1875 February 4: McMurdo arrived in Vermissa Valley.
1886 February 4: Arthur Holder asked his father for money for the first time.
Weekly Forum: February 3, 2015
NEW INFORMATION: February 6, 2015
The Weekly Forum for February 3, 2015 asks about the British tradition of naming their homes. From those dwelling names throughout the Canon, what conclusions can we make regarding Dr Watson’s choices of those names for his stories? Has there been a Catalogue of Canonical Residence Names created by anyone in the past? Is this a literary endeavour worthy of addressing by the Society?
A Canonical Compendium of Residences and Occupants
The John H Watson Society
February 6, 2015
Listed are the names of the residences and occupants named in the stories and books of the Canon. It is the Society’s hope that, eventually, Members will chose one or more of these residences and offer research on the place names and the British tradition of naming homes. The Society envisions individual or cooperative articles for The Watsonian or perhaps monographs arising from this research into the Canonical Nomenclature of Residences. Please contact Buttons if you have interest in writing an article or monograph.
Canonical Residences and Occupants Story/Book
Abbey Grange (Brackenstall) ABBE
Albermarle Mansion (Melville) WIST
Appledore Towers (Milverton) CHAS
Arnsworth Castle SCAN
Aston Manor 3GAR
Baskerville Hall (Baskerville) HOUN
Birchmoor (St Simon) NOBL
Birlstone, Manor House of (Douglas) VALL
Boscombe Hall (Turner) BOSC
Briarbrae (Phelps) NAVA
Briony Lodge (Adler) SCAN
Camden House EMPT
Campden Mansions (La Rothiere) BRUC
Capleton (Backwater) SOLI
Carriton’s SUSS
Carston Castle (Holdernesse) PRIO
Cedars, The (St Clair) TWIS
Charlinton Hall (Woodley) SOLI
Cheeseman’s (Ferguson) SUSS
Chiltern Grange (Carruthers) SOLI
Copper Beeches (Rucastle) COPP
Crane Water (Armitage) SPEC
Deep Dene House (Oldacre) NORW
Dingle, The (Harringby) WIST
Elrige’s Farm (Elrige) DANC
Fairbank (Holder) BERY
Folkstone Court HOUN
Forton Old Hall (Williams) WIST
Gables, The (Stackhurst) LION
Grosvenor Mansions (St Simon) NOBL
Hales Lodge (Barker) VALL
Harvey’s SUSS
Hatherley Farm (Turner) BOSC
Haven, The (Bellamy) LION
Haven, The (Amberley) RETI
High Gable (Henderson-Murillo) WIST
High Lodge (Oldmore) HOUN
Holdernesse Hall (Holdernesse) PRIO
Hurlstone Manor House (Musgrave) MUSG
King’s Pyland (Ross) SILV
Laburnum Lodge (Brown) SIXN
Lachine (Barclay) CROO
Lafter Hall (Frankland) HOUN
Manor House GREE
Mapleton (Backwater) SILV
Merripit House (Stapleton) HOUN
Myrtles, The (Latimer) GREE
Nether Walsing (Stone) WIST
Odley’s SUSS
Oxshott Towers (Folliot/Ffoliot) WIST
Poldhu Cottage (Holmes and Watson) DEVI
Pondicherry Lodge (Sholto) SIGN
Popham House (Eccles) WIST
Purdey Place (Hynes) WIST
Ridling Thorpe Manor (Cubitt) DANC
Shoscombe Old Place (Falder) SHOS
Stoke Moran Manor house(Roylott) SPEC
Thor Place (Gibson) THOR
Three Gables (Maberley) 3GAB
Torrington Lodge (McFarlane) NORW
Tredannick Wartha (Tregennis) DEVI
Tuxbury Old Park (Emsworth) BLAN
Vicarage, The (Elman) RETI
Vernon Lodge (Gruner) ILLU
Westbury House (Doran) NOBL
Wisteria Lodge (Garcia) WIST
Woodman’s Lee (Carey) BLAC
Yoxley Old Place (Coram) GOLD
On These Days . . . Nothing Happened . . . or . . . ?
February 1 to 3: Nothing of Sherlockian note happened on these days. But, maybe you know of something . . . ?
Weekly Quiz: 2015-6
RESULTS: Good Quiz! The mother is Bathsheba; her wise child is Solomon; and the reference is from “The Adventure of the Crooked Man”: Holmes: “You remember the small affair of Uriah and Bathsheba? My Biblical knowledge is a trifle rusty, I fear, but you will find the story in the first or second of Samuel.”
Those who successfully solved the quiz (in order) are: Patricia Villicrusis “Helena,” Milissa Anderson “Faith,” Margie Deck “Gwen” and Sheila Holtgrieve “Daisy,” and Denny Dobry “Kirby.” Well Done All!
You seem to like the slightly esoteric one question quizzes . . . So here is an obscure one for you to solve:
A mom, referred to by Holmes, had a wise child. Provide her name, the name of her child and the story or book where the reference is made. Extra credit for the textual quote.
Please submit answers by noon, Wednesday, February 4th. Send solution to: buttons@johnhwatsonsociety.com
Weekly Forum: January 27 2015
This week’s Forum topic is one that has had little, if any, explication from the textual Canon: stationery.
