Haunting old hangouts

[fbhjr]

Today, morgan_lafaye invited me to come along as she brought her nephew to the Higgins Museum.


My wife and I used to spend a lot of time there. For a couple of years palusbuteo, my wife, myself and the head of demonstrations gave almost every sword demo they did.
It’s a cool place. But, when you do 4-6 sword shows a month there for two years, you get blase about it.
So, although still members, we don’t go back very often. (And, often when we do it’s mention that they think it would be great if we started doing all those shows again. Fortunately, that didn’t happen this time.)

It has been a long time since I went there just to look around. And, an even longer since I was showing someone else around.
So, if was a fair bit of fun showing morgan_lafaye’s nephew around.
We had him try on all of the helmets out for the public.



(There are a lot more, but if you want to see all the ones they let you play with, go to the museum.)

Right over the helm collection is the track light that I took out with a longsword while doing a routine with palusbuteo.


Folks seemed to think it was strange I kept looking up at the lights and laughing, but no one tried to get in our way at the helms...

They do have one thing set up to show you what a knight with a helm could really see in a battle.


You put your face in it and you can see through the slit that what knights could see was paintings.


I guess that explains why there were so many paintings of battles in the middle ages. Each knight needed one in front of their helm...

Upstairs is one of my favorite suits of armor.


Not because I’d wear it. But, because it demonstrates so well why people stopped wearing it.


Small dent where someone “proved” it was bullet proof to the buyer. Big hole where someone with a bigger gun disproved it...

morgan_lafaye’s nephew seemed totally taken aback by this one.


We tried to explain that all of the suits should have had a cod piece and this one was the only one that was really set up complete as the others should be. But, I’m not sure he really believed that.
I did get a perfect score on their armor quiz, so he should have.


I like the whole knights and sword stuff, which should surprise you. But, what I like most about the museum is its founder. He made a huge pile of money in WWII running a plant that made aircraft parts. He loved metal. That’s why he bought all the armor. No so much for the history as for the metal craft.
One exhibit shows this well.


He bought a meteor that was made of iron. So, what did he do with it? He had it pounded out so he could admire the naturally forming metal.
(Have I mentioned I went to college about 3 miles from there...)

Anyhow, I also went there to look at their rondel dagger.


The talk I’m giving at the university of Massachusetts renaissance center on Saturday is going to compare combat techniques of this sort of dagger with those of the sickle. So, I thought it would be good to get some pictures of the dagger.

I also saw the original of reproduction sword my wife used to use in the shows there.


They were supposed to come out with a whole series of reproductions from the museum, but this was the only one they made. And, the production version was nowhere near as good as their first prototype. But, it’s still nice to see the original there and know my wife wouldn’t have any trouble using one like that.

I am disappointed that their gift store has gotten rid of most of their adult books and put in a snack section instead.


(To be clear, I mean text books on history, armor, weapons, etc. Not any other sort of adult books.)
It used to be a place I could find some of the texts we use to develop historical fights, but now they have none. Only chips and candy.
Sad.

Of course one of my real worries is what’s across the street from the place.


Every time I go by the “Odd Fellows Home” and write up a story like this, I’m worried that they’re going to come out with a big net and try and get me.
But, at least it looks like a cool place.


Sadly, very little on the job front this week. The headhunter for the place in Oxford did ask for my references. So, I guess that means I’m not forgotten. But, that isn’t as much progress as I would have wanted.

Comments

[morgan-lafaye.livejournal.com]

After Jake's disblief of the cup on the suit. I really didn't want to go into the whole, bigger, more bling,good hiding spot story. He would never get over it. Good luck Sat.

[palusbuteo.livejournal.com]

Good thing he hasn't seen my demo yet with the Roman Danglium... :P

[palusbuteo.livejournal.com]

I too am greatly dissapointed with the gift shop and the lack of good things to shop for....I would not be surprised if the addition of snacks and candy has to do with the visitors complaining about no food services other than a drink dispenser.

[cissa.livejournal.com]

Have you read Durst's (I think: fantasy novel set in Worc. county? The Higgins appears as an ogre's castle. Fun stuff!

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

I haven't heard of that one. I'll have to look for it. Thanks!

[cissa.livejournal.com]

IIRC, it's called "Into the Wild" or similar. The author grew up in Northborough. :)

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

I picked it up at Borders tonight.
I'm not sure when it will make it to the top of my reading list, but it is now in it...

[cissa.livejournal.com]

I hope you enjoy it! Im pretty sure you'll get a kick out of local landmarks. And there were a couple of non-local reviews that rated it pretty highly- it is based on a nifty concept.