One of my local scions is Watson's Tin Box of Ellicott City, Maryland. Ellicott City is located approximately mid-way between Washington DC and Baltimore. The scion meets monthly on a Monday night for dinner, conviviality, discussion on a story (more later), usually a short talk/presentation, and finally a Sherlockian quiz.
There's a web site with plenty of information where you can learn more at www.watsonstinbox.org , but I'll add some information here as way of a brief background (quoting from the site).
The name of the scion comes from the following quote in "The Problem of Thor Bridge" :
Somewhere in the vaults of the bank of Cox and Co., at Charing Cross, there is a travel-worn and battered tin despatch-box with my name, John H. Watson, M.D., Late Indian Army, painted upon the lid. It is crammed with papers, nearly all of which are records of cases to illustrate the curious problems which Mr. Sherlock Holmes had at various times to examine. (THOR)
The scion was formed in 1989, and by 1990 had given itself the Tin Box name. A neat quirk of the scion is its membership requirements. There are no membership dues, but to be considered a member one needs to attend two meetings. Why? Attend one meeting and i might be considered an honest mistake. Attend two meetings, and that must be on purpose: you are now a member of Watson's Tin Box!
But there's another very special feature of the scion that ties in directly to the 'Tin Box' of cases. The scion is responsible for a box of evidence/clues/artifacts, one for each story (so sixty in total!). As each story is discussed, the evidence box for that story is opened, and each item described and passed around the group. Where did these sixty boxes come from, and how were the items created?
At the recent Watson's Tin Box meeting, I picked up a flyer distributed with some background on this remarkable collection, and wanted to share it.
As the legend suggests, this picture displays the evidence boxes in their storage bookcase - an incredible amount of detail. From the Watson's Tin Box information sheet on the the evidence boxes.
These evidence boxes were created by one of the scion founders, Paul G. Churchill, BSI. I've transcribed the information on the sheet, and provided below some links to wonderful material from others sources. I enjoyed learning that Paul created these with inspiration from the Simon Goodenough Murder Dossier books that I've described previously (221bcooee.blogspot.com/2023/06/calling-simon-goodenough-sherlock.html).
The Evidence Boxes of Paul G. Churchill
Inspired by Simon Goodenough's A Study in Scarlet - A Sherlock Holmes Murder Dossier, Paul began collecting Canonical artifacts around 1990. His initial goal was to collect at least one artifact for each of the 60 Canonical tales. Over 1500 artifacts later, Paul's 'Evidence Boxes' became legendary in the Sherlockian world as he displayed them at numerous Scion meetings. What Paul could not find, he made. He became known as a master forger, and 'found' numerous genuine 'faux' letters, documents, and telegrams, items that candidly became the very one!
After Paul's passing in November of 2008, by his decree, the Evidence Boxes were bequeathed to Watson's Tin Box Scion Society of Ellicott City, Maryland, a Society that Paul co-founded in 1989.
This inventory and accompanying photo file was lovingly compiled by Paul's friend, Denny Dobry.
There's a wonderful interview with Deborah Clark (of the WTB Scion) with the I Hear Of Sherlock Everywhere podcast team discussing Paul's Evidence Boxes:
Come along to a Watson's Tin Box meeting, and see the wonderful evidence boxes that Paul created and are an enduring legacy.
APPENDIX: This is a published obituary for Paul at the time of his passing.Obituary for Paul G. Churchill
Paul Gabriel Churchill, 63 of Eldersburg, MD, died Friday November 7, 2008 at his home. He was the spouse of the late Jo Ann (Grammer) Churchill. Who passed away in 1989. He was born July 31, 1