington,  FRPD, promoted to Captain.
February 11, 1888	Women’s Board of Fall River Hospital is formed.  Miss Anna H. Borden, Treasurer.  (She went on 1890 Grand Tour with Lizzie).
February 11, 1880	Edmund Lester Pearson born in Newburyport, Mass.
February 11, 1889	Service at Central Congregational Church calls for pledges of $82,000 to clear debt.  (Did Andrew contribute?)
February 12, 1892	Former President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday is declared a national holiday in the United States.
February 12, 1834	Mass. General Court Assembly changes name from “Troy” to “Fall River”
February 14, 1890	Chicago learns it will be the site for the next World’s Fair.
February 15-16, 1916	Major fire in downtown Fall River – 30 businesses destroyed, over $1.5 million in property loss.
February 16,1897	Providence Daily Journal prints story of Lizzie’s shoplifting at Tilden Thurber.
February 16, 1898	USS Battleship Maine blows up in Havana harbor, 266 killed.
February 17, 1933	2nd Probate Court accounting filed by Charles Cook on Lizzie’s Will for period May 2, 1929 thru Jan.1, 1932.
February 17, 1933	3rd Probate Court accounting filed by Charles Cook on Lizzie’s Will: period May 2, 1929 thru Nov. 28, 1932.
February 18, 1904	Edwin H. Porter, dies in FR at age 39
February 14, 1910	Lizzie sells 18 acres in Swansea (Gardner’s Neck Road)
February 19, 1829	Phebe Ann Borden, Andrew’s sister, born in Fall River.
February 20, 1912	John Vinnicum Morse signs his Last Will & Testament in Hastings, Iowa.
February 22, 1896	Governor Robinson dies at the age of 62 in Chicopee, Mass.
February 24, 1924	1924 Woodrow Wilson dies.
February 25, 1968	Gertrude M. (Russell) Callow, Lizzie’s maid (1912-1913) dies at the age of 79 in Fall River.
February 26, 1829	Hiram Harrington born (marries Lurana Borden, Andrew’s sister).
February 26, 1883	Mary B. Young addresses Fall River City Council proposing her gift of $400,000 for new High School- becomes B.M.C. Durfee High School).

Borden here, Borden there, Bordens, Bordens EVERYWHERE!

I regularly receive emails and letters from those interested in the Lizzie Borden case and usually because they have or believe they have a link to Lizzie herself.

As early as 1970, I began exchanging letters with people, many of whom were distant Borden relations or residents of Fall River during Lizzie’s life time, although one or two generations behind her.   For the early correspondence I am indebted to Florence Brigham, past Curator Emeritus of the Fall River Historical Society, who was so accommodating and helpful with her introductions and assistance in my early years of research.

In more contemporary times, letters have given way to emails in terms in quantity and frequency.  But the content seems to always have that recurring thread:  the writer is related to Lizzie Borden.  This isn’t surprising since we’re all only 14 degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon, why not 20 degrees of separation from Lizzie?  Seriously though, with a variety of internet search engines we can instantly find countless blogs and websites on the case to learn specifics from -

Andrew’s skull as presented at trial to:

The Drew Barrymore connection to:

Descendents of the Bordens

The Borden Project is one of my favorite sites because of the many photographs of Bordens.  When you get to the site, click on the “Photo Gallery” at the left and by the time you get to the 3rd and 4th pages you are at the 5th, 6th and 7th generations of Bordens.  When you see all those faces, the years they were born and died, the states they spread out to, is it any wonder that Bordens are everywhere?   And though the bloodline thins with each generation, the linkage is still there.

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My mother’s family were Bordens from Fall River, MA. What is interesting is that my family lineage were all male descendents, so the surname remained Borden until my mother. Your friend indicated that you were also a Borden and had done a lot of Borden genealogy and also that you knew quite a bit about Lizzie. Between a third cousin, Stephen Borden in Fall River, and my aunt, most of our family’s Borden genealogy is current.

Why I have contacted you is mainly to see how we might be related and also to ask you a question or two on Lizzie Borden. There was a grocer by the name of Edmund Whitehead located on 102 South Main Street during this period of Lizzie and the murder of her parents. Edmund Whitehead had married a Borden, Silvia L. Borden, oldest daughter of Stephen and Sarah Potter (Brayton) Borden. Silvia was the older sister of my great grandfather, Charles Edgar Borden. Anyway, Edmund was called as a witness at Lizzie’s trial in regards to the movement of Andrew Borden that morning. I am attaching a summary of Andrew Borden’s movements that morning and you can see the reference to Whitehead.

What has peaked my interest, and you may be able to offer an answer, is the half-sister of Lizzie’s stepmother, Abby. The half sister’s married name was Whitehead. I can’t find my reference at this moment, but I think her first name was Mary. My question: Was Abby’s half sister married to one of Edmund’s brothers? The Whitehead family came to Fall River in 1856, so I don’t think the town was full of Whitehead’s. Lizzie would be my fifth cousin, three times remove according to my cousin, Stephen Borden. But I would be interested in finding out if there is a connection with the Whitehead family.

I hope this email hasn’t confused the daylights out of you, I am open to any questions you may have on my family’s history. My great great grandfather, Stephen Borden, and the next two generations of male Bordens were all carriage painters by trade. So you can see I am not directly related to any of the Borden shakers and movers.

I hope to hear back from you,

Mary Clemens in Florida

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I came across your blog from the article in today’s Boston Herald. Very interesting! Last year I starting doing family research because my Mom always told stories of how her mom (my grandmother) would play in Lizzie’s house. My grandmother, Marion Haywood b. 1893, mother was Flora A. Borden. Anyways…traced it back to Lizzie’s G G Grandfather John Borden b. 1640 is my G G G G G G  Grandfather. Not sure how you would say we were related, but we were.Anyways…great web-site enjoyed it alot!

Bill

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After reading Arnold R. Brown’s book regarding Lizzie Borden, I became interested in the aspect of the murder being done by William S. Borden, with the possible help of William Lewis Bassett.  I began researching these two people.  One thing of interest I found is that William Lewis Bassett left Fall River, Bristol, Massachusetts after 1900 and ended up across the country in Sunnyside, Yakima County, Washington, where he died after 1910!  After William S. Borden’s murder or suicide in 1901, it looks like William Bassett wanted to get as far as possible from Fall River.William Lewis Bassett’s mother, Peace, was the second wife of Charles Lott Borden.  Charles Lott Borden’s first wife was Phebe Hathaway, the mother of William S. Borden.It is probable that Ellen Eagan’s story of seeing William S. Borden coming out of the Andrew Borden house at 11;00 a.m. the morning of the murders is true.  My theory is that he and William L. Bassett went there that morning, between 10:15 and 11:00, to ask for money from Andrew Borden.  When Andrew refused, he was murdered by William S. Borden, a dangerous lunatic.  Abby Borden was probably murdered shortly before, between 10:30 and 10:45.

So, when I read the newspaper account of Pete Peterson’s story on your website, I wanted to see the whole newspaper account.

Sincerely, Patricia

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Note:  “Slides” above from presentation to womens group at ASU 5 years ago.  There are letters I will post pending permission where applicable.