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Lambies Awarded for 2011

administrator — Fri, 25 May 2012 19:34:07 +0000

Once again the N.O.M.E. gave out their much-coveted Lambie Awards to two worthy actors who performed in the August 2011 dramatization of the murders at #92. Ben Rose has been with the Pear Essential Players for a long time playing Officer Medley and Detective Seaver. He is a great ad libber, fast study, and pinch hitter when needed. Thanks Ben, for all you do for us!

Suzann Rogers, who works at the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast Museum also, won her Lambie as Bridget Sullivan on her very first year out! Congratulations Suzann- you have a very convincing Irish accent.

A very special award was given to Nicole Thompson who played Andrew Borden under the sheet. For Best Dramatic Sound Effect with a Vegetable (simulating a cracking joint).

Muttoneaters SSI 2012

administrator — Fri, 25 May 2012 19:11:40 +0000

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Muttoneaters, Second Street Irregulars

This past weekend the cordial society of armchair sleuths returned to #92 Second Street for the annual flocking of the Second Street Irregulars (Muttoneaters) for a jam-packed tour of many Borden-related sites around the area. Friday morning the group of 16 visited the Fall River Historical Society to bestow the yearly awards upon the recent publication by Michael Martins and Dennis Binette, Parallel Lives. The flock enjoyed a coffee hour, tour and photo session in the beautiful Victorian garden before heading off to Fairhaven for a picnic at Fort Phoenix and a city tour given by Chris Richards who was dressed to impress!

Chris fired off a vintage rifle, explained how teeth were extracted, limbs were amputated and the life and activities of a wartime barber-dentist-surgeon, a role he re-enacts in costume with a local history group at Fort Phoenix annually. Afterward the Muttoneaters toured city hall and learned about Mark Twain’s dedication speech given on the stage there, visited the locales of the homes in which Helen Brownell stayed (Emma Borden’s alibi), and visited the beautiful Millicent Library where a letterbox was found in a very special place inside. (see Atlasquest.com for clues!) The group then returned to Fall River for a pizza party and presentations on the Villisca murders of 1912 and discussions on Andrew Jennings, one of the attorneys for Lizzie whose journals they saw at the historical society earlier.

Andrew Jennings’ journal and newspaper clipping collection

Saturday was a busy day which began with a trip to Oak Grove Cemetery to see the room in which the Bordens were autopsied on August 11, 1892, and to inspect the interior of the holding tomb used to house the coffins of the Bordens both before and after the heads were removed by Dr. Dolan.

The morning concluded with a very special visit to Maplecroft and a great tour by Mr. Bob Dube who conducted the group through every room of the three-storied home and explained what was original to Lizzie’s tenure there. This was a very special and much-appreciated opportunity as the house is currently for sale with the future owner still unknown.

On the “piazza” at Maplecroft in the spot where the recently published photo of Lizzie and her dog appeared in Parallel Lives.

Poppy garden at Maplecroft

After lunch the Muttoneaters visited the Animal Rescue League of Fall River, an annual stop, to bring dog and cat treats and a special 1927 newspaper detailing Lizzie and Emma Borden’s donation to this worthy cause, bequeathed in their wills.

The afternoon brought a real surprise when the group was invited to visit the cellar of the Lodowick Borden (also known as Dr. Kelly’s) home next door to the Borden house on Second Street to view the chimney and cellar where in 1848 Eliza Darling Borden threw three of her children in a cistern and then committed suicide behind the chimney. Beautiful cabinetry with little drawers and cupboards were added much later when the Kellys moved to the house in 1891 and are still intact. The room was most likely used then as Dr. Kelly’s home office.

Muttoneaters flocked to June Street to pose on the porch of Andrew J. Jennings house which must have one of the best views of the Taunton River in Fall River.

