The True Story of Lizzie Borden Opens Saturday

Stefani · Post by **Stefani** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 11:28 am

Hot off the presses.

You and the readers of MondoLizzie.com are the first to know the news.

The True Story of Lizzie Borden in Salem, MA, opens on Saturday, August 23, 2008.

The hours are 11am until 7pm.

Click here for the directions. http://www.lizziebordenmuseum.com/directions.html

Click here for a $2 off coupon.
http://www.lizziebordenmuseum.com/coupon_print.html

Stefani · Post by **Stefani** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 11:49 pm

I went to The True Story of Lizzie Borden today in Salem and wrote up my thoughts on MondoLizzie.com. If you are interested in my review, please pay a visit.

http://mondolizzie.com

twinsrwe · Post by **twinsrwe** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 8:42 am

That is a great review, Stefani! Thanks for posting it for us.

Barbara · Post by **Barbara** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 9:44 am

Thanks Stef, I look forward to seeing the museum first hand. I think JoAnne,Kristin and I will be going to Salem this week. We live about 30 minutes away. I also agree with you about the historic nature of the area. If anyone takes the time to travel to Salem,try in incorporate a visit to the Old North Bridge, the Green at Lexington,Orchard House, or any number of historic sites.This area is especially beautiful during the fall.

Stefani · Post by **Stefani** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 10:32 am

There were so many things I wanted to say and show that are a part of the tour there, but I daren't spill the beans. The effect would be lessened. It would be like spoiling the end of the movie. Mr. Pickel is open to comments, by the way. He said if ANYONE finds errors in his narrative, he wants to know. He wants it to be right he says. So if you do, feel free to point it out. They are eager for feedback.

Grace · Post by **Grace** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 10:30 pm

Thanks for the great review! I think I'll have to check it out this fall.

Bob Gutowski · Post by **Bob Gutowski** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 10:08 am

Is that what Abby's teeth looked like? What an overbite, poor woman! Thanks for the report!

Stefani · Post by **Stefani** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 11:14 am

The skulls were amazing! With Pickel's background and connections in the seasonal haunted house business, he knows just who to go to to get great things made.

I never saw Mr. Thibault's bondo heads, but they looked oversized and comical to me. I bet they looked better in person, but I never saw them.

These skulls are SCARY cuz they are so real looking. One thing I noticed that I never did before are the holes created by the hatchet blows. Abby's are all on one side and Andrew's are all on the other.

This is the GLORY of three dimensional representations of the evidence.

Another cool thing, now that it has sat with me for a few days, is that the images are so enlarged that it is the first time you can really stand in front of them and study them. Looking at them on the computer or printed out with a magnifying glass is just not the same as having the shot big and in front of you hanging on the wall.

Very effective. I found myself really studying the images I had seen so many times and trying to find something new. It was a trip and well worth the visit just for that experience.

And since there isn't the traditional tour guide, you can stay as long as you like, lingering on one thing or another as suits your fancy.

Funny, but the more time passes from when I was there, the more I find I remember I liked.

Ad · Post by Ad » Mon Aug 25, 2008 2:40 pm

Bob Gutowski @ Mon Aug 25, 2008 7:08 am wrote:Is that what Abby's teeth looked like? What an overbite, poor woman! Thanks for the report!

Stef, is the skull to the left of Andrew's really Abby's???

DJ · Post by DJ » Mon Aug 25, 2008 3:19 pm

Ad, it looks as if you can buy a facsimile skull in the gift shop!
OMG, OMG, OMG, Bob!!! Can those choppers be a fair and accurate representation??? I'd've taken a swig of pear brandy and had Dr. Bowen knock 'em all out.
Thank you, Stefani, for the lowdown.

Ad · Post by Ad » Mon Aug 25, 2008 3:49 pm

DJ @ Mon Aug 25, 2008 12:19 pm wrote:Ad, it looks as if you can buy a facsimile skull in the gift shop.

