Exploring Riverside Cemetery in Fairhaven, Massachusetts: A Connection to Lizzie Borden
On July 24, 2026, our first stop of the day took us to Riverside Cemetery in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. As part of our ongoing travels exploring historic locations, unusual stories, and paranormal mysteries, we had a particular reason for visiting this beautiful cemetery. We were searching for the final resting place of a man whose name became connected to one of the most infamous murder cases in American history, the Lizzie Borden case.
Searching for the Grave of Eli Bence
Our main goal during this visit was to locate the grave of Eli Bence, a pharmacist who played a small but interesting role in the investigation surrounding the 1892 murders of Andrew and Abby Borden in Fall River, Massachusetts.
Just one day before the murders, Lizzie Borden allegedly visited a local pharmacy and attempted to purchase prussic acid, a highly poisonous substance. Eli Bence, who was working at the pharmacy, refused to sell her the poison. He would later become an important potential witness during the investigation, although his testimony about the attempted purchase was ultimately excluded from Lizzie's trial.
For us, visiting his grave was another opportunity to connect a real person to the history we have spent so much time researching. The Lizzie Borden case is filled with fascinating individuals whose lives became forever associated with the tragedy, and Eli Bence was certainly one of them.
Standing at his final resting place gave us a chance to reflect on how one seemingly ordinary encounter at a pharmacy became part of one of America's greatest unsolved murder mysteries.
Exploring the History and Paranormal Claims
While filming throughout Riverside Cemetery, we also took some time to discuss the history of the grounds and the paranormal stories associated with old cemeteries.
Riverside Cemetery is a beautiful historic burial ground, filled with impressive monuments, family memorials, and generations of local history. Like so many of the cemeteries we visit during Our Haunted Travels, it offers an opportunity to learn about the people who helped shape the surrounding community.
Of course, we could not visit a historic cemetery without talking a little about the paranormal!
Cemeteries have long been associated with ghost stories, mysterious shadows, unexplained sounds, and the feeling that someone might be watching from among the headstones. Although these experiences are not necessarily evidence of supernatural activity, they are part of the folklore that makes these locations so interesting to explore.
As we walked and filmed, we discussed the paranormal claims and the reasons why historic burial grounds continue to capture the imagination of ghost hunters and history enthusiasts alike.
For us, history always comes first, but we certainly enjoy exploring the mysteries that surround these locations.
The Search for the Delano Family Tomb
Another location we wanted to find during our visit was the impressive Delano family tomb.
The Delano family has an important place in American history, particularly through its connection to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, whose mother was Sara Delano Roosevelt. The family's roots in the Fairhaven area make their burial site an interesting historical landmark.
The tomb itself was one of the more fascinating structures we encountered during our exploration. Unlike an ordinary headstone or family monument, the tomb offered an opportunity to look into a different style of burial memorial.
Naturally, Marianne wanted to get a closer look!
She spent some time using her cell phone to take photographs inside the tomb, trying to capture as much detail as possible.
Meanwhile, Shawn stood nearby watching the entire process.
Not because he was particularly concerned about paranormal activity, but because he was hoping Marianne would not accidentally drop her phone inside the tomb!
Sometimes the scariest part of exploring a cemetery has absolutely nothing to do with ghosts. Sometimes it is watching someone hold an expensive cell phone over a place where retrieving it could become a serious problem!
Fortunately, our cemetery adventure did not turn into a cell phone recovery mission.
Another Piece of History Along Our Haunted Travels
Our visit to Riverside Cemetery was a wonderful way to begin the day. We accomplished our main goal of visiting Eli Bence's grave, explored the Delano family tomb, and spent time discussing the history and paranormal folklore surrounding this historic cemetery.
One of the things we enjoy most about traveling is discovering how different historical locations connect to larger stories. A quiet cemetery in Fairhaven might not immediately seem connected to one of the most famous murder mysteries in American history, but the grave of Eli Bence reminds us that history is made up of countless individual stories.
And, as usual, our adventures included a little humor along the way, especially when Marianne decided to photograph the inside of the tomb while Shawn worried about the fate of her phone.
Riverside Cemetery was only our first stop of the day, but it certainly gave us plenty to talk about and another memorable experience to add to Our Haunted Travels.
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