Maplecroft: Lizzie Borden & Nance O'Neil

Where did axe murderess Lizzie Borden (1860-1927) retire from the public eye after the 1892 trial for the deaths of her father and stepmother? She built a home on a hill called Maplecroft. Filling it with walnut and antique woods, she hosted themed parties and invited famed actresses of the day. Maplecroft still stands today. One such actress invited to Borden's parties was Nance O'Neil (1874-1965) who stood at six feet tall and played Lady Macbeth to much acclaim. O'Neil settled in New England in 1905 while tracing her father's roots. O'Neil and Borden had a lot in common, including overbearing fathers, a natural flair for acting and a love for dogs.

Sources:

Kathleen Carbone, "The Divine Spark of Nance O'Neil, The Hatchet, https://lizzieandrewborden.com/HatchetOnline/the-divine-spark-of-nance-oneil.html (2018)

Lizzie Borden's Maplecroft Mansion, Lizzie Borden House, https://lizzie-borden.com/blog/lizzie-bordens-maplecroft-mansion/

Nathan Tavares, House & Property, Lizzie Borden's Maplecroft, https://www.bostonmagazine.com/property/2020/09/10/lizzie-borden-house-for-sale-maplecroft/

Lizzie Borden's Former Maplecroft Home for Sale, https://www.homes.com/blog/2021/01/lizzie-bordens-former-maplecroft-home-for-sale-for-890k/ (2021)

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