Saturday evening concluded with a visit from the “Women’s Christian Temperence Union” with Muttoneaters dressed as Mrs. Brayton, Carrie Nation and Mother Willard, followed by a Sunday-style chicken Gospel bird dinner and many hours of animated conversation about the famous Borden case. As always, nobody wanted to leave on Sunday morning and the planning begins again for next year’s adventures.

Mutton Eaters Annual Reunion

administrator — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:13:01 +0000

The sixth annual gathering of the Second Street Irregulars will take place May 17-19th, 2012 at the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast Museum. Along with the usual research presentations and field trips, the recent release of Parallel Lives has furnished the group with new places and people from the past to explore over the weekend. Some of the “Muttoneaters” will be visiting the Villisca crime scene, site of the 1912 axe murders, and spending the night onsite two weeks before the Fall River annual meeting, and will no doubt have much to report. Annual awards of recognition will be presented at the house this year.

Wall Street Journal mentions the Muttoneaters

administrator — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 03:40:26 +0000

Jennifer Levitz has done a feature for the Wall Street Journal and mentions the flock . http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904006104576502872036735688.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Of course the annual antics of the mighty Muttoneaters could furnish enough for several articles if news of the secret doings were made public!

Mutton Eaters get a shout out

administrator — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 15:33:28 +0000

The TODAY show, which filmed in April, the week before the SSI reunion featured Muttoneater Barbara Morrissey who managed to get in a few words about the group. The segment has proven popular, with many hits to the address and of course, many comments.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/42612544/

Mutton Eaters V April 1-3

administrator — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 18:43:50 +0000

The weekend started with chilly weather and a coating of snow, but that did not deter the intrepid “Muttoneaters” as they kicked off the weekend with a visit to meet the mayor at city hall and to hear about the old city hall eagle which was salvaged from the demolition of the former edifice. Chris Donovan told the story of his family’s involvment with the building, and made the announcement that a new museum of the City of Fall River will be opening on the second level of The Eagle performance hall on North Main in the near future.

(Mayor Flannigan becomes an honorary Muttoneater)

photo: Barbara Morrissey

(at Joe’s American Grill in Dedham)

The group managed to pack the weekend full with a trip to Dedham’s Pine Ridge pet cemetery and shelter to visit Lizzie’s dogs, ramble down to Swansea to visit Borden properties there including Lizzie’s favorite fishing hole, a stop at Border City Mill to see a working curtain factory, a stop at the art association to see the portrait of Lizzie by Tiego Finato, a jaunt to Faxon Animal Shelter which was so generously remembered in the Borden sisters’ will, an expedition to see the waterfalls on Anawan Street, and still found the time to hold a Nance O’Neil supper party on Friday night and awards banquet at the Quequechan Club on Saturday night followed by a dessert party at #92. Stay tuned for a slide show of activities, guests, food and fun.

Thanks and appreciation go out to Lee Ann Wilber and Jack Faria for special efforts in facilitating itinerary and accommodations, and JoAnne Giovino, Barbara Morrisey and Ginny Lahman for amazing hospitality and good things to eat back at #92 Second St.

What’s new at 92

administrator — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 17:25:01 +0000

A few of our “Mutton Eaters” will be involved in the first murder mystery weekend at the B&B on Second Street. For all the details, with more to come visit http://lizziebordenmysteryweekend.com/

Mutton Eaters 2011

administrator — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 04:18:08 +0000

April Fool’s weekend (March 31-April 3) has been announced as the date for the annual Mutton Eaters gathering. The Banquet at the Q club, annual awards, and usual “On the Road ” outings will be augmented with a Nance O’Neil theatre party at the house on Second Street. The Mutton Eaters will have a Maplecroft-style soiree for Nance and her troupe. They will enjoy some non-Temperance punch and deck themselves out in some theatrical attire for the evening-hopefully Nance herself will make an appearance. This year there will be a new award, the Silver Quill, given for excellence in writing- either fiction or non-fiction which incorporates the Borden case and case personalities. And as usual- a few surprises are in store for the Mutton Eaters.