MAPLECRAP

[mbhenty]

This thread was first posted in the privy, but I have moved it out to here.

With no help from its Freeholder, Maplecroft is looking more derelict and shameful everyday. This past week the owner of Maplecrap made some repairs, or should I say, a permanent patch job that only a Slumlord would indulge in. He patched up the rotted curved facia trim board above the back porch with a couple of random pieces of aluminum flashing.

Last night the wind was lifting this aluminum sheathing and flapping and whipping it in the wind. It sounded like a something out of a spaghetti western:

................the streets are empty, the outlaw comes walking up dusty main street, a tumble weed blows by, the wind howls, something is making a flapping rhythmic noise in the back ground. The stranger's eye squints his lips quiver as he searches for the tinny noise. He finds it. Oh look.....it's Maplecrap.

Maplecroft looks worse everyday. Tourists from out of town have commented to me several times on its disrepair. Listen, if you can't keep up such valuable historical property, then sell it. What sort of person does this?

[mbhenty]

After looking at 306 French Street, then looking at 344 French Street, 306 doesn't look bad at all.

[mbhenty]

[snokkums]

Looks like noone is taking care of the place.

[kssunflower]

Yes, it's a shame such a grand old home is in shabby condition. Sorry if I don't know this, but is the house still occupied?

[mbhenty]

Yes Kssunflower: It is still occupied. There is 6 apartments. The landlord does not live in Fall River. The 84 year old mother of the landlord lives there. He's a contractor, but his mother cuts the grass and picks up the leaves. It is known as the Hooper house and sits directly across from Charlton Memorial Hospital on the corner of French, Underwood and Highland Ave.

[Fargo]

I remember that house distinctly from my visit.

I remember looking at the houses and thinking of how from their style that they were probably there when Lizzie was there and that she probably saw them too.

I knew that that house would stick in my mind more than many of the other houses because if its style and its corner location up the street from Maplecroft.

[mbhenty]

Yes Fargo:

Where as Maplecorft was just a big house when Lizzie purchased it, (not a mansion as many like to proclaim) the William Hooper house could be considered a Elegant and Formal Stately Home.............almost twice the size of Maplecroft.

The Hooper house was built in what is called the Second Empire style. Most of these designs were built on a massive scale with mansard roofs, over size windows, and huge dripping brackets, and sometimes dominated by some sort of tall tower. By the time Maplecorft was built this style of building was out of favor and less of them were built.

Part of the first Floor of the Hooper house is still intact, also massive, with beautiful huge oak doors and inlayed floors. Most of the interior has been torn out. It was once a One family home but now houses 6 apartments.

William Hooper was a cotton broker. The Hooper house was built 15 years before Maplecorft.

[augusta]

"Maplecrap". I love it! It's true, what you say mb. The first time I saw it, in 1987, I was puzzled and felt let down. And it must have been in better shape then. It looks like some of the wood is just rotting away! It's looked worse and worse each time I've seen it as time marched on. Maybe the owner is waiting for a new buyer to fix it up. If so, he needs to lower his price. Too bad some Historic Homes Humane Society can't take it and place it in a responsible adoptee's hands.

I think I read that the word "mansion" just meant something like "big house" in the Victorian era. It looks like some modern-day writers carried the word down, without having seen the house in person.

[mbhenty]

Yes Augusta: I felt a touch of irreverence or blasphemy when I named this Thread. And, I don't mean it as a means of disrespect when doing so. It's just that it is sad that such a person owns such a historical building, that is, someone with total disregard for such property.

Don't get me wrong, sometimes a person may just not have the funds...........but I am positive this is not the case here. Especially since it has been rumored that parts of the house are disappearing.

How can one pillage one's own house you may ask? Common sense.........because you can. This does not mean that things will be sold separately or disappear when the building is sold; no, but, but, but, why remove them if one is not planning to take them with you?

It's not right.

The fact that it was claimed that a fireplace mantle was removed and replaced because it was rotting is a stand-on-lie. In the hundreds upon hundreds of homes I have worked in I have never seen a fireplace rot.

Furthermore, no one replaces a hundred year old leaded glass window in one of the most historical homes in the city and replaces it with a plastic replacement window, without having plans for the vintage window after the home is sold.

But, please don't subscribe to my sardonic and gloomy predictions or dissenting talk. The truth will come out once the building is sold. Only then will we know the gospel according to this sayer.

