To spot the A. J. Borden Building, just look for a large, boxy red-brick building with rows of tall rectangular windows, right on the corner of South Main Street-it’s tough to miss!
Now, let me whisk you back to the late 1800s. Imagine this street bustling with horse-drawn carriages and the sharp, click-clack of shoes from folks heading to do their shopping. Rising proudly before you is the A. J. Borden Building, built in 1889 for-wait for it-Andrew Jackson Borden himself. Yes, the very same Andrew Borden from the legendary Fall River mystery! He was a businessman with a sharp eye for opportunity, and this solid, stylish building was a symbol of his success and ambition. But in 1892, the buzz on the street turned to whispers and tension when Andrew’s life came to a shocking end, leaving the building-and a fair bit of controversy-to his daughter, Lizzie Borden. Lizzie owned this place until 1927, and you can almost sense the shadows of those old secrets lingering in the brickwork. Over the years, it’s been home to everything from the jingling treasures of the JJ Newbury dime store to the careful calculations of insurance agents. Today, the sturdy Travelers insurance signs remind us that while the times change, a truly remarkable building has stories to tell in every era. And, just in case you like souvenirs, I promise-no axes included.
