Norwestercon ‘70

Norwestercon ‘70

This Northwestern Science Fiction Convention sponsored by the Portland Society of Strangeers was held at the Heathman Hotel at 1001 SW Broadway Portland, Oregon 97205 on Memorial Day weekend, May 29-31, 1970.

Authors included Frank Herbert (Dune) and Ursula K. LeGuin (Left Hand of Darkness) and Vincent Conrad. “Round table discussions and a costume dance as part of the festivities” were also planned.¹

“CEREMONIAL SALUTE is given to Melanie Whalen, Bill Price, after marriage by an American Orthodox minister Sunday afternoon in Washington Park. "Pagan wedding" was part of Medieval Faire.

In conjunction with the convention, there was a “Medieval Faire” sponsored by newly-formed Portland Society of Strangers, held at Washington Park in Portland.

During the faire, in addition to a “Pagan wedding”, “jousting matches between members of the Society of Creative Anachronism to determine who would be first baron to rule over Portland society” were featured.²

The Barony of Three Mountains

This SCA demo held at the Medieval Faire to coincide with Norwestercon was the second event held by the new Barony of Three Mountains.

A few weeks after Norwestercon 70, The Oregonian published a four-page article in their Northwest Magazine for Sunday, June 21, 1970. (See gallery of pages below).

The Barony of Three Mountains began in December 1969 when Sir Frederick of the West Tower organized “the new barony in the Portland, Oregon area.” The first planning meeting occurred in December, culminating in “New Years Eve Revels” at Sir Frederick’s home at 1867 14th Street S.W., Portland, OR.³

Though Sir Frederick began as the barony’s Seneschal, by June, Nicorlynn of the Glass Castle [of Caer Wydyr] was Seneschal and gave the interview to The Oregonian.⁴

Defining the SCA

The Oregonian described the SCA using the definition from the article in Our Wonderful World encyclopedia for young people by Grolier: "It should nat be thought that members of the organization are Don Quixotes or Miniver Cheevys, trying to escape from the responsibilities and troubles of their own time into a glamorous past. They are engaged in having a pleasant time in the midst of a historical reconstruction, which spectators enjoy watching and which requires a degree of skill now almost lost to battle with single stick, two-handed sword or battle axe (even if these are padded or blunted)."

Ted Fore, the article’s author, visited the “Society House” (where Sir Frederick lived at 1867 14th Street S.W., Portland, OR. and the where New Years Eve Revels had been held) and interviewed lady Nicorlynn.

Founding Baron of Three Mountains

Echoing

Citations

¹The Oregon Daily Journal (May 11, 1970) page 3. ²The Oregon Journal (June 1, 1970) page 35. ³The Page (December 1969). “The Society for the Creative Anachronism” by Ted Fore in Northwest Magazine from The Oregonian pages 10-13.