Maplecroft is a modest and unadorned looking building to begin with. Most of this has to do with the choice in paint color. The neglect it now receives reduces the aesthetics and makes it look worse than it really is. But make no mistake, it is run down. The cost to reproduce the rear porch will go well into the thousands.

[mbhenty]

Ok, yes:

Let me make some here nervous by saddling my horse "suspicion," opening this thread once again and make a point.

Below is a quote form a story listed on MONDO called, "Lizzie's Kitchen Stuff".

http://lizzieandrewborden.com/MondoLizzie/

http://cgi.liveauctions.ebay.com/47252- ... enameZWDVW

Part of the quote:

"All three items were displayed in the now-closed Lizzie Borden Museum in her former home, and come with signed certificates of authenticity from George E. Quigley, president of the International Lizzie Borden Association and a former curator of the museum."

OK, as far as I am concerned there never was a museum at Maplecorft.

A LICENSE is needed if you desire to open a B&B. It's a business. The Bed and Breakfast at Maplecroft was an illegal operation. There never was a license issued to open up a B&B, I know, I checked, but he tried to open it non-the-less.

Was it ignorance? If so that is no excuse to the law.

Thus, operating a B&B without a license when one is required makes it an illegal operation. Thus, for Quigley to be proud of having his name connected with an illegal operations, one lacking the proper license to operate a museum at Maplecroft, and not checking for the proper paperwork before operating a museum, makes any thing offered for sale with his name connected to it suspect. All he can testify to is that they were handed to him by the current owner of Maplecorft.

Thus, how can you be sure of any of these people and what they are selling.

After Lizzie died there were TWO more owners to Maplecroft. Can we be sure these ebay items are not items that were brought into Maplecroft by the DAVIDS or the SILVIAS who owned Maplecroft before the current owner.

When you operate a business without the proper license gives you dirty hands. When you become part of that operation your hands become dirty.

Just because it was found in Lizzie Borden's home, after that home had Three (3) owners after Lizzie, does not make the items hers.

Yes, sort of very pessimistic of me, I know. But I have first hand experience dealing with some of these fellows. I don't trust any of them. After all, it's all about the money, the money, the money.

So, if you are bidding, good luck. But if I were you I would wait for the stain glass window or the Fire place mantle. You may have to wait till the house gets sold.

[SallyG]

Pardon my ignorance, but is the house on any historical register? In Maryland, when a house is on the Historic Register, they pay for the restoration and repairs; any alterations to the house must also have their approval.

Is the house now for sale and if so, for how much? I would think with the decline in real estate values and prices, someone would snap up a place like that if it was for sale.

[Fargo]

It makes me wonder if these things are being done more for spite than for money.

He can't have Maplecroft the way that he wants it so he is going to make sure that we can't have it the way that we want it.

The owner was not allowed to tear down lizzies garage when he seeked permission to do so.

I do not recall the exact words that were given in the decision but It was bacically said "That is the second most famous house in town and it attracts tourists, that is the way it was when lizzie had it and that is the way its going to stay.

Any owner of that house could easily make money to repair it simply by giving tours for a few hours of the day. Money could be made that way without even having the house as a B and B

[mbhenty]

Yes: It is for sale but he does not want to place it with a realtor. Do you think he's Cheap? The past two August Fourths he has placed a sign on the lawn that says "For Sale."

What he wants for it depends on who you speak too. He keeps changing the price. In the beginning he was asking 750,000. Last I heard he wanted 685,000.

I would say a fair price to pay for Maplecroft, in its current condition considering it needs a new porch, a new roof, a rehab garage, etc., would be around 420,000 to 460,000. Add to that the "Lizzie Mystique" and you can pump it up another 50 grand or so. But take anything out of the house that belong to Lizzie, such as a fire place mantle, chandelier or decorative window, and you can have it.........I wouldn't buy it at a premium after knowing stuff has been removed.

So Maplecorft begs to be purchased for almost 700,000? What can you have for 700 in Fall River?

Well, the house below is for sale as we speak. It's a couple of blocks away from Maplecorft. It blows Maplecorft away with elegance. There is no comparison in the two buildings. Maplecorft just dose not measure up and you can have it for an asking price of 549,00.

This is known as the William Beattie House. It was built 7 years after Maplecroft. Beattie was famous in Fall River as a Granite dealer. Checkout that frond foyer.

