Inside the House That Suggests History Got Sad Spinster Lizzie Borden All Wrong

After being acquitted for the murders of her parents, Lizzie Borden did not vanish into obscurity or adopt a pseudonym. Instead, she spent her considerable inheritance—equivalent to around $10 million today—living in a lavish mansion she named "Maplecroft." Bordered resided there for the remainder of her life, which ended just over a century after the infamous murders.

The mansion, located just a mile from the infamous murder site, is now a private residence and bed and breakfast, drawing in 50,000 true-crime enthusiasts annually.

However, the current owners, Brooke and Michael Doherty, were initially reluctant to purchase the property. Michael, in particular, expressed apprehension about the infamous history. Despite their reservations, the Doherty's found the mansion's grandeur and spaciousness compelling, with its seven bedrooms, original fireplaces, and Tiffany sconces. The Doherty's made an undisclosed offer when the previous owner's plans to convert the house into a bed and breakfast fell through during the pandemic.

Unlike the common portrayal in popular media, Borden's actual life at Maplecroft was far from lonely or ostracized. She lived there with her older sister Emma and their three Boston Bull Terriers and a black cat named Daisy. While she chose not to attend church or participate in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, Borden did host lavish parties in the basement of Maplecroft, later used as a speakeasy during Prohibition, hidden by a concealing panel.

These events were kept discreet from her more conservative sister Emma, who disapproved of the rowdy gatherings.