The Borden Murder House

The house at 230 Second Street in Fall River, Massachusetts, was the site of one of America’s most infamous unsolved murders. Andrew and Abby Borden were hacked to death on August 4, 1892. Their daughter Lizzie was acquitted. Their ghosts remain.

The Murders

Andrew Borden, a wealthy businessman, and his second wife Abby were killed with a hatchet in their home while Lizzie was the only known person present. Andrew received eleven blows to his face. Abby received eighteen blows to her head. The violence was extreme.

The Trial

Lizzie Borden was tried and acquitted, largely because the jury could not believe a respectable woman capable of such brutality. She lived in Fall River until her death in 1927, always under suspicion but never charged again.

The Bed and Breakfast

The Borden house now operates as a bed and breakfast and museum. Guests can sleep in the rooms where the murders occurred. Many do not sleep well.

The Activity

Guests report hearing footsteps, crying, and movement in empty rooms. Some wake to see figures standing over their beds. The sofa where Andrew was killed is particularly active. Phantom odors of cigar smoke waft through the house.

The Investigations

Paranormal teams have documented cold spots, electromagnetic anomalies, and EVP recordings in the house. Photographs sometimes show anomalous figures. The house consistently produces evidence of continued occupation by the dead.

Assessment

The Borden house offers guests the opportunity to experience one of America’s most notorious crime scenes firsthand. The violence of the deaths and the mystery of the killer’s identity seem to have kept the spirits active over a century later.