[mbhenty]

Yes Fargo: It is all about, money, money, money. That is the only concern of the current owner of Maplecroft.

This is the only concern of the owner of Lizzie's old place.

He did not want to demolish Lizzie's garage, he wanted to build a single family house in front of the garage. Understand, this is common practice in Fall River. When you sell your house you split the property and sell off any scrap of land you can for extra money. I have seen this happen in countless places here in the city. The city doesn't care. Everyone is in everyone else's pocket. When it comes to historical property I could not think of a worse place to live. Citizens and city officials alike are are zombies when it comes to history. Most don't even have a clue. It's like Bizzaro World. The fact that we were able to stop Maplecroft for being destroyed was just a stroke of luck, just the way the dice fell.


He claimed that the house was getting to big and that he wanted to build a smaller place. This of course is bullsh--. He wanted to split the property in two and sell 2 properties. Once he could retain the variance to build a house next door he could now sell 2 houses for 150.000 more.

The second time he wanted to raise the roof on the garage and place a second level on it........turn that into a house, thus again, sell it separately and make premium profit.

It appears that the owner of Maplecroft has all sorts of ideas for these financial ventures, but no money to replace the roof or to keep up or fix up Maplecroft.

[mbhenty]

Here is another house for sale that rivals Maplecroft. This is the Oliver Hawes House. Oliver was a cotton broker and clothes merchant.

This house has been on the market for sale for well over a year. Again, though the acreage is not there it is a much better house than maplecorft. Almost twice as big and boasts upwards of 8 bedrooms. It sits one block away from the FRHS and 4 block or so away from Maplecroft.

Maplecroft was last advertised for sale for 750,000.

Asking Price for the Oliver Hawes House is 410,000.

[mbhenty]

Here is one more. Again much bigger than Maplecroft, boasting 7 bedrooms. This house standing, on Hanover Street just 6 blocks from Maplecroft, is for sale as we speak for just a little more than HALF what the asking price for Maplecorft is.

Just above that is the Japanese House. Built in 1985 it was reported that the wood to build it came from japan. It can be had for under 400K.

[Kat]

I will just interject here: My notes say the owners of the French Street house have been:

Frank and Mary Louise Silvia
Lafayette Bank
George Goldberg briefly in the 1940's
David Fanny in the 1930's
Built by Charles Allen.

The source is possibly a news item "Lizzie Showplace For Sale" by Marion Flanigan, 1980.

That's all I have for now. Maybe you can check the 1980 newspaper story? Sorry if the citation is incorrect. Please correct me?

[mbhenty]

Yes Kat:

But of course, lots of this information is of my cuff. I don't pretend to have the inside track on who owned Maplecorft but neither do I give hasty information. If I do, I usually mention that I am, or I am guessing. If not off my cuff then I go looking.

Thus, the information I give above was backed up by what I found in Rebello, which sits open in front of me to page 287.

When I referred to the owners of Maplecroft above I was referring to those that came after Lizzie............and I excluded banks or "time line" Maplecroft was vacant after Lizzie's death, being between 1927 and 33.

My concern and reason for posting was to list who could have brought items with them into Maplecroft from somewhere else..........items that never belong to Lizzie.

Now, back to Rebello. What we have here is a classic "battle of the bands". Rebello vs. the newspaper. (tabloid, rag, scandal daily)

Or, Newspaper vs. Registery of Deeds for the County of Bristol, Massaacusetts.

Rebello lists:

Up to:
1883 Charles M Allen
1927 Lizzie
1933 vacant
1949 Herman and Fannie David............. (Not David Fanny, unless his wife's name was Herman)
1980 Frank M Slivia Jr.
2008 Robert Dumbe.

Newspapers are notoriously and impulsively reckless in recording information. It's not about the record, it's about selling papers.

Thus, my money is with Rebello.

[Kat]

Thanks. I thought you might have some 1980 news items from the story of the sale first to Kraft which fell thru ($79,900), then to the current owner (reported at $60,000).
I've looked at my file but admit it is in pieces right now, so have no more info.

Thanks for all the pictures you posted.

[Harry]

I have the article on the Kraft's interest but it is rather lengthy and the URL no longer works. I'll see if I can edit it down to the important facts.

Here's the newspaper article covering the purchase of Maplecroft by Mr. Dube:

"Fall River Herald News
October 16, 1980

New family takes possession
of Lizzie Borden home.