Is this true Stef; do you know if the facsimile skulls are for sale? Both Andrew and Abby's??

Stefani · Post by **Stefani** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 4:39 pm

The facsimile skulls are not for sale. What they have is a larger white skull that is pretty cool but not Borden.

I suggested he have them made to sell. I also suggested several other things he has in there reproduced for sale, that Lizzie people would definitely buy them. He is considering all this. YOu can write him from his web site and ask too! The more requests the more that this is likely to happen!

Stefani · Post by **Stefani** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 4:40 pm

Ad @ Mon Aug 25, 2008 2:40 pm wrote:
Bob Gutowski @ Mon Aug 25, 2008 7:08 am wrote:Is that what Abby's teeth looked like? What an overbite, poor woman! Thanks for the report!
Stef, is the skull to the left of Andrew's really Abby's???

The skull on the left is Abby. The skull on the right is Andrew. They are both reproductions. Good ones, huh?

DJ · Post by DJ » Tue Aug 26, 2008 12:39 pm

Abby's murderer would have almost had to have been right-handed, then, given her attack in that tight space, from behind, with all the blows on her right side.
I suppose Andrew's could be either/or, since the blows were administered from above, falling straight down on his left side.

SteveS. · Post by **SteveS.** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:11 pm

This is the usual photo we get to see of Abby's skull and we never see the teeth. WOW, it's amazing to see and find out 100 + yrs later that she had such an overbite. Incredible! Are the skulls really an actual copy of the original ones?

Stefani · Post by **Stefani** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:15 pm

The artist who created the skulls does it for a living and he used the photos of the skulls as guides. That is all I know. We can ask Leonard Pickel himself. He is a member here I think and maybe we can call him out to ask him!

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:55 pm

Yes, Abby's teeth are unusually overbitten. What is his source for the teeth detail? Are there photos of Abby's skull from the front?

I now include Abby Durfee Borden in the same category as Thomas Pynchon as people whose teeth I would like to see and verify.

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 12:06 am

I just looked up the autopsy report of Abby Borden.

"Artificial teeth in upper jaw"

SteveS. · Post by **SteveS.** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 8:43 am

Then those aren't her real teeth. I don't think she would have artificial teeth made to look like that. All I can think of is an ogre. Why would they depict Abby's teeth like that?

Bob Gutowski · Post by **Bob Gutowski** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 4:06 pm

We are driving up to Boston for the long weekend, and I may get to Salem, so I'll see what I can find out.

Ad · Post by Ad » Thu Aug 28, 2008 1:17 pm

Bob Gutowski @ Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:06 pm wrote:We are driving up to Boston for the long weekend, and I may get to Salem, so I'll see what I can find out.

Bob, that would be great if you could find the time to stop in and look at the skulls (etc) Would it be possible for you to take some more photos from different angles, as well as close up?

I am going to connect with Mr. Pickle if possible and ask about Abby's skull. I have a hard time believing that her false teeth would look like that. I don't recall seeing any overbite in any early known photos of her.

beanbolt · Post by **beanbolt** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 2:59 pm

Is it possible that her false teeth were only partials, just in the back? I couldn't really tell from the picture. It looks like the back teeth may be missing, but I can't be sure. Since the autopsy report says artificial teeth on her upper jaw, maybe they just meant the back ones.

Bob Gutowski · Post by **Bob Gutowski** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 11:04 am

If I don't bring my digital camera I'll get a disposable, and I'll try to do that. Are there no photos allowed in the recreations of the murder rooms?

Stefani · Post by **Stefani** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:14 pm

Photos are allowed. I just didn't want to show everything ----some stuff is better left to the visitor. I took a lot of photos actually. It was like I could read it all later, ha ha!

Stefani · Post by **Stefani** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:10 pm

An article appears in the AM about the museum.

Click on it here:
http://www.heraldnews.com/business/x157 ... te-lawsuit

doug65oh · Post by **doug65oh** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:29 pm

hmmmm ...the city famous for the 1962 witch trials...??!! Egads!!

