Second Street Irregulars Photo Album May 23-25, 2008

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Mon May 26, 2008 8:33 am

Nothing is sadder than the end of a great weekend. Today, the last of the flock is leaving Fall River, as we are all "in recovery" from a good time with good friends. Constantine and Ellen are the last to head homeward from Fall River today. What a pleasure it was to meet forum folks face to face and to share our obsession, a LOT of good food, and capers around this beautiful area in New England. I know there will be much better photos than mine, but I have selected some of my favorites from my stash to share here. Friday: Seeing the new portrait albums. First Impression: They are TINY!

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Mon May 26, 2008 8:40 am

Bob Shaw, from NYC, the holder of the Most Frequent Guest to #92 smiles for the camera(far right). The next stop was Luther's Corners to see the farmhouse chairs and the impressive gold-framed Borden portraits.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Mon May 26, 2008 8:47 am

I had never seen Riverby, the Gardiner house where Emma was waked- so we all drove by there , then on to the Swansea Farm. Nobody was home, so we dared to pose in front of the house for a photo before heading out to Ma Raffa's for lunch.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Mon May 26, 2008 9:00 am

The FR Historical Society was the next stop, but an emergency forced the staff to close as we pulled into the driveway. So some of us had a stroll around Oak Grove, while others walked back to the house to check in. Then it was time to get ready for the annual Mutton Eaters Banquet at the Abbey Grille. This year we opted for the smaller, quieter room at the top of the stairs. The staff did a great job making a nice setting for us, with potted ferns, and all the frills.

We had a few unexpected guests!

This year, the Golden Fleece and the Lens of Sherlock awards went to Stef, for longtime contributions to the body of knowledge on the Borden Case and the high-quality and superb content of The Hatchet over the years, and the Lens of Sherlock for the detection and presentation of the new Swansea materials. The Lens was presented by Kfactor, last year's recipient, who dazzled us all in 2007 with the revelation of Emma's time at Wheaton Female Seminary. Last year's Golden Fleece went to Len Rebello (for reasons nobody needs explained) and Don and LeeAnn for the restoration of the Borden barn and property. Although these little awards from the Muttoneaters are fun and light-hearted, the sentiments expressed are most sincere, as we try to recognize, encourage, and applaud our colleagues in the Lizzie community.
This year we decided to add a new award for excellence in the dramatic arts- The Lambie-and the winner was Jill Dalton for her tour de force, Lizzie Borden Live -which will be coming to Fall River August 4th at the Abbey Grille!
Jill was as happy as if it were an Oscar! Later she treated us to a sample of the play back at the Borden parlor.

The evening ended with birthday cake for Len, Kristin (Kfactor) and our theatre friend John (Boomer) who does lighting and tech stuff for Lizzie Borden Live. I think we finally all got to bed about 2 a.m. And that was FRIDAY!

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Mon May 26, 2008 2:06 pm

I sure hope somebody got a photo of Kristin''s Friday night presentation on Officer Medley which we had just before cake and ice cream. Over the winter, Barbara, JoAnne and Kristin (fondly known as BoBo, Jo-Jo and Ko-Ko- the Tremedous Trio) went to Lowell Massachusetts to dig up some more information on officer William H. Medley (and family), Fall River's first Chief of Police and a prominent figure in the Borden Case. Kristin gave us all a recap of their finds, which I understand will be published very soon.
Saturday's agenda began with a trip to the Astor's Beechwood, a Newport society mansion of Mrs. Caroline Astor, Gilded Age matron and society hostess. Beechwood offers tours guided by costumed characters performing a 1891 script. So, of course we could not ask any of them about Lizzie! But it was fun seeing the fabulous period costumes, mannerisms, posture and way of speaking. We also visited the Breakers, followed by the Tennis Hall of Fame Casino for lunch, and had a look at the spot where the Perry House stood (Bridget's place of employment for a year when she arrived in America. Then we were VERY blessed (thanks to the charm of Barbara and JoAnne) to be invited into the Covell House on Farewell Street where Lizzie cooled her heels in 1893. This is the house famous as the site for her leg o' mutton photo on the porch. Then it was time for more grazing and chatter. I think we were all in bed by midnight Saturday.