By Marion Flanigan
Staff Reporter

The fourth owners of the historic residence, Maplecroft, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dube of 278 Fisher Rd., North Dartmouth, took possession of Lizzie Borden's post-trial home Wednesday, at the Fall River Municipal Credit Union on Milliken Boulevard.
Attorney Frank M. Silvia and his wife Mary, owners of Maplecroft for the past 33 years, concluded the sale with the Dubes for $60,000. J. Edward Migneault, realtor, stated that the credit union, in a positive commitment to preserving the city's architectural heritage, offered the Dubes, who are credit union members, the best mortgage terms.
The arrival of the Dubes at 306 French St. will continue a trend that has gained momentum in recent months in the lower Highlands area. Many of the distinguished Victorian homes are being purchased by enterprising young people for their own residences, or for quality rental property.
Robert Dube is a contractor, specializing in work on older homes. Sharyn Dube is a teacher at the Lincoln School in this city. They have a son and a daughter. They plan to occupy Maplecroft, and preserve its historic atmosphere.
Unlike many 19th century structures, Maplecroft has not been apartmentalized or significantly altered in its interior. The Silvias have preserved its carved fireplaces, natural woodwork, stained glass windows, window seats, wainscotting, enclosed porches, and many nooks and crannies of Queen Anne style comfort. It is fully equipped for modern family living.
The final selling price is a come-down from the Silvia's original asking price, $79,900. Yet, as Migneault commented, "We have to remember, this is Fall River." Compared to the corresponding properties in metropolitan areas, or other older cities, and compared to the prices of new homes, Maplecroft is a very solid bargain.
Several abortive negotiations preceded the final sale -- some from far-flung clients whose speculation exceeded their substance, envisioning a museum thronged with tourists. But one of the secrets of Maplecroft's charm -- and it's smooth transition into the late 20th century -- has been its low-key, private character. And this is a prime element of the tone of the new homesteading which bodes well for the revitalized lower Highlands, the core of the city's Victorian heritage. Many individuals are unobtrusively doing a lot of work.
The Silvias want to see the house kept as a single-family dwelling in the tradition of their own happy family life. Now preferring a smaller home, they are converting their Tiverton summer-house to a year-round residence. There's a distinct sense of approval among preservationists in the fact that the Dubes have their roots in the Fall River area, and are, as Migneault describes them, "young people who really care."
"Maplecroft" is carved into the top stone riser of the front steps. And on the mantlepieces are inscribed lyrics that the acquitted Lizbeth Borden chose as mottoes, among them, the theme of the Scottish ballad that became her final song, "At home in my ain countrie."
John J. Harrington, director of the credit union, and City Clerk Joseph Doran, its president, officiated at the mortgage signing with attorney Raymond V. Pettine."

[Harry]

Here's the extracts from the Kraft's article:

"FOR SALE\ FINE VICTORIAN HOUSE, REFURBISHED BY HEIRESS KNOWN FOR HER DETERMINATION\ TO DO A JOB RIGHT . . .
Boston Globe
April 30, 1980
Author: Andrew Blake Globe Staff

Lizzie Borden's house, the fancy one she bought with an inheritance after being acquitted in 1893 of hacking her father and stepmother to death, is about to be sold.
The buyers, who hope to wrap the deal up today for about $80,000, want to turn the home and possibly several others which were a part of the original Lizzie Borden estate, into a museum tourist attraction.
Lt. Col. Barry Kraft, an Army doctor, his wife, Frances, and his brother, Michael Kraft, a Dallas art entrepreneur, were working out the details with Boston attorney Marc Seigle last night.
Mrs. Kraft of Colorado Springs, Colo., said, "We love Victorian houses. We saw an ad in a Colorado newspaper for a Victorian house and when we found out it was Lizzie Borden's - well that did it."
Frank Silvia, a Fall River attorney who has owned the Queen Anne style house since 1948, said, "The sale should go through after I get a chance to read the agreement."
Lizzie Borden, who inherited about $150,000 while her older sister Emma got at least twice as much, refurbished the house lavishly. The house, christened "Maplecroft," is a masterpiece with linen covered ceilings and much of the original wallpaper selected by Lizzie Borden. ....

