The Lizzie Borden House: America's Most Infamous Murder Mystery

Photo: Wikipedia

In the quiet town of Fall River, Massachusetts, stands a home with a reputation that has endured for over a century—a house steeped in blood, suspicion, and the lingering whispers of restless spirits. This is the Lizzie Borden House, the site of one of the most brutal and controversial murders in American history. Today, the home operates as both a museum and a bed and breakfast, attracting curious visitors, ghost hunters, and brave souls who seek to experience the paranormal firsthand.

The Crime That Shook a Nation

On the morning of August 4, 1892, Andrew Borden and his wife, Abby, were found gruesomely murdered inside their home. Andrew had been struck 10–11 times in the face with a hatchet while napping on the sofa. Abby was attacked first, upstairs in the guest room, receiving 18–19 brutal blows to the back of her head. The sheer savagery of the crime stunned the country—and the quiet, churchgoing daughter, Lizzie Borden, became the prime suspect.

Photo: Wikipedia

Photo: Wikipedia

Lizzie was arrested and stood trial in 1893, but despite circumstantial evidence and national attention, she was acquitted. Many believed her wealth, gender, and social status played a role in the verdict. Others thought the evidence simply wasn’t strong enough. But the mystery remains: if Lizzie didn’t do it… who did?

A House That Holds Its Secrets

The Lizzie Borden House has become a landmark of American true crime history, but it’s also gained a dark reputation for ghostly activity. Guests and staff alike have reported cold spots, phantom footsteps, and unexplained voices. Some say the spirits of Andrew and Abby still haunt the home, seeking justice. Others believe Lizzie herself lingers, forever tied to the place where her name became infamous.

The most active room in the house is said to be the guest room where Abby was murdered. Paranormal investigators have captured EVPs (electronic voice phenomena), strange shadows, and even full-body apparitions. The parlor, where Andrew met his end, is equally charged with residual energy. Objects move on their own, and cold drafts seem to appear from nowhere.

Photo: Wikipedia

Spend the Night—If You Dare

For the bravest of travelers, the Lizzie Borden House offers overnight stays. Guests can sleep in the same rooms where the murders occurred, tour the meticulously preserved home, and participate in ghost hunts. Whether you're a skeptic or a believer, it's an experience that leaves a lasting impression.

More than just a museum, the Lizzie Borden House is a living relic of the past—a chilling blend of history, mystery, and supernatural lore that continues to draw thousands each year. And perhaps, just perhaps, the spirits are still trying to tell their side of the story.

Address: 230 Second Street, Fall River, Massachusetts
Phone: (508) 675-7333
Website: lizzie-borden.com
Public Access: Yes, museum tours and overnight stays available

Whether you visit to pay homage to a dark piece of American history, or to see if you can catch a glimpse of the other side—just remember: not all spirits rest in peace.

Lizzie Borden- Photo: Wikipedia

The Haunting of Stone’s Public House

Stone’s Public House – Middlesex County, Ashland, Massachusetts

Photograph ©ActiveRain Corp.

Address:
179 Main Street
Ashland, Massachusetts
(508) 881-1778
Website

Stone’s Public house originally opened in 1834 as The Railway House. The structure was built by Mr. John Stone, a farmer and shrewd businessman who had an eye for making money. Mr. Stone had already bought up most of the property that made up the town of Ashland and when he learned that a railroad was being laid through the center of his town, he quickly made plans to build the Railway House beside the tracks. This proved to be a sensible decision and on the day that the establishment opened, Mr. Stone was greeted by three-hundred waiting patrons! The Railway House continued to be quite successful for many years and John Stone died a wealthy man in 1858.

Today the building is known as Stone’s Public House and it continues to draw in the crowds. But, it not only known for its excellent food, good entertainment or its pub; it’s also well known because of its ghosts!

In the attic of this modern day restaurant and tavern, lies the bloody eighteen-hundreds dress of a ten year old girl who was tragically killed on the railroad tracks outside. This child’s death was witnessed by patrons of the old Railway House in 1862. The little girl’s name was Mary Smith and her spirit is said to linger on in the building today.

Mary’s apparition has been spotted by patrons, looking out of the windows of a storage room located near the kitchen. Mary is also thought to spend time in the attic where her bloody dress still resides. This is no urban legend; this dress really does still lye in the attic!

