A Scion Society of The Baker Street Irregulars
Numismatists Do Not Fear Change
“… this thing has some deadly story linked on to it …” – The Adventure of The Blue Carbuncle (BLUE) First, let’s take a minute to wish everyone here in the United States, a very safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday this week. December will be upon us next week and it seems appropriate for us to discuss The… Continue Reading
“… the badge of a society.” – The Adventure of The Five Orange Pips (FIVE) The Sons of the Copper Beeches, the noted Philadelphia area scion of the Baker Street Irregulars, has a rigorous process for membership in their society. After attending three meetings, guests become “apprentices” who are eligible to advance to “journeyman” status by flawlessly reciting… Continue Reading
“… deserving members of society …” – The Adventure of The Devil’s Foot (DEVI) On December 8, 1947, at Shoyer’s Restaurant at 412 Arch Street in the City of Brotherly Love, eight erudite gentlemen met for the purpose of forming a society akin to the already-existing Baker Street Irregulars (“BSI”). Shoyer’s, with its excellent steaks and… Continue Reading
“Somewhere in the vaults of the bank of Cox and Co., at Charing Cross, there is a travel-worn and battered tin dispatch-box with my name, John H. Watson, MD, Late Indian Army, painted upon the lid.” – The Problem of Thor Bridge (THOR) Watson’s Tin Box, a BSI scion that meets in Columbia, Maryland, share a… Continue Reading
“… Dr. Ainstree, the greatest living authority …” – The Adventure of The Dying Detective (DYIN) It is fitting that we get to meet the 29th Garrideb, Dr. Robert S. Katz, aka Dr. Ainstree, this month as we are discussing The Adventure of The Copper Beeches. Since 2012, Bob has been the Head Mastiff (Gasogene) of the Philadelphia… Continue Reading
“… and had delivered his usual brilliant lecture to a crowded class.” – The Adventure of The Creeping Man (CREE) During the American Numismatic Association’s (ANA) 100th Anniversary Convention (aka The World’s Fair of Money, the first ANA convention to use this marketing theme) in August, 1991, the then Vice President of the ANA, Edward C. Rochette,… Continue Reading
“… waving his fat hand as an introduction.” – The Adventure of The Illustrious Client (ILLU) Jeremy Brett’s portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in the 41 episodes of the Granada television series is for many the definitive portrayal of the great detective. For those that watched these stories on Public Broadcasting System’s Mystery!, there were introductions and post-show… Continue Reading
“This admirable beach …” – The Adventure of The Lion’s Mane (LION) Baker Street Elementary #15 was originally published on June 18, 2015 by the Crew of the Barque Lone Star and is reprinted here with permission. The Crew of the Barque Lone Star is a Dallas / Fort Worth, Texas based Sherlock Holmes literary society, and… Continue Reading
“We were to go to the theatre.” – The Adventure of The Bruce Partington Plans (BRUC) As Frank Mentzel commented, in this month’s Data! Data! Data! column, the first on-screen version of The Copper Beeches was in 1912. Georges Treville travelled to London from Paris to star in a series of 8 films as Sherlock Holmes for Eclair… Continue Reading
“‘Data! Data! Data!‘ he cried impatiently. ‘I can’t make bricks without clay.’” – The Adventures of The Copper Beeches (COPP) This column is composed of material (Data!) developed for a short course called Appreciating Sherlock Holmes that I teach twice a year in the Community Education Life Enrichment Program for a local community college. It is composed… Continue Reading