Norwestercon ‘70
Norwestercon ‘70
This Northwestern Science Fiction Convention sponsored by the Portland Society of Strangers (a science fiction group with an emphasis on mysticism) 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
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
In “The History of the West Kingdom” by Wilhelm von Schlüssel, his document about the Barony of Three Mountains says “The Barony sponsored an unofficial demonstration tourney at the con. This was the first tourney for the barony.”
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
She told them “There’ll be knights, ladies, squires, yeomen, artisans, minstrels, sorcerers, dancers, strolling players and merry clerics. They’ll all be wearing the apparel of any culture before the year 1650 A.D. There will be pavilions for food and favors set up. People will bring lunches to spread in picnic fashion around the field of battle. The festivities will begin with a grand march before the knights start the battles for fair damsel’s hands or the king’s crown.”
The Interview
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 not 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.
Speaking about the SCA, she said “You know, our modern world doesn’t leave much room for people to be creative as individuals. I suppose that’s one of the major purposes of the Society, to provide that room. Also, each of us has a phantasy life. That, in itself is healthy and okay. It’s only unhealthy when we try to repress it or live it unrealistically as though it were true. Our gatherings provide the members the opportunity to dress up in their phantasy roles and temporarily live them. I know I’m not a great lady in a glass castle but I feel like one when I put this dress on.”
When speaking as Seneschal about the organizing work, she said: “We have no membership lists or dues to keep track of. I guess a person is just a member when they attend and when they don’t they’re not. We make no organizational demands on our members. People just pitch in and do what they want to do to help. I know it doesn’t sound reasonable but it works.”
Founding Baron of Three Mountains
Echoing the earlier newspaper comment from the Oregon Journal: “jousting matches between members of the Society of Creative Anachronism to determine who would be first baron to rule over Portland society,” Nicorlynn, Seneschal of the Barony of Three Mountains confirmed that she “had already put on their first tourney where Sir Frederick [of the West Tower], in fair battle, won the coronets of the barony.”
Further, she told them “He [Sir Frederick of the West Tower] was invested Baron June 20th at a tourney in Olympia.”
This would have been the First Baronial Tourney event, held jointly by the Baronies of Three Mountains and Madrone in Olympia, WA on June 20, 1970.
Gallery of the 1970 article pages
Citations
1The Oregon Daily Journal (May 11, 1970) page 3.
2The Oregon Journal (June 1, 1970) page 35.
3The Page (December 1969).
4“The Society for the Creative Anachronism” by Ted Fore in Northwest Magazine from The Oregonian (June 21, 1970) pages 10-13.