(Mrs. Astor's face in the ballroom ceiling)

Tennis Hall of Fame Newport Casino

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Mon May 26, 2008 2:11 pm

Some of the photos above are missing Richard and Bob and Don- somebody had to hold the camera! The Covell House was our last stop before heading back to Fall River.

We couldn't quite find the right chair

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Mon May 26, 2008 2:52 pm

Sunday began with breakfast at the official Muttoneaters Breakfast Eatery-the Highland Ave. Spa, followed by a trip across the street to visit Dr. Dolan and Dr. Kelly. Some of the crew then went antiquing in New Bedford, followed by a great cemetery tour of Riverside where we met with Fairhaven Guy. I missed my big moment (in the bathroom AGAIN) to hold forth on Eli Bence and thank goodness Stef was there to pinch hit. Afterward we visited Dorothy Cox to stock up on chocolate, and then Gene's Seafood Shack to sample the best chowder in the state and clamcakes before making a run back across the route 6 bridge to New Bedford to see Lizzie's Bristol County courthouse and Eli Bence's old pharmacy before heading back to Fall River. We also squeezed in a check on the Green Street house, which is beginning to look better already with debris and the sagging steps removed.

The piece de resistance of the weekend was surely Barbara and JoAnne's incredible cheesecake with the whole family represented as sheep. They were promptly christened as the Martha St-ewe-rts of the society!

followed by a little SHEEP DIP

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Tue May 27, 2008 2:54 am

You state "Nothing is sadder than the end of a great weekend." It's a bit sadder to me to have missed this. Hello to you all and my thoughts were with you!
Shell, you look Sooo good after all your recent turmoils!
Thanks for your pictures!

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Tue May 27, 2008 10:37 pm

Thanks, Kat! You and Harry were greatly missed, and many times I heard "Kat would LOVE this" - or "Where's Harry?" I hope you can come next Spring!

Angel · Post by **Angel** » Wed May 28, 2008 8:54 am

It was so nice being with people who had the same interests. Not just about Lizzie, but many other topics as well. Many times when I am talking to my friends and family about things that interest me their eyes seem to glaze over and they don't seem to have any curiosity about life and things outside their immediate surroundings. This past week I found all of you not only knowing what I was talking about, but knowing ten times more about so many subjects. How refreshing. It was a delight getting to know you- I wish we all lived closer to each other. I consider each and every one of you a friend.
And Shelley- you are an absolute treasure!

Don · Post by **Don** » Wed May 28, 2008 11:11 am

Don · Post by **Don** » Wed May 28, 2008 11:29 am

Don · Post by **Don** » Wed May 28, 2008 11:46 am

Don · Post by **Don** » Wed May 28, 2008 11:53 am

I forgot to resize these photos before I posted them, The next batch of photos should be better sorry.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Wed May 28, 2008 12:55 pm

The cake pix are really cool! The cake (for cake lovers who like to know) was half chocolate and half yellow, with whipped cream frosting and a layer of chocolate pudding in the middle. YUM! :alcohol:

I was afraid the champagne cork was going to bop me in the eye- what an expression!

Constantine · Post by **Constantine** » Wed May 28, 2008 5:20 pm

Shelley, you are not the only one with a champagne-cork phobia. (One actually did bop me in the nose once after ricocheting off the wall.)

Loved all the pictures, but I am going on a serious diet-and-exercise regime immediately.

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Wed May 28, 2008 5:58 pm

you got company there, Constantine. I'm laying off the cake for another year!

Don · Post by **Don** » Wed May 28, 2008 6:57 pm

Don · Post by **Don** » Wed May 28, 2008 7:08 pm

Don · Post by **Don** » Wed May 28, 2008 7:21 pm

Don · Post by **Don** » Wed May 28, 2008 7:24 pm

Don · Post by **Don** » Wed May 28, 2008 7:35 pm

Nadzieja · Post by **Nadzieja** » Wed May 28, 2008 8:23 pm

The pictures are just fabulous!!!! Shelley you are a natural when you dress in costume. You look so comfortable, made up in these clothes. That cake looked scrumptious. The sheep on top were just perfect. Champagne corks can be a little tricky. The one time we opened a bottle at Ted's parents house, it went sailing from the dinning room through the kitchen and broke the ceiling light in her bathroom. If I wasn't there I wouldn't have believed it.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Wed May 28, 2008 9:13 pm

I have already begun my Mutton Eater's Diet Supreme (thanks to the kidney stones) and hopefully there will soon be less of me! I have also decided to invest in under eye dark circles concealer! Of course I usually look a little better 36 hours post-op. But, I have on my deerstalker and Mamma Ewe pin, and didn't give a hoot about make-up this weekend. Having fun is the best medicine of all at the end of the day- it sure was for me.
The dresses all came from Recollections http://www.recollections.biz/ and the plaid one was soft flannel and felt very like pajamas. I decided to forego the corset though this time!

