Lizzie Borden House

Before I moved from Massachusetts to North Carolina, I created a bucket list of places to see and things to do before I left. Among the beaches, historical sights, and all the restaurants I wanted to eat at one more time was the Lizzie Borden House.

An infamous home in Fall River, it is known for both being the site of a vicious double murder and for the accused murderer living there when the crime was committed. On August 4th, 1892 Andrew Borden and his wife Abby were killed in there own home, and suspicion quickly fell on Andrew’s daughter, Lizzie. The only other person in the home at the time, with a shifting alibi, she was charged with murder, and brought to trial. However, inconclusive proof and shaky eyewitnesses did not convince a jury, and she was acquitted; although a cloud of suspicion would follow her for the rest of her life.

Today the house is a bed and breakfast that allows ghost hunters and amateur sleuths to stay in the same rooms where the events occurred to chase ghosts and elusive clues. They also conduct daily tours of the home, which I took advantage of the summer before I moved. Given by knowledgeable guides, the tour recreates the timeline of the day the murders occurred, but also the wider context of life during the time period. The house is set to match the décor of the time and filled with references to the investigation and trial. It’s a fascinating place to visit.

Although I was hoping for some moody shots and perhaps an eerie shadow of a ghost in one of my pictures, I had to settle for the glow of the mid morning sun cascading into my photos. Which in hindsight, is quite appropriate, since it probable matches the ordinary atmosphere of that ultimately fateful day.