Another restless spirit to call the Stone’s Public House its home is that of a Mr. Burt Phillips. Mr. Phillips was also killed by a train in 1890, after he had the left the tavern and wandered onto the tracks in a drunken stupor. The apparition of this man is said to still linger in his favorite inn and enjoys playing pranks on employees and guests. This entity is said to be responsible for turning water faucets on and off, tapping frightened visitors on the shoulders and holding employees hands under the ice when they are attempting to fill up the ice buckets.

The third entity that is said to still linger here is that of Mr. John Stone himself! John Stone’s spirit is thought to be responsible for putting his hands around the throats of employees and patrons, throwing glassware through the air, knocking items off of shelves and causing ten-dollar bills to appear in the tip jars!

The Haunting of the Porter-Phelps-Huntington Mansion

The Farm Museum – Hampshire County, Hadley, Massachusetts

Photograph ©HenryC

This house has many names: The Porter-Phelps-Huntington Mansion, The Bishop-Huntington House, Forty Acres or the Farm Museum; take your pick of its many names but one thing will remain the same, it’s haunted!

The entity haunting this old colonial home is thought to be that of Mrs. Elizabeth Porter. Elizabeth lived in the home with her daughter and husband until Mr. Porter was called to fight with the French. Soon after that, Moses Porter was killed in battle.

Throughout the years, many children have told of seeing the apparition of a kind lady in their rooms at night. They have also claimed that this spirit gently tucked them in.

The sounds of a spinning wheel have been heard coming from the attic area but no spinning wheel is up there. The door to the attic is always kept shut and latched but has been found many times to be opened in the mornings. Also, the apparition of a small child has been seen on these stairs that lead to the attic but the entities identity is unknown.

The sounds of light footsteps have been heard on the stairs, as well as, in the hallway at night when no one was there. Doctor Huntington, a direct descendent of the Porters, has personally seen latches lift up and doors open and close on their own throughout the house.

Visitors to the house have claimed they saw people rush past their line of peripheral vision while sitting at the dining table. And some have even claimed to see the indentation of some unseen person lying on the beds.

This house is now the Farm Museum and paranormal reports are still made here even today.

Address:
130 River Drive
Hadley, Massachusetts
(413) 584-4699
Website

The Haunting of the Longfellow’s Wayside Inn and Museum

Longfellow’s Wayside Inn and Museum– Middlesex County, Sudbury, Massachusetts

Photograph ©FreeFoto.com

Address:
72 Wayside Inn Road
Sudbury, Massachusetts
(978) 443-1776
(800) 339-1776
Website

The original house was built in 1707 and it started out as a two-room home built by David Howe. David originally built the home for his wife and children, however, in 1716; he added onto the home and turned it into an inn and tavern. This inn was later passed on to David’s son, Ezekiel Howe and the inn became “The Red Horse”.

Ezekiel built on more additions that practically made the house double in size. Ezekiel, keeping with family tradition, later passed the inn down to his son Adam in 1796. Adam, as with his father and grandfather, added onto the house and passed the inn down to his son Lyman. Unfortunately the family ended here; Lyman never married and therefore had no sons to pass the inn on to.

After the death of Lyman Howe, the inn was closed and was then used only for special occasions and receptions. In 1897, the home was purchased by Edward Lemon who, once again, turned in back into an inn. And, keeping with tradition, Mr. Lemon added on and did some renovating to improve the place.

In 1923, after the death of Edward Lemon, the home and its property was purchased by Henry Ford. Mr. Ford was responsible for the very last additions and renovations made to the inn. When Mr. Ford died, the inn was charitably left to the state and was then turned into a museum.

Today, the house is used as an inn and a museum.

Reports of the Paranormal:

A female entity has been seen roaming throughout the entire house. This apparition is believed to be the restless spirit of Jerusha Howe, the sister of one of the Howe family members.

Jerusha’s spirit has been reported to touch people. She has also been reported to play the piano and appear as a full-bodied apparition in front of people. Jerusha’s citrus-scented perfume has been detected in various parts of the house and many have felt her presence close by even when she made no physical appearance.

Some of the visitors who have stayed at this inn have claimed that they awoke in the middle of the night to find the entity of Jerusha Howe sitting on their bed beside them! A few of the male patrons have claimed that she gently caressed their skin or hugged them and a few of these men also claimed that she actually climbed into their bed with them!

The Longfellow’s Wayside Inn and Museum still has reports of the paranormal and guests still make reports of seeing and feeling Jerusha Howe’s presence.