Tag Archives: history

Lizzie Borden Bed And Breakfast/Museum (Fall River, MA)

At first glance, it would seem to be any quaint, rustic bed and breakfast (or as we are prone to say in New England, “b&b”).  But, the Lizzie Borden Bed And Breakfast/Museum is no ordinary bed and breakfast.

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If only this seemingly ordinary inn could tell stories.  The bed and breakfast has been converted to an inn (stay at your own risk) and tours are offered for a paltry $18.  The hour long tour includes a history of the house, the denizens (which of course Lizzie Borden was one) and other trivia about the building and people associated with the house.

Of course, Lizzie is the main person of interest.

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For those who either lived under a rock for the past 120 years or aren’t a maladjusted historian who is fascinated with the morbid, Lizzie was the main suspect in the murders of her mother and father.  She was acquitted after the jury deliberated for an hour.  To this day, people are divided over whether she did commit these murders (she did).  The real life story plays out like an Agatha Christie mystery.

The house is three floors with 8 rooms.  The furniture is not the exact furniture from the house because the Borden sisters had to store their furniture and while the furniture was in storage the furniture was destroyed by water and fire damage.  Replicas of the furniture of that era are furnished throughout the house.  They also seem to want to keep the house as close to the original style as possible.  We also had a large tour group which made the rooms seem even more cramped and the lighting was dim.  That is not a ghost but rather the photographer’s reflection in the mirror.

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The staircases are narrow but fun to photograph.

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The bedrooms are basic with the bare necessities (you won’t find any flat screen tv’s or hot tubs there).  But, they are refreshing for the weary traveler who just wants to unplug and relax.

This is the room where Abby Borden was murdered.  Walking in the room can’t help but give you the willies.

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This is where Andrew Borden’s (Lizzie’s father) body was found.  I swear I had my camera trained on the entire sitting couch (I’d sooner blame in on Nikon than the photographer or any spirits, though)

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If you are considering a stay at the Lizzie Borden bed and breakfast, just remember that while it is cute and rustic, well keep in mind that it is rustic.

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Is that Lizzie in the window?

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The inn also has a number of photos of the key players of the Borden case and the family hanging on the wall.  There is also the dress Elizabeth Montgomery wore when she depicted Lizzie Borden in the made for tv version of the murder and trial.  There are also artifacts hung on the walls that were found on the property that were discovered during recent renovations.

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I had some time to waste before the tour, so I stopped by Lizzie’s (or Lizbeth’s) final resting place.  Lizzie is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Fall River, Mass.  She is buried next to her sister, Emma.  People regularly leave little mementos from flowers to rocks and even coins and other keepsakes on her gravestone, especially this time of year (even though the murders occurred in August and not around Halloween) .

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Witch Trial Memorial (Danvers, MA)

When most people think of the witch hysteria that gripped the New England colonies in 1692 and 1693, they are likely to think it began and took place exclusively in Salem.  However, although they are known as the Salem Witch Trials and Salem largely takes the infamy of the witch hunt, Salem does not hold that infamous title.

Salem Village, now known as Danvers, has the infamous distinction of being the beginning of the Salem witch hysteria.  It is here in Danvers, Massachusetts, where a somber memorial stands as a constant reminder to remember this past and to never let something like this happen again.

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Erected in May, 1992, the monuments lists the 20 people who were executed during the witch trials.

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Each slab lists a quote of innocence from each victim.

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The rays spilling in from the top of the memorial was a nice touch.

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Some of the more poignant quotes listed on the wall are:

“Well!  burn me or hang me.  I will stand in the truth of Christ…” – George Jacobs, Sr

“Amen. Amen.  A false tongue will never make a guilty person.” – Susannah Martin

The memorial also has a sculpture of “The Book Of Life” on top of a table that has a tribute etched in the base.

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Attached to each side of the book are chains.  Stark reminders of the pain they endured.

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Someone left a flower at the memorial, a common occurrence at this memorial, particularly during this time of the year.

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The memorial site has many pretty views to photograph from a variety of angles and the foliage added a nice touch.  The foliage gave a serene feeling in contrast to the moving memorial.

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In front of the memorial, there is monument that lists the generous donors who made the memorial possible.  You may notice the red door on the house in the background.  This is not unusual for the area.  The houses in Danvers and the surrounding area were beautiful in their understated uniqueness and pretty yet rustic nature.

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A sign, inconspicuously posted by the side of the road explains the origins and history of the site and surrounding area as well as the meaning behind the memorial.

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