Lizzie Borden House
FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS, USA
“The house is full of residual energy … ”
A must-visit location
While visiting the US, a stop at the infamous Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, Massachusetts, was an absolute must!
I’ve wanted to go and explore the house ever since I watched an old true crime doco on the still unsolved case, and heard the gruesome schoolyard rhyme (most likely on an 80s US TV show) …
Lizzie Borden took an ax
And gave her mother forty whacks,
And when she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one
Ahh, but did she? Or did she have help? Or was she innocent, and became caught up the hysteria of the brutal murders which claimed the lives of her father, and stepmother?
It all unfolded on the morning of August 4, 1892. Between 9am and 11:10am, Abby and Andrew Borden were the victims of violent axe murders that are thought to have been perpetrated by Andrew’s 32-year-old daughter, Lizzie. Her stepmother, Abby, was hit 18 times, and Andrew was hit 11.
How it unfolded … allegedly
According to numerous news reports of the time, it all unfolded like this … on the morning of August 4, 1892, Andrew Borden went out on business, leaving his wife, Abby, an Irish maid named Bridget Sullivan and Lizzie at home. Lizzie’s sister Emma was away visiting. Lizzie and Emma’s uncle John Morse had also stayed the night prior to the murders, and was known to have had issues with Andrew.
On Andrew’s return from town (he wasn’t feeling well as the entire family has eaten spoiled mutton for breakfast), he went to the downstairs couch for a nap and, according to her testimony, Lizzie discovered her father dead around 11.15am, repeatedly struck in the head with a sharp instrument.
Upstairs Abby’s body was found, even more brutally mutilated with suggestions that she was murdered about an hour before her husband.
Apparently Lizzie had tried to purchase a type of poison on August 3, and a few days later she allegedly burned a dress in a stove. Sullivan, who was also a suspect at different times (there’s speculation the pair had been in a relationship of sorts), had reportedly left the house carrying an unexamined parcel.
No weapon was found, though a hatchet found in the basement was suspected to be the murder weapon. Lizzie was arrested and tried for both murders in June 1893 but was acquitted, given the circumstantial evidence. Not surprisingly, she was ostracised by the people of Fall River despite her many philanthropic efforts, and refusing to be run out of town, she continued to live in Fall River in a nearby mansion called Maplecroft until her death in 1927.
Our investigation
Despite being acquitted of the crimes, Lizzie Borden’s innocence remains one of America’s most debated mysteries.
Did she brutally murder her father and stepmother?
Or was she wrongly accused?
Following in the footsteps of countless paranormal investigators before me, I decided to conduct my own investigation inside the unassuming weatherboard house on a quiet street in Fall River.
But I wasn’t just there for a tour. I chose to stay overnight — in the very room where Abby Borden was brutally slain.
I could have selected any room in the house, but I chose the John V. Morse room on the second floor — the room where Lizzie and Emma’s uncle had slept the night before the murders. Abby was making up this very bedroom after his unexpected overnight stay when she was killed.
Sleeping there felt deliberate. Intentional. And confronting.
Before beginning, we stepped outside to capture some night-time photographs of the house — it’s deceptively calm in the dark, almost peaceful.
Back inside, we set up our equipment:
• REM Pod
• Spirit Box (SB7)
• K2 Meter
• Cat balls
• EVP recorder
• Ghost Tube, SLS and Vox apps
The REM Pod was placed on a rocking chair near where Abby’s body was found.
The K2 meter sat in front of her photograph on the dresser.
We were careful to remain respectful. We did not ask directly about the murders. Instead, we asked whether Abby, Lizzie or Andrew were present — and if they needed any help.
The REM Pod triggered multiple times.
The K2 meter lit up almost simultaneously.
Through Ghost Tube, we received random words such as:
Blacksmith.
Shovel.
Amanda.
But we also received direct responses to our questions:
“Fine.”
“Sure.”
“How are you?”
Then came the moment that unsettled us most.
We had placed cat balls from the doorway to the rocking chair, where the REM Pod was positioned. When we asked if someone wanted to come into the room with us, the cat balls began lighting up in sequence — across the floor — toward the rocking chair.
The REM Pod then activated.
On little sleep, inside such an iconic and infamous location, it was overwhelming.
We admit it — we had a small freak out.
And we ended the investigation there.
I’ve never paid so much, travelled so far… and slept so little.
But it was absolutely worth it.
Don’t forget your souvenirs!
You can buy a variety of Lizzie Borden Museum merch from the adjoining shop … and why wouldn’t you? There’s bloody axes, t-shirts, bobble heads, vials of brick dust from the basement (it’s where the alleged murder weapon, the hatchet was found), loads of books and other trinkets such as bookmarks, charms, cards, caps, earrings, coins and even a Lizzie Borden board game!
Even though I did wonder what Lizzie would make of all these, I MAY have bought a few things, you know, just as mementos.
Want to visit?
Visitors to the region can visit the Borden family plot, and Lizzie’s long-term home called Maplecroft in Fall River, and stay at the Lizzie Borden House all year ’round. Room rates vary, but expect to pay around $AU480+ for the night.
You also have to take into account that the house is a major tourist attraction, so your arrival and departure times must work around daytime tour timings.
There’s day time tours which give you pretty good access to the house’s many rooms including the basement where the alleged murder weapon was found, as well as night-time ghost hunts but as there’s usually guests staying the night, these tours are limited to the first floor and basement.
You can also have breakfast for an additional $US20 per person which is a nice touch as it includes a mix of what the Bordens had that morning (hopefully without the spoiled part!), with a more modern … and palatable twist.
To read more about the House, or to book, visit the Lizzie Borden House website, here: https://lizzie-borden.com/stay/https://lizzie-borden.com/stay/