Angel · Post by **Angel** » Thu May 29, 2008 7:37 am

Some of my pics:

Angel · Post by **Angel** » Thu May 29, 2008 7:42 am

more:

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Thu May 29, 2008 12:50 pm

I got a PM asking who from the forum attended- and I guess it is pretty hard to tell from the photos as we are never all together at one place at the same time. Special guests Friday included Len, Bob Shaw (most frequent visitor to #92), actress Jill Dalton (who received the Lambie for Lizzie Borden Live), her producer Jack, play techie John (Boomer), Carl Becker (Swansea Historical Society), Richard, Angel, Constantine, Jeff, Stefani, JoAnne, Barbara, Kfactor (Kristin) MBHenty, Michael & Katrina, Don, LeeAnn, Colleen, (Ravensway),Dee, Fairhaven Guy (Sunday's tour) and sorely missed this time, Lorraine, (Nadzieja) Ted, Kat and Harry. I hope I have not missed anyone. We're growing every year and next year I think we will finally have enough old-new-funny-monkey business to have a real meeting!

JoAnne · Post by **JoAnne** » Thu May 29, 2008 6:47 pm

Hi Everyone, Thanks for the pictures. They are all great. Didn't we have a fun -filled and very busy weekend. I enjoyed everyone's company. You are all a great bunch of Muttoneaters. Lorraine and Ted you were both missed. I hope all is healing well! Looking forward to our next meeting of the flock already. Barbara, Kristin and I are brainstorming on our next cheesecake extravaganza . Hold on to your woolies!

Shelly, a great BIG thank you for another delightful time, even if I did make a fool of myself running down Second Street in Bridget's mop cap and apron!!!

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Thu May 29, 2008 6:55 pm

Oh, no, JoJo- you were a pivotal ingredient in finding out the Truth- The Final Chapter!!I have always said, and I truly believe that this case can and may be "cracked" by careful sifting of source documents, re-enactment of testimonies on site with view to timing out these statements, and a thorough understanding of the crime scene both inside and outside, all approached with a healthy understanding and application of the 1892 mind and sensibilities . One by one, we can authenticate, discredit or accept and apply what people said and did.We can do it- and without digging up the poor victims too! The Truth is out there.

Each Mutton Eater, at the banquet, got a booklet of valuable detecting statements from the pen of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle via the mouthpiece of Sherlock Holmes. And there is a LOT of wisdom in these observations. My favorite from Sign of the Four- "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."

Don · Post by **Don** » Thu May 29, 2008 8:32 pm

Nadzieja · Post by **Nadzieja** » Fri May 30, 2008 4:41 am

JoAnne, we missed all of you too!! It's a comforting thought to be remembered. I would have loved to see you running up Second Street in Bridgets apron & cap. What an experiment, I don't remember if I read anything about the results, of course I'm playing catch up with reading the forum. I was thinking about these "experiments" and I think it's a great idea, sometimes watching a re-enactment you can see what really could happen and all the variables that are possible. OK--KoKo, JoJo and BoBo, you're after my heart here working on this cheesecake.You gotta keep me posted on this recipe unless you're going to patent or copyright it. You'll know me when you see me, I'll be the one in the bright white shiny shoes, you won't be able to miss me. Actually in a few months, I'm hoping to find a pair of hike boots that I won't have to take a personal loan out to buy. In that case I'll blend in better, of course I still have to find a hat to match you guys.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Fri May 30, 2008 9:47 am

There will be more on some of the timing experiments when Richard gets back to home base with the videotapes. There were many more things we wanted to try but simply ran out of time. There will be some smaller tests we want to do over the summer, which may help to answer some questions. The end result will be eventually re-enacting the morning of August 4th, 7 a.m.-noon in real time with people in all of the major roles. I hope that may be realized next year but it is going to take some careful planning and an individual script for every single player in the story as well as observers and timekeepers posted in strategic places. The number of willing participants has grown, which has been heartening to see- so hopefully we can pull this off in the near future.

