From the archives of the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library:
Behold! Medieval battles! Feasts of Old! Knights in armour! All of these things and more guaranteed a merrie olde tyme at the fairs and tournaments held by the Sault branch of the Society for Creative Anachronism in the days of yesteryear.
The Society for Creative Anachronism is an international group dedicated to resurrecting medieval arts. Unlike a Renaissance Fair, SCA activities aren’t just something you come to watch, they’re something you actively do. They are an immersive history group that holds events where one can experience Medieval delights like tournaments, feasts, skills, and crafts of the time periods, all while dressed in clothing of the era. Huzzah!
The Society for Creative Anachronism dates back to May 1, 1966, when a few friends who were history buffs and science fiction/fantasy fans hosted an outdoor party in Berkeley, California. The invitation called for “all knights to defend in single combat the title of ‘fairest’ for their ladies.” This event, now known as the First Tournament, was a big success, and when the participants wanted to hold a second event at a public park, they decided they needed an official name. The name “The Society for Creative Anachronism” was chosen on the spur of the moment. The group expanded across the United States and into an international group. The SCA came to Canada shortly after its inception and eventually made its way to Sault Ste. Marie.
The Society divides North America into seven kingdoms. The Middle Kingdom, which encompasses Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and most of the mid-western United States is where Sault Ste. Marie resides. In 1982, about “15 reverents of the Middle Ages” came together here in the Sault to form the Shire of Noergate, a branch of the SCA. Bob Levesque was the Seneschal of the group and a card-carrying member of the Society for Creative Anachronism. In an interview with the Sault Star in September of 1982, Mr. Levesque said “the purpose of the society is to teach others about Medieval history by selectively recreating the Middle Ages.” Members are able to choose a time that occurs between 500 and 1620 CE to which they want to ‘belong’, and a persona and name are invented for the member to become. The persona can be based on a specific period of history, an actual person, or a type of occupation from the Middle Ages.
‘Selective’ recreation means that such unpleasantries as the plague, poverty and The Inquisition are set aside in favour of the more palatable aspects of medieval culture. Thus, things like swordplay, feasts, craftsmanship, dancing, and royal courts are remembered and practiced.
Bob Levesque, at the time a Sault College student, depicted 11th-century Norman Robere de L’Veque and Claire Carbone, who was the local exchequer (treasurer) of the society represented ‘Female of Noergate,’ a 15th-century English-Russian character. Ann Hendriks, the group's Minister of Arts was a local seamstress who designed and sewed most of the group’s costumes.
Tournaments were held periodically in the 1980s and both men and women participated, wearing barrel helms and armour for protection. Carbone explained that the tournaments involved “actual battle, but all weapons are wooden replicas, with no sharp edges…It’s controlled fighting, but it’s a really good time.”
Ann Hendrik’s son also got into the action. Eight-year-old Blair filled the role of an 11th-century Norman.
Tristram, a general page. His duties include washing the hands of the members after a hearty feast and other such ‘page’ duties and was set to learn ‘the proper way to serve a meal.’ However, Blair wasn’t the smallest member of the Shire of Noergate with a job to do. Cindy, “a congenial, knight-black pooch renamed Truffles has the rewarding duty of accepting meat bones as they’re flung from the tableside.” As everyone knows, the only acceptable place for bones at a medieval feast is the floor.
The Shire of Noergate group met about once a month, in full costume, celebrating the lives of their characters, sometimes practicing activities that included dance, poetry, cooking and embroidery, to name a few and to discuss future events like tournaments. The members of the group found it a great way to escape from reality for a time, getting away from the stresses of technology and the ‘ultra-modern’ world.
Some of the women in the group remarked on their enjoyment of being treated ‘like real ladies,’ being addressed as ‘Milady,’ having men ready to cater to their ladies’ whims and the adherence to the code of chivalry. However, the women were also expected to hold to the traditional female roles of that time, preparing all the meals and able to use only ingredients that were available during medieval times.
Throughout the 1980’s the Society For Creative Anachronism’s local branch also brought the medieval to life at local elementary schools, showcasing the different aspects of a knight’s life including the armour they would have worn into battle and activities from the time such as archery and sword fighting.
In 1983 Bob Levesque, as one of the ‘leading knights’ in the Sault branch of the Society for Creative Anachronism, helped organize a fall fair and tournament at Bellevue Park. Levesque, who ‘lost his voice, both legs and his head (several times) during the tournament was thrilled with the turnout of the events. About 40 society members from as far away as Stratford (Afon Araf), Ottawa (Skrealing Alth) and different kingdoms in Michigan attended the all-day festival at the Park. An evening of dining and music followed at St. Gerard Majella Church where the hungry masses only had use of utensils that were available during medieval times. Levesque, answering to Lord Robere de Le’eveque as he was garbed in chain mail and tunic, said that their group was ‘attempting to re-create the Middle Ages, leaving out things like the Plague, inquisitions and rats.”
The society also displayed and sold medieval paraphernalia such as soap and candles to attendees, but items such as costume accessories were only allowed to be sold to SCA members.
Travel being common for members of the Society for Creative Anachronism, many travelled to the Sault (The Middle Kingdom), from other kingdoms in Canada and the United States. At these events, members would “share their knowledge of the periods, the conviviality of feasting on ancient delicacies and the quiet pleasures of backgammon, medieval music and chivalrous conversation.” (Imagine my delight learning that as a backgammon enthusiast, I had unknowingly been partaking in a popular Medieval pastime for years! Huzzah indeed!)
But it was not all quiet pleasures and gastro delights. The SCA members also came to square off in mock battle, where, despite the strict rules prohibiting the use of dangerous weapons, ‘jarring thuds and the accompanying groans’ make it clear that no punches were being pulled. All the weapons were made of rattan and any double-handed weapons had to be padded but they still managed to make themselves known. Steel helmets and chain mail ‘coifs,’ shields made of metal or plywood, shin pads, hockey gloves and ‘splint-mail’ armour helped ensure bruises and dents to sore egos were the only injuries.
The winner of this September 1983 tournament at Bellevue Park was John Abernethy, otherwise known as Ab the Viking. Abernethy came from Traverse City, Michigan, wearing 45 lbs. of double leather flecked with steel, the garment crafted with his own two hands.
The festivals and tournaments held by the local SCA members here in Sault Ste. Marie even inspired some career paths. Pauline Nolet, in a 2008 article in the Sault Star, said that as a teen she attended an SCA gathering in Sault Ste. Marie with a friend and an event leader was making a chain-mail shirt. “He taught me the armour pattern and I started doing different works for myself when Rose Sundaram (her mother) opened Rose’s Art Gallery…and I put pieces of my work into the gallery on consignment.” Nolet, inspired by her time at that Society for Creative Anachronism event went on to make and sell jewelry, key chains, and wallet chains.
The Shire of Noergate, Sault Ste. Marie’s local branch of the Society for Creative Anachronism brought the Middle Ages to life for young and old, celebrating Medieval feasts, crafts, skills, weaponry, clothing, royalty, music and dance, armour and the like with members and spectators….and forsooth a good time was had by all!
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