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Thanks to a guest I had on my radio show earlier this year, Chris Verstraete, yes, I did know Lizzie Borden had another home.
Under her nom de plume, C. A. Verstraete, Chris has written two books involving Lizzie Borden: The Haunting of Dr. Bowen: A Mystery in Lizzie Borden’s Fall River, which is a sequel of sorts to her Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter, which poses a different theory and explanation about why Lizzie may have killed her parents.
I haven’t read the Dr. Bowen book yet, but in her Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter novel, Chris uses the plot to address Lizzie’s other house, Maplecroft. (Because there was some controversy and speculation that Lizzie offed her parents to get their money so she could spend it more extravagantly than they did, like on the fancy new house she ended up buying for herself.)
Maplecroft
Like the Lizzie Borden B&B, Lizzie’s other house is also in Fall River, Massachusetts.
The second one isn’t as well known because, let’s face it. It doesn’t have the same notoriety. It’s where Lizzie lived after her acquittal, but it’s not where the infamous murders were committed.
Also, unlike the B&B, there’s really no evidence of paranormal activity in it.
What Happened to Maplecroft?
One thing I never considered was, “What happened to the house Lizzie moved into after she moved out of the one where her parents died?”
It was only after seeing a post on the Haunted Librarian’s blog that I gave it any consideration.
Lizzie lived there until she died of pneumonia in 1927.
Several other owners have called the 4,000 square foot mansion “home” since then.
The most recent owner, Twilight Enterprises, bought it in 2014 for $500,000. Apparently there were plans to turn it into a bed and breakfast, museum and events center, but that never transpired.
In September of this year it went on the market, furnishings and all, for $849,900. It was recently reduced to $799,000.
As the Haunted Librarian summed it up:
The home has generated several stories; however, the house isn’t noted as having any paranormal activity. It appears to be a typical home in a quiet neighborhood. Indeed, it may be ideal for someone who is fascinated with Lizzie Borden but doesn’t want the paranormal baggage her tragic life carries.
Q&A
Would you like to live here even if it doesn’t have any paranormal activity? Would you like to see it developed into another Lizzie Borden attraction, or even a second Lizzie Borden B&B? Or would you rather see some nice family who loves the beautiful old home move into it and keep it private?
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
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