The Lizzie Borden House

On August 4, 1892, Andrew Borden and his wife Abby were brutally murdered with a hatchet in their Fall River, Massachusetts home. Andrew’s daughter Lizzie was tried and acquitted, but she was never cleared in the court of public opinion.

The Murders

Abby Borden was killed first, receiving nineteen hatchet blows while making a bed. Approximately ninety minutes later, Andrew was killed on a couch in the sitting room, struck eleven times in the face.

Lizzie was the obvious suspect—she had a tense relationship with her stepmother and had been alone in the house. At trial, the lack of physical evidence led to acquittal. The murders were never officially solved.

The Haunting

The house now operates as a bed and breakfast where guests can book rooms, including where Abby was killed. Many report paranormal experiences: footsteps when no one is there, sounds of weeping, cold spots, and apparitions matching the victims’ descriptions.

The guest room where Abby died is considered particularly active. Visitors report sounds of distress, temperature drops, and sensing a presence.

Assessment

The Lizzie Borden House combines violent death, an unsolved mystery, and the psychological impact of sleeping where murders occurred. Whether the phenomena represent genuine hauntings or suggestion, visitors continue to report experiences more than 130 years after the murders.