Nadzieja · Post by **Nadzieja** » Fri May 30, 2008 9:54 am

Shelley, I am so interested in this. I'll play any part or I'll time people, anything you need. I'm sure Ted will go along with this also, he would be good at this too. So wherever you think we'll fit, pencil in our names.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Fri May 30, 2008 10:07 am

Can do! We need you! I am hoping somebody got some good still shots of JoAnne re-creating Bridget at the window. We were trying to answer the question of what Bridget might have heard when Andrew came home, with the doors and windows positioned as best we knew based on testimony. She could not hear feet on the side steps, nor a jiggling of the side door. Andrew would have to have called out with some volume to be heard in the sitting room. We even perched JoAnne on a stepstool to approximate the little stepladder she was on.

What I found interesting about Bridget's Prelim testimony is that once she says Andrew rang the front bell, then a few sentences later did not seem to recall if she had heard a bell. The attorneys were masters at trying to catch people out in their testimonies by rapid-fire technique, revisiting former testimony, and seemingly trying to "rattle" the witnesses. I expect Bridget was quaking in her boots most of the time.

Don · Post by **Don** » Fri May 30, 2008 9:18 pm

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 1:19 am

Thank you for the pictures!
-Kat

Debbie · Post by **Debbie** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:57 pm

These photos are wonderful. It looks like a good time was had by one and all.
I do still travel with my husband and we have talked about going to Fall River. I would dearly love to see the places associated with Lizzie.
Do members gather every year? Is it by invitation only?
If I had enough time to plan, I would love to be included next time.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 4:15 pm

Debbie, our next annual gathering will be in April. The date is still to be determined. The Second Street Irregulars was begun in 1993 and revitalized in November 2007 by members here on the forum who answered the call to come to Fall River. I suppose technically speaking, it is a private organization patterned on the approach of the Baker Street Irregulars where applicants have a sponsor. As you are a member of the forum here, you are very welcome to attend. All current members are house staff or forum members.

It is a very jolly bunch and our first aim is to have fun and share our interest in the case. We enjoy visiting the Lizzie sites, recognizing achievement in the "Lizzie community", coming up with new ideas for delicious things to eat, give little presentations on what we have done and researched on the case over the year, and try out little experiments to prove or disprove some of the testimony.

Lest we be accused of being elitist or exclusive, I am sure you can imagine this topic draws interest from all quarters-some a little unsettling!. We are not involved in any sort of psychic or paranormal endeavors, nor any sort of grisly, dark focus on morbid topics, serial killers, etc. The thinking was that people here on the forum are truly interested in the case, the city's history, and the trial and some armchair sleuthing. Thus far, this has been the case and a very congenial and compatible group focus has been the result. Just this past Monday, some of the Mutton Eaters (the Fall River local SSI chapter) participated in the annual August 4th re-enactment. and what a joy it was to have so many people who were so familiar with their character and the history of the case, we needed only a very brief rehearsal. I expect the cast to be even larger next year -and hopefully one day very soon we will have enough members to do a real-time re-creation of the murder day minute by minute.
Our first meeting was Nov 10, 2007, the second this past May. As soon as the date has been fixed, I will post it. We usually fill up the house on the first 2 days, so this year we are looking at a nearby hotel so more people will be able to attend the house functions and local jaunts.
The web blog can be found at http://secondstreetirregulars.wordpress.com

Debbie · Post by **Debbie** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 5:41 pm

Thank-you for the quick reply.
As you say, "We are not involved in any sort of psychic or paranormal endeavors, nor any sort of grisly, dark focus on morbid topics, serial killers, etc." I too feel the same way. For some reason I do not place Lizzie in this group mentioned. I do not care for morbid or dark topics either.
It is hard for me to describe why I have such a fascination with Lizzie, but I wanted very much to become a detective when I was back in the Sheriffs Dept. I like to solve mysteries and this one is a doozie, coupled along with the fact I also love New England and the Victorian times. Lizzie's case is representative of this combination.
Since I feel this way, I am not only interested in what happened on the 4th of August, but the area and Lizzie in general. I would like to visit the places associated with her and the times she lived in as well.