Paranormal Activity at Lizzie Borden's Fall River House in Massachusetts

"Lizzie Borden took an axe, and gave her mother 40 whacks, when she saw what she had done, she gave her father 41". Anyone familiar with this morbid poem, is well aware of the murder case that happened many years ago concerning Lizzie Borden . At the time, it was considered the trial of the century (much what O.J. Simpson was to us). It is said that the house on 92 Second Street in Fall River, Massachusetts, which once housed Lizzie Borden's entire family is in fact haunted. The murders of her step mother along with her father occurred here. To understand why these spirits might not be at rest, you'd have to be familiar with it's murderous history.

Lizzie Andrew Borden was born on July 19, 1860 to Andrew Jackson and Sarah Anthony Borden. Her father was well to do and owned several banking houses along with mills. Lizzie had two siblings, Emma Lenora who was born in 1851 and Alice Esther who was born in 1856 and died just 2 years later. Another death occurred in the family when her mother passed away in 1863 at the young age of 39.

In 1865, her father married Abby Durfee Gray. In 1872, the entire family comprised of Lizzie and her sister along with her father and step mother moved into the three story Fall River house on 92 Second Street in Massachusetts. It is said that the girls never grew fond of their step mother. In later years, they would refer to her only as Mrs. Borden.

On August 4, 1892, Lizzie's step mother and father were murdered in their own home. It is said that the step mother was killed first and happened to be in a guest room at the time when the murderer found her. She was killed with a hatchet and received 20 strikes to the head along with the neck as well as the shoulders. Andrew was next. He was murdered while sitting in the parlor while he was taking a short nap. He received 10 strikes also to the head.

Shortly after, Lizzie Borden was arrested and tried for the murders of her step mother and father. Less than one year later, she was acquitted of both murders. A short time later, she moved and died a spinster at the age of 67.

The house on 92 Second Street has since been restored and is currently a bed and breakfast. You can actually sleep in the room where Abby Borden was murdered.

There have been several events of paranormal activity at the Fall River house. Guests have heard someone walking up and down the stairs when nobody is actually there. There have been areas in the house where it appears to be cold while the temperature is normal in other areas. People have heard a woman crying. Still another woman (believed to be Abby herself) has been seen making the beds. I'm sure much to the delight of the maids. Who wouldn't be happy about that? The strangest of them all was an employee who had found an indention of a body on a bed when nobody was supposed to be in the room. Who was this? It seems that Abby Borden has no intention of every leaving Fall River and if you happen to stay at the house on Second Street, you might just run into her.