Lizzie Borden: Fall River book talks, re-enactments and more mark murders 130 years later

FALL RIVER — One hundred and thirty years ago, on Aug. 4, 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were brutally slain inside their Second Street home.

Andrew’s daughter, Lizzie, was accused of murder in the sensational case that made headlines nationwide. Though it was never proven to be the true murder weapon, Lizzie was accused of killing her father and stepmother with a hatchet.

She was acquitted and lived the remainder of her life in Fall River under a shadow of suspicion that never really went away.

The headlines never really went away either, because 130 years later, the case is still unsolved.

Every year, on the anniversary of the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden, Fall River remembers them, and the city’s most infamous resident, Lizzie Borden, with re-enactments and events throughout the city.

This year is no exception, with multiple events planned at The Lizzie Borden House, the Fall River Historical Society, and the Fall River and Somerset public libraries.

Fall River residents and visitors who stop by for the anniversary can learn all about Lizzie Borden, the facts of the case, the many theories surrounding it, and even “talk” to the people who were there, after a fashion.

Lizzie Borden House re-enacts what happened Aug. 4

At the Lizzie Borden House on Aug. 4, “people can decide for themselves if Lizzie got away with the butcheries,” the house announced in a press release.

They will mark the 130th anniversary of the Borden killings with crime scene re-enactments, refreshments, and giveaways. They’ll also be offering the house tour.

“We will have actors portraying different pertinent figures in the story as part of the regular house tours. Guests will be able to interact with them briefly and hear their side of the story. Each tour will be slightly different and unique for our guests,” said Lizzie Borden House general manager Jared Robinson.

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Guests will also be served ax- and pear-shaped cookies, and Robinson has made limited-edition custom stickers.

Tours at The Lizzie Borden House run from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. There are nightly ghost tours of downtown Fall River at 7:30 p.m. and ghost hunts take place inside the home from 10 p.m. to midnight.

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The gift shop, located in the barn behind the house, is open to everyone. Robinson encourages anyone who can’t make the anniversary events to visit their website for more tour information.

Guests are encouraged to book ahead of time at lizzie-borden.com. The Lizzie Borden House is located at 230 Second St.

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“We bring our guests back in time for unforgettable experiences in Victorian Fall River every day, but there is something extra special about spending time in the Borden house on the anniversary of the murders. The story comes to life in vivid ways,” Robinson said in a press release.

Book signing and tours at Fall River Historical Society

Author William D. Spencer will be at the Fall River Historical Society, 451 Rock St., on Thursday, Aug. 4, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. to sign copies of his latest book, “Lizzie Borden Uncut: A Casebook of Theories,” in the museum shop.

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In a press release, the Fall River Historical Society said “... theories are cheap. It is time to put the collective feet to the fire, especially since these works are often used as the basis for movies, documentaries, and even scholarly reviews of the case. …. In this book, each theory is analyzed in comparison with the legal proceedings and known facts of the case. Has any author made a solid case for his or her position? Are any of the writers so far off the mark as to be writing fiction?”

Spencer is also the author of “The Case Against Lizzie Borden.”

For more information about purchasing the book, call 508-679-1071, Ext. 108.

Guests can also explore the historical society’s extensive Borden collection, with tours planned on Aug. 4. There will be guided “Lizzie tours” at 10 and 11 a.m. and 1, 2, and 3 p.m. They’ve got documents and physical case evidence, as well as items from Lizzie Borden’s life and home, including some from her Maplecroft estate.

Tickets for adults are $12; tickets for children ages 6 to 14 are $8; AAA cardholders pay $11.50; and FRHS members and one guest get in for free. For more information, call 508-679-1071.

Fall River, Somerset libraries host Lizzie Borden events

There will be two Borden-themed events at the Fall River Public Library, 104 N. Main St.

On Wednesday, Aug. 3, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., the Delvena Theatre Company will present "Lizzie Borden and the Forty Whacks," an interactive look at the infamous murder case.

Lizzie Borden expert Stefani Koorey told The Herald News that Spencer will also be giving a talk about his book at the Fall River Public Library on Wednesday, Aug. 3, at 6 p.m. This free event will also include a book signing. For questions or more information, contact the Fall River Public Library at 508-324-2700 or visit fallriverlibrary.org.

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The Somerset Public Library, 1464 County St., will be hosting Spencer on Thursday, Aug. 4, at 3 p.m. to talk about his new book. No registration is required for this event; it’s free and open to all adults.

For more information, call the Somerset Pubic Library at 508-646-2829 or visit somersetpubliclibrary.org.

Herald News/Taunton Daily Gazette copy editor and digital producer Kristina Fontes can be reached at kfontes@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette today.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Lizzie Borden event planned in Fall River 130 years after murders