What evidence exists of the various writing papers, envelopes, calling cards, invitations, pens, pencils, etc. that would be generally thought to be found in a Victorian Stationers Shop? Prepare to be surprised.
William Gillette . . . From Kumar Bhatia “Bobbie”
Our loyal Member from Dubai, UAE, Kumar Bhatia “Bobbie” sends along this very interesting article from the BBC News Magazine on-line about William Gillette and the newly discovered Sherlock Holmes silent movie. http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-30932322
Thank you “Bobbie”. We appreciate your sending this along.
Weekly Quiz 2015: 5 Quiz by Michele Lopez “Reggie”
RESULTS: Michele Lopez “Reggie” has created a winner! Lots of positive comments on this week’s quiz. Taking honours were: Denny Dobry “Kirby,” Elinor Gray “Misty” and our Team, Margie Deck “Gwen” and Sheila Holtgrieve “Daisy.” Well done, all! And “Thank You” Michele for a Canonical Taste of Italy. Answers here: 2015-5 Weekly Quiz Italy Answers
Sorry, Buttons is a day late . . . Download here: 2015-5 Weekly Quiz Italy
This week’s quiz was created by our Member from Italy and President of Uno Studio in Holmes, Michele Lopez “Reggie.” Please submit your solutions by noon Wednesday, January 28 to: buttons@johnhwatsonsociety.com
Today This Happened . . .
1891 Saturday January 23rd: Holmes incommoded Moriarty. I always enjoy anticipating what is coming with this situation!
There are no events in the Canon for January 24 through the 31st. Return in February!
Best from “Chips”
And On This Day . . .
1897 Friday January 22nd: Holmes allows Captain Crocker to go free by the British Gentleman’s Code of Ethics.
Today According to Chips
Thursday 1897 January 21st: Sir Eustace Breckenstall was killed by Captain James Crocker.
Thursday 1897 January 21st: Theresa Wright,Lady Breckenstall’s maid, said she saw three men in the moonlight.
One of my favorite stories ! How long I dreamed of being woken up by Holmes in his stirring words” Come Watson, Come he cried, The game is afoot”.
Weekly Forum: January 20 2015
What do we know about Dr Watson’s and Mr Holmes’ shoes from the Canonical evidence?
“Pray make yourselves quite at home” [MAZA]
There has been a bit of virtual remodeling here at the Consulting Rooms. A few things have been moved around, so feel free to click here and there and get comfortable.
We hope you won’t notice any problems, but if you come across broken links (or any other site issues), please let Selena know.
Weekly Quiz: 2015 #4
RESULTS: Michele Lopez, Denny Dobry, Margie Deck and Sheila Holtgrieve all got the usual answer of Paganini, who played on a single E string. However, Michele Lopez “Reggie” also added the oft-overlooked Canonical reference to Charlie Peace in ILLU. Charlie was a real criminal who appeared on stage with a one-string violin act. He can be found in Tracy’s Encyclodpedia Sherlockiana and in Wikipedia. Congratulations all!
Here is a single question quiz for this week. Please submit answer by Noon Wednesday, January 21, 2015 to buttons@johnhwatsonsociety.com.
Who was a skilled player of the single-stringed violin?
Today . . . This Happened
1886 January 18, Monday: Lady Eva Blackwell married the Earl of Dovercourt.
Society Member Appointed Treasurer of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London
Congratulations to our Member, Ashley Mayo “Argos,” who informs us that he has been appointed as Treasurer of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London. Ashley is a Charter Member of JHWS from England. The Society extends its congratulations on this distinguished appointment.
New Website Platform Soon
The Society is moving to a new website platform/operating system soon. Our Webmistress, Beth Gallego “Selena” has been working for several months to convert over our entire website history and every post ever made. This has been a HUGE project for “Selena” and one the Society is truly indebted to Beth for doing, and doing so well.
For the next few days, Buttons will play with and experiment on the new system in order to learn its ins and outs. Next week sometime, we expect to “flip the switch” and “Selena” will turn on the new site. You will also have to experiment a bit–click here, click there, click everywhere–and discover what new features exist.
Thank you, “Selena” . . . Thank you Beth Gallego. As you may remember, Beth is a librarian in Burbank, California and is involved with Sherlockian groups and other Sherlockian librarians. She will be attending 221B Con in April and, hopefully, participating in discussions of the Society.
More on this topic later.
Society Member Diane Gilbert Madsen Wins Award
Society Member Diane Gilbert Madsen “Lass,” an author of note, has won Honourable Mention at the 2015 London Book Fair for her new book, The Conan Doyle Notes. This is a wonderful honour and we extend congratulations to “Lass.”
Her book is available on Amazon.
“Chips” Discovers . . . On January 15th . . .
On January 15,16,17: A 3 day break in the action. Any ideas as to what Holmes and Dr Watson might have done?
Weekly Forum, January 13
Here is an interesting topic that should generate some discussion:
Did Dr Watson and Mr Holmes support the monarchy? Any evidence pro or con?
Ron’s Dailies . . . January 13th
January 13th Wednesday 1886: Sherlock Holmes becomes engaged to Milverton’ s house maid.
January 13th Wednesday 1886: Holmes and Watson burglarized Milverton’s house.
January 13th Wednesday 1886: Charles Augustus Milverton was murdered.