At least two Fall River City Council members would like to see the home at 306 French st., near Union Hospital, become a museum and tourist attraction.
Council member Marilyn Roderick proposed that the city acquire both Borden houses - the one being purchased by the Krafts and the house in which the murder was committed - "for historical reasons and to bring in tourists."
But the other house - the one in which the murders were committed - is not for sale. ....

After a sensational trial, she was acquitted on June 20, 1893. The next year she moved to "Maplecroft." The imprint of her personality on the house is visible in the sentimental sayings carved over fireplaces, the flowery wallpaper and her use of all the space in the new house that she had lacked during her youth down on Second street.
That spaciousness is one reason why Frank Silvia, who has lived in the house for the last 33 years, is ready to sell it.
"I'll sell to the first legitimate buyer. I'd like to see it go to someone who has a large family, has a sense of history and would take good care of the place," said Silvia. ....

Back when she lived there, Lizzie had the basement windows barred. Her second floor bedroom with a fireplace in the middle, overlooked French street, much of which she owned.
She added a summer bedroom at the rear of the house, with a stone fireplace. Below it was one of her favorite places, the spacious back porch. She had a special latticework frame about a foot high built over the railing so she could look out without being seen. ...”

[william]

Fascinating historical information. Thank you Harry.

[mbhenty]

She had a special latticework frame about a foot high built over the railing so she could look out without being seen. ...”

Those last few lines above are really ironic. Where Lizzie's porch faces my back porch I "Also" have added a Latticework above my railing to prevent those in Maplecroft looking over. I'm sure that Lizzie would approve of my handywork on her former property. So Lizzie and I think alike. Perhaps it was her who put the suggestion in my head.

[mbhenty]

Here's the newspaper article covering the purchase of Maplecroft by Mr. Dube:

"Fall River Herald News
October 16, 1980

New family takes possession
of Lizzie Borden home.

By Marion Flanigan
Staff Reporter


Robert Dube is a contractor, specializing in work on older homes. Sharyn Dube is a teacher at the Lincoln School in this city. They have a son and a daughter. They plan to occupy Maplecroft, and preserve its historic atmosphere.

Please, I beg that you excuse my sarcasm, mockery or any cynicism that you may feel I am parading on this thread. But:

This is an example of what I have always professed, and that is, you must take what you read in the Newspaper with a grain of LSD. Sometime it is the only way to make it the truth.

I have watched this guy work on his property for 16 years. I watched him and another fellow try to repair the roof on the porch last month. Believe me, this guy is NO contractor. That is a joke played on the paper by he buyer. Also when you," specialize as a contractor on older homes" you don't put in plastic windows on an historical home or rip out stain glass windows. You also don't rip out fireplace mantles because you claim they are rotted. If so and "Specializing on work on older homes", you repair the mantle, not rip it out and replace it with a new one.

Look at the porch below as it appears to this day. Does this look like a man who, "specializes in older homes," concern with historical property, caring for Lizzie Borden's home?

Look at the porch posts. They don't even match. Probably given to him for free, or purchased at "Low Price Wallmart Builiding Supply." Does that look like something an expert restoration contractor would do?

Repeat after me:

You can't believe everything you read. Go to the source.
You can't believe everything you read. Go to the source.
You can't believe everything you read. Go to the source.
You can't believe every---------------------------

What a crock of crap...........thus, Maplecrap.

[Tina-Kate]

...She had a special latticework frame about a foot high built over the railing so she could look out without being seen. ...”

With this picture, the latticework looks more than a foot high...it covers from the porch rails almost to the porch roof.

[Tina-Kate]

I now see they were talking about the back porch railing. I suppose we'll never have a picture of what that looked like.

[Kat]

Thanks for all the transcribing Harry!

And TK- thanks for the post of the old place. I love that picture!

[augusta]

This is just incredible, mb. I think some of Shelley's posts on Maplecroft mentioned that a few objects were taken down and in the garage or something, and I wondered WHY. I think you answered my question.

Hearing that the stained glass window was taken out (and replaced with a plastic one!!) is nauseating, as is the removal of a mantel.
There is no way I would consider purchasing that house with all the goodies gone. Or for that price, either. It is not a fair one by a long shot.

I doubt it will sell unless the price comes down dramatically. It's just a shell of its former self. The photos you posted of other Victorian homes in
FR were really gorgeous. Thanks for putting them up.

I hope any prospective buyer reads up on Maplecroft and knows that some of the stuff is missing. That is so low.

[stargazer]

Nothing succeeds like neglect.

[mbhenty]

Yes, started making repairs to my garage. The facia and soffits all need replacing. Over half of the roof rafter ends are rotted and need to be extended and mended so I can be left with a nailing surface.

Most garages are just a storage area for your car. But Maplecorft's garage was alot more than just that. It was a "home" for a car. Real neat entrance, windows, siding, brick chimney nicely capped. Attention was paid to detail when it was built. While fixing up mine I can not help but look over and sigh when I see the condition it is in. At the very least the owner should at least clean up all the junk he has piled up against the garage.

Below is one photo of the roof line on my garage.

The others are of Maplecorft.

I included one photo of a couple of the columns which hold up the roof of Maplecorft's garage. Greek Revival columns have a simple elegance to them. Sad to see the entire garage coming apart.

[patsy]

Stargazer was right about neglect. So sad.

It does look like the lattice is almost to the ceiling of the porch in the old picture. I don't believe I've ever seen anything like that before.

[mbhenty]

Yes Patsy: What you see as lattice on the porch of the old Maplecroft is probably some sort of shade. Like bamboo shades. I'm not so sure that it is lattice or anything permanently placed.

But, if you look at the side yard to the right of the photo you can see a lattice fence. I can't remember where I read it, but I remember reading where Lizzie had placed a 10 food high fence to insure privacy. Well, you can't really blame her. (Though I believe she deserved it for staying in fall river)
Think about animals in a zoo and the masses coming to gawk. Now think about Lizzie sitting on her front porch.

Well, this lattice fence could be the 10 foot fence which I read about

Now, if you look to this Lattice fence in her yard (Which I am pretty sure that is what it is) it's very tall and I would say at least 9 or 10 feet. By this photo we cannot see how far back it goes.

Now, behind that lattice fence is the Davenport property, and about 12 feet behind the lattice fence is the back entrance (porch) to the Davenport house. People entering and exiting the back entrance of the Davenport house would be able to just look over and have full view of lizzie's back porch. As a matter of fact, that's were I took the photo of Lizzie's back porch.

Funny Irony behind that.

Now it is me who has placed the lattice there. When I rebuilt my back porch I placed a Lattice Blind so that I don't have to look at, or have those at Maplecroft look over at me.

[stargazer]

I don't blame Lizzie for erecting a few "visual buffers." I know that I don't want to feel that I am "on display" to a nosey neighbour with a pair of binoculars, or telescope, especially if I am in curlers, and slippers, (modern times anyway). What is it about old houses that evokes sympathy/empathy ? Perhaps it has to do with having survived at all.

[patsy]

I do see what looks like a real high fence in that picture. I don't blame her either for trying to retain some privacy. I can imagine gawkers and maybe neighbor children trying to get a look.

I like fences and privacy, so everywhere I've lived I've put up some kind of fence, and at times used a trellis or bamboo shades so that I could sit outside and feel like no one is staring at me.

Thanks for sharing all these pictures.

[mbhenty]

Yes, let me correct myself. I said the fence was 9 to 10 feet high. Blowing up the photo, and standing outside by the side of the house, I would guess that Lizzie's fence in the photo above is closer to 8 feet.......still very high. I believe town ordinance dictates that fences cannot be higher than 6 feet without a variance, today.

If Lizzie had erected a 6 foot fence, we would easily be able to look over it. And, if visitors were going up the back entrance steps (porch) it would be like having no fence at all.

No, we can't blame Lizzie for putting up a fence, though it was more of a blind than a fence.....(made for those entering and exiting the Davenport House.)

Now if you were entering the Davenport House and you really wanted to get a look next door all you had to do was look out a window. Thus, any privacy Lizzie tried to retain was very limited at best.

I mean, it was all relative.....how much privacy could she really have when she was in the yard? Practically none. At least on the porch she could place up bamboo shades etc.

Below are a couple of perfect examples. You can see all the homes around Maplecroft....all tall homes with multiple windows.

At this moment I am sitting at my computer. Without even getting up, I stretched my arm and lifted the shade on a window, which sits at my elbow, and grabbed my camera out of the desk draw.......and there you have it.

PRIVACY EVAPORATED.





(DISCLAIMER: the photographer was attempting to photograph a speck of dust on the window glass. Any images in the background was unavoidable)



No, no, no Andrew was not gay.