Halloween in Fall River

dalcanton · Post by **dalcanton** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 9:04 am

Ok, this is a silly question, but I'm curious. Since the Legend of Lizzie Borden is such a staple in the small town of Fall River, are Lizzie Borden costumes popular during Halloween? Do a noticeable amount of people (kids & adults) dress up like her for Halloween? Just wondered if the local residents really get into the LB spirit this time of year?

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Sun May 10, 2009 3:35 pm

For some reason, this question has lingered with me, and I've been going thru my index of news articles looking for something around any October 31st. I'm still looking when I have a chance.

Maybe someone here from Fall River/New Bedford/Fairhaven/Providence may answer from their own experience?

It's a good question, actually!

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sun May 10, 2009 5:50 pm

I have spent the last 10 Halloweens in Fall River and cannot recall ever seeing anyone on the street dressed as Lizzie. Mostly I am at the house later on in the day and nobody ever came there dressed as Lizzie. I have posted many trick or treaters pix on this site over the years. I always dress up as "Old Lizzie" on Halloween and one year we had a serial killer and victim stop at the house.

Stefani · Post by **Stefani** » Sun May 10, 2009 6:34 pm

This Halloween, Lizzie Borden Live! will be performed in Providence, RI, at the Columbus Theatre. They will have a show on Thursday, the 30th, Friday, the 31st, and Saturday, the 1st of November.

The Friday night Halloween show is a COSTUME show---the audience is supposed to come as their favorite character from the Lizzie Borden story.

I expect to see dozens of Lizzie's there! I think there will be lots of great ideas for costumes that night and I will be sure to post a bunch on MondoLizzie.com---if I can beat Shelley to the punch!

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sun May 10, 2009 8:45 pm

Well we are all coming decked out on June 20th when Lizzie Live finally makes it to FR. Am not sure if the Murder Week venue is finalized yet- but if so you can be sure the Pear Essential Players will be out in force. Undertaker Winward has a new black mourning suit. And this year- I have an Uncle John!

snokkums · Post by **snokkums** » Sun May 17, 2009 9:51 am

You know what I was wondering about was if any kids went trick or treating over to Mapblecroftor if they were to scared to go to Lizzie's house.

Stefani · Post by **Stefani** » Sun May 17, 2009 10:20 am

Last Halloween, kids did try to trick or treat at Maplecroft. The owner had his lights out and did not answer the door. The kids went away. Without egging the place, I might add. In my day, we would have come back and TP'd the place for such rudeness!

And that big bush in the yard would have been perfect for toilet paper! Plus they could have wrapped the ugly stone statue that is under the bush as well! (a person can dream, right?)

I find that many in the city, especially the youth, do not know that the house was Lizzie's. They know who she was, but not that Maplecroft is that house.

Speaking of that ugly statue, turns out visitors think that the thing was Lizzie's. It wasn't. It was added by the current owner.

Same thing at the B&B. People say over and over, hey, the killer could have hid in the armoire in the guest room! Thing is, that armoire was added so that the house staff wouldn't have to go up and down the stairs as they clean the rooms and change the beds. It does change what people think, however, to think the house is "as was" when it really isn't totally. Oh well. It's like the kitchen there. It is cool they have a period looking stove, but I am sure one wouldn't want it to work the old way with wood! Some modern conveniences, like bathrooms in the house, and sprinkler systems, etc., must be there and obviously weren't there then.

I think it would be great if the tour guides explained this, though, to visitors. That would solve that problem completely so that folks don't walk away with the wrong idea.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sun May 17, 2009 10:29 am

Well, I do explain this- especially the armoire in the guest room and where the sewing machine was. I know MOST of the guides make a point to do so. Most certainly the night guides do who have more time when taking the guests on tour to give a thorough explanation in each room. I tried doing day tours once and found it is too short a period for me to cram it all into about 45-50 minutes. So I stay on at night tours since 1998, where we have all night to talk things over if the guests are so inclined. And most are wanting a good two hours, refreshments and chitchat about the case afterwards. Most of them figure out about the kitchen coveniences on their own of course,- I like to point out where the rocking chair, kitchen table, sink room, etc. actually were. I am thinking of doing a diagram which we could actually have in the kitchen of the original configuration- it could hang in the back hall next to the photo of Mrs. Churchill.