(Read the caption.)

Bob Gutowski · Post by **Bob Gutowski** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:03 am

The teeth in question are no longer on display!

That is to say, Mr. Pickel - Leonard - has removed them from the skull.

I thought it was a modest but wonderful exhibition, and it's stunning to behold the taste with which it's been assembled. As Stef says, you can photograph to your heart's content, but Leonard asked me not to show everything. I will have some photos forthcoming, so you'll at least be able to see the skulls as I saw them.

I will also say (and Stef would agree, I'm sure) that there is a knockout awaiting you at the end of the exhibition. We went on Sunday, and we were alone in the display with Leonard. He and I lapsed into "Bordenish," the language of the obsessed, of course, while Jay looked over the mounted placards giving the information. Leonard was nice enough to move the antique camera when I took my place in Abby's outline. I later took a shot from the point of view of the original camera, meaning I was reflected in the bureau mirror! How historical!

I told Leonard that the Geary book (which he's not that familiar with, though he's got a copy of it in the cabinet displaying a collection of Borden publications) and this new tour both give a real feeling of the time in which the murders took place.

It's a treat to see the case being taken seriously, and to know that Leonard is open to suggestions, as he intends for the project to grow as time passes. Congratulations to him and his co-owner.

Ad · Post by Ad » Tue Sep 02, 2008 11:05 am

Thanks Bob for your input on the new exhibition; I'm really looking forward to seeing whatever photos you post here.

It's a long way from the Pacific North West to Fall River, so people like me depend on people like you that visit Fall River and the area for any news up dates you can give.

Was there a reason given for removing Abby's front teeth?

Bob Gutowski · Post by **Bob Gutowski** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 12:15 pm

I brought it up to Leonard almost as soon as I met him, and he mentioned he'd heard about the discussion, and that it Abby's smile was an artist's work based on photos.

Then, when I saw the skulls, I searched Leonard out and asked him about having removed the very large "false" front teeth. He told me he decided he wanted the skull to look as it would've in court.

AND: It's Tuesday, 9/8 now, and I've gotten my pix back. Respecting Leonard's wishes, I'll send a few only to Stef for posting later tonight. Yes, I took a few of the skulls.

Bob Gutowski · Post by **Bob Gutowski** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:54 am

I sent some pix from my visit to the e-mail address I have for Stef, but they were returned. Who wants 'em?

Okay, I just sent 'em to the forum.

Whence they were all sent back. Help!

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 11:50 am

I am happy to help if you want to put some up- [email protected]
Of course, you may not want to give EVERYTHING away so vistors will have something to look forward to. Another Lizzie blog recently published every square inch of the museum which is probably not what Leonard expected or desired. I have withheld all of my photos from opening day until people can get there to see it in person. It is also a work very much in progress and there will be additions and changes I understand.

Bob Gutowski · Post by **Bob Gutowski** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 3:31 pm

Doug has jumped in and is acting as middle man. I didn't send everything I took, as I promised Len, so no worries there. Thanks, dear Shelley!

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 5:52 pm

Ah, Doug and I are just helpful do-gooding types like Lizzie and Emma.

doug65oh · Post by **doug65oh** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 10:10 pm

...are just helpful do-gooding types like Lizzie and Emma.

Well, we do try.

Cherish · Post by **Cherish** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 8:58 pm

SteveS. @ Wed Aug 27, 2008 8:43 am wrote:Then those aren't her real teeth. I don't think she would have artificial teeth made to look like that. All I can think of is an ogre. Why would they depict Abby's teeth like that?

I haven't seen the photos in question (and I want to), but could it be that her teeth are like that due to the blows to her head? Her jaw may of protruded.?

Bob Gutowski · Post by **Bob Gutowski** » Tue Oct 07, 2008 9:20 am

So, where are the pix? (Yeah, I'm back from a week in North Carolina.)

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The True Story of Lizzie Borden Opens Saturday

The True Story of Lizzie Borden Opens Saturday

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