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

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

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.

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/

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.

After the visit to the police station, the flock descended on the Fall River Public Library to have a look at the Fall River Room and exhibit of Fall River artist paintings.  A happy hour was spent there looking through old street directories, postcards and reference materials-some rare, and all chock full of information about the city.  After a tour of the library it was check-in time at #92 Second Street and preparations for the annual banquet, this year at the old Quequechan Club on North Main Street.  Some Mutton Eaters opted for vintage clothing. 

The group handed out awards and enjoyed a superb dinner in the Captain Study on the second floor after taking a tour of the bowling alley and other rooms of the 1894 former gentleman’s club.  Dinner was followed by the cutting of the 2010 Cheesecake- a tradition for the Mutton eaters, this year featuring  a topper of Lizzie Borden counting dollars instead of sheep in her little bed back on second Street.  It was a late night with lots of singing and presentations by members which included new material on Dr. Seabury Bowen and Sarah Cornell.

http://www.frpd.org/history.html

The annual Mutton Eaters weekend in Fall River 2010  is now just a good memory.  The armchair sleuth group had a jam-packed weekend visiting Lizzie Borden-related sites for three days, beginning with a stop early Friday morning at the Fall River Police Department on Pleasant Street.  Deputy Chief Moniz greeted the group in the entry foyer and took them to the second floor to meet the new Chief of Police, Chief Racine who recently took over the position from Chief Souza.  Chief Racine knew his Bordenia, and solemnly (with a twinkle) swore in 18 new recruits as “official deputies” on the Borden case.  The group enjoyed a great ten minutes chatting with the busy Chief, who mentioned there was a $200 reward on the “tip hot line” for any clue which would assist in solving a case. After reflecting on the FRPD and their involvement in the Borden case, the “Mutton Eaters” were treated, as a special surprise, to a complete tour of the entire facility from the booking room to the dispatch and receivng room to the holding cells.  The Wall of Chiefs, which included Medley, Hilliard and Fleet was a big hit as well as the arrest book showing Lizzie Borden’s name.  They learned that chief and deputy chief badges are turned in when the officer retires, and that the three numbers which appear over the badge are numbers of fallen policemen, killed in the line of duty.  Currently three numbers appear although the force has actually lost  more.  The badge has not changed style since the era of Lizzie Borden as witnessed by the badge of Chief Medley, Fall River’s first titled Chief of Police.  It was learned that the crime scene camera in the archive was not the one used by Mr. Walsh to photograph the Borden house, but was dated slightly after 1892.

Vintage police blue lantern from the old station at the corner of Bedford and High Streets.

The facilty was impressive, with the 24 hour dispatch and call -in room a state-of-the art- facility.  The night before the visit, Fall River sustained a large fire in a private residence, with the loss of one four year old child.  The dispatcher took the group through the procedure of how the calls were received, and how the response teams were sent out.  Also on the tour were the booking desk and a tour of the lock-up where sliding doors have replaced bars.  Male and female detainees are separated from each other in different sections of the building. 

 During the visit a review of a recent incident involving the discharging of an officer’s gun during a chase was being conducted, which is general procedure.  The briefing room was included and looked exactly like those seen on so many popular television programs.  The white board showed ongoing activity around the city, using the historic terminology for the sections of the city like Corky Row, Flint, Globe, etc.

The visit was a highlight of the weekend for the group, and the viewing of the arrest book a special memory along with the great kindness and hospitality of the officers and employees.