Borden yard 1892 and 2021 

The original barn was torn down decades ago. A replica barn was built by Donald Woods around 2006 and the back yard paved for a parking lot for the B&B. Yes, many of us wish the house and grounds were restored to 1892 entirely and a real house museum would be open to the public about the famous case. The city has never shown much interest in this.

@@LizzieBordenWarpsandWefts Yes, there is so much more to this property than making money as a B&B . It is a piece of American history that speaks about so many facets of the period. even besides the unsolved horrible crime.

@@Ralphie5023 modern designers have a lot to answer for. Destroying beautiful old homes and replacing them with ugly brick buildings like across the road

Agreed. I love preserving history.

Yes it is now. The author was a good friend for many years. Originally it sold for $50.

Many people do! Uncle John has that sneaky face! 🙂

I think Uncle John arrived at the sisters request to protect their financial interests as long term rows over Andrew gifting a home & money to Abbys half sister had resurfaced the week before: & both sisters had moved out for 3 days & were still refusing to eat with the parents & were avoiding them all the time. Then maybe Andrew told John it was none of his business & that tipped Lizzie, fearing herself destitute on her fathers passing , over the edge. Abby had to die first so that on Andrew's death the sisters got everything.

I am very glad it was helpful to you.

@@LizzieBordenWarpsandWefts My sister and I are going to stay there for five nights straight next week. I'll be able to share this info with her and imagine how it was in my mind.

@@adamw7290 I am glad you will be staying a long time- it takes a long time to absorb it all.

Len's book is a must-have for the Bordenian Bookshelf.

Where can I get this book

@@jprez7295 It often appears on ebay or on the used book online stores like Bookfinder or ABE books. It is a good reference source.

@@LizzieBordenWarpsandWefts thank you 😊

Thank you! :-)

Yes, and they also checked the well at the Borden farm in Swansea and the outdoor privy.

Another thing that's interesting was the order in which Andrew and Abby were killed. Because Abby was noticably (rigor mortis) killed first, the inheritance did not go to her relatives. Had Andrew been killed first, the Borden girls wouldn't have received the entire estate because it would have passed to Abby's relatives. She was, after all, not directly related to her step-daughters. Uncle John had come under the pretence of discussing property. My understanding is that Andrew had begun to parcel away properties due to the fact that he had entered old age and was settling his personal affairs. This could have been an avoidance of property or estate taxes upon his death. Seventy years of age was rather old in 1892 because people didn't live as long as they do today. Andrew's spinster daughters were due to receive a stipend to live on after his death. This wasn't good enough for Lizzie and she was agitated that Andrew was giving away properties. He had just signed one over to Abby's sister. Andrew - ever the businessman - was reaching far into the future to exert control from the grave. Lizzie must have been steaming over this... No husband, no prospects, no income, no trade or training, no children, no future other than the one decreed by Andrew Borden with a future stipend to match his enduring frugality. This is not sympathy for Lizzie, rather it's an explanation for my belief that she was involved in the murders of Andrew and Abby. Lizzie's involvement poses one of two reasons 1) either Andrew molested his daughters while they were young, thereby explaining why neither ever married OR 2) Lizzie was a spoiled sociopath who would rather murder Andrew and Abby in order to obtain her full inheritance. If Lizzie and her sister _were_ molested, this would explain both women's secretive behavior. Lizzie did act like a kook, but sexual abuse could explain this... However, taking other things into account, Lizzie appears to be spoiled, narcissistic, bratty and entitled. Never underestimate someone who will do anything for money.

The bloody clothing worn by Abby and Andrew Borden were put down in the wash cellar. Uncle John Morse hired a man to bury them behind the barn. The police asked them to be dug up, they were later reburied in a box when the police were finished, only to be dug up again and retained. The police advised that nothing be done with them from the first day, but Uncle John ignored this.

@Buba Joe Yes, we have read the book by Arnold Brown. That was his theory about Billy Borden.

@@LizzieBordenWarpsandWefts thank you!

The original barn was torn down decades ago. A reproduction barn is still there, built around 2006. The whole back yard was part of the Leary Press- Smart Advertising business owned by the McGinns until it was sold in 2004. Woods-Wilber co-owners tore down the printing press building, rebuilt the barn and planted some pear trees. They are still there.

The hatchet was found on the top of Mr. Crowe's barn which was behind and to the south one lot of the Borden back yard. ( Behind Dr. Kelly's house).There was an orchard to the left of Crowe's barn and some men were working back there at the time of the murders. The men said they saw no one climb over the Borden back fence. Mr. Crowe said nobody had been up on his roof for 2 years. A Mr. McDonnell said the hatchet was his and he had lost it some time ago. One newspaper claims the state had to pay to have it tested with no conclusive results. It had been out in the weather and was rusted. Many believe it may have been the murder weapon. Apparently Abby Borden had flakes of gilt in her wounds which were often found on the blade of new hatchets as a coating.

Uncle John paid a man to bury all of the clothing behind the barn which was removed from the bodies during the removal of the stomachs and examination of the bodies on the day of the murder. The police had instructed the family not to dispose of anything but as there was brain matter on the clothing, John Morse must have felt compelled to bury the items. They had to be dug up when police came back calling for them.

@@LizzieBordenWarpsandWefts thanks for letting me know that I've never heard that before.

@@LizzieBordenWarpsandWefts Thanks. Always wondered why and exactly where the clothing was buried. Didn’t know it was behind the barn. Always thought in was right in the backyard.

Lizzie burned one of her dresses in the stove. The clothes which were buried and had to be dug up were from the victims.

@@LizzieBordenWarpsandWefts Why would they bury the clothes? They’re evidence.

@@wgcds7jyg897 Exactly. The police instructed that the clothing be left untouched in the cellar. Uncle John Morse hired someone to bury them against orders.

@@LizzieBordenWarpsandWefts Thanks. Never knew that. It was such an odd thing to do. Was Uncle John trying to hide something? 🤔

@@wgcds7jyg897 I guess we will never know for sure. I believe because there was brain matter and a great deal of blood, maybe he felt it was the decent thing to do.

I agree with everything you say. Yes, the green paint is not the correct color and is not holding up well. It is Rhino Coat ceramic paint. Second Street was a lovely residential street in 1892. Urban blight has set in. The city tears down every beautiful building it seems.

@@LizzieBordenWarpsandWefts It’s really tragic. Is there just nothing that can be done because the populace is disinterested? I live in NYC; wish I were local. The most I can do is donate to the Fall River Historical Society (which I adore; the city doesn’t deserve them).

@@slacktoryrecords4193 Yes, the Historical Society and the Fall River Preservation Society do all that they can and are well worth supporting. At the moment we are hoping someone will come and rescue Lizzie's church which is for sale- a magnificent building on Rock St.

He was one of the first suspects to be sure. His alibi seems to have been air tight but even now he is regarded with suspicion.

@@LizzieBordenWarpsandWefts I'll go to my grave with the gut feeling that John Morse killed Andrew and Abby Borden .

Apparently, according to her grammar school principal, Lizzie was not the usual girl mooning over men and looking forward to getting married and having a family. I do believe the maid knew more than she was saying.

Yes, the Bristol County Superior court is far too big on that lot. Nobody is a fan of the huge structure right on South Main Street. What were they thinking?