Another "Newbie"

RonRico · Post by **RonRico** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 8:08 pm

Hello, all. I am new to this site and it looks to be very interesting. I have had a long time interest in the Borden case but left it on the back burner for a long time. Recently I renewed my interest and have been reading and rereading some of the books on it. I live in Boston so not too far from Fall river. I hope to engage in some discussion here as I don't really know others with interest in this story.

I've visit the scene a few times including the cemetary plot and Maplecroft.
I spent some time at the FR Historical Society a number of years ago (1980 I think) and made friends with a guide there who had actually know Lizzie in the period just before her death. Quite fascinating.

Thanks for listening.

Ron

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 9:38 pm

Hi, RonRico, welcome to the forum! Always nice to have new blood!

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 4:46 am

Hello!

Did you go into the French Street house or stand around outside like I did?

I'm pretty sure no one was home and think I'd hate to live in a house in which people stood outside and stared and not because of me! :smile!

(Good company! Supposedly Robert Benchley stood outside a long time pretending to have a package and never saw anything! According to Woollcott, that is!)

RonRico · Post by **RonRico** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 6:08 am

Thank you all for making me feel welcome. Its good to have a place to discuss Lizzie et al.

RonRico · Post by **RonRico** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 6:14 am

[quote="Kat @ Tue Dec 14, 2004 6:16 am"]Hello!

Did you go into the French Street house or stand around outside like I did?

I'm pretty sure no one was home and think I'd hate to live in a house in which people stood outside and stared and not because of me! :smile!

Kat: yes I visited the French Street house in 1980 (?) and again recently. I was amazed at how much the house had deteriorated in 25 years or so. In '80 it looked to be quite grand but on the recent trip it look fairly run down. I wonder if there's a way to preserve it. I took a snap of the house in that '80 trip but can't find it. I will look for it.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 6:13 pm

A 1980 picture of the house would be much appreciated! Thanks!

Last night I was thinking about all the famous people who may have made that trip to Fall River to stand outside that house!
We know about Benchley, and probably Nance O'Neil. I bet there's a lot!
(Probably Pearson and Porter too, and de Mille?)

stuartwsa · Post by **stuartwsa** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 7:29 pm

I'm surprised that Woollcott never made the trip to Fall River to gaze upon Maplecroft, and to try and meet Miss Borden in person. He strikes me as fearless enough; I wonder what held him back?
(Unfortunately, Lizzie died before he began his radio broadcasts--can you imagine him interviewing her??)

Joyce · Post by **Joyce** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 8:30 pm

A few months ago I went on a walking tour of all of
Dorothy Parker/Woolcott/Benchleys haunts in NYC.
It was interesting, they were quite the crew. We all
met at the Algonquin for $32.00 martinis. ouch. I'm posting all over the place to get back up to speed, I've been on this forum for 3 or more years
but just starting over with a new name, they wouldn't let me be Nancie again after my computer
crash.

RonRico · Post by **RonRico** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 8:53 pm

[quote="Kat @ Tue Dec 14, 2004 7:43 pm"]A 1980 picture of the house would be much appreciated! Thanks!

I'm searching for that pic but if I do find it don't expect too much. If memory serves it wasn't a great example of photograpy. I'll still make it available to anyone who wants to see it though.

RonRico · Post by **RonRico** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 8:59 pm

[quote="stuartwsa @ Tue Dec 14, 2004 8:59 pm"]I'm surprised that Woollcott never made the trip to Fall River to gaze upon Maplecroft, and to try and meet Miss Borden in person.

Isn't Woollcott the basis for the Sheridan Whiteside character in the play, "The Man Who Came to Dinner?" As I recall he exposes the woman of the house as a Lizzielike murderess in the end.

stuartwsa · Post by **stuartwsa** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 11:19 pm

Yes, That's right, RonRico. In "The Man Who Came To Dinner," the Lizzie-like character's name is Harriet Sedley. And of course, the famous quatrain is repeated, with Harriet's name conveniently fitting into the rhyme.
Woollcott was well-known for his obsession with the Borden case, and Miss Lizzie.
I'm positive that if he was living in this day and age, he would be a member of the Forum--and most likely a contributor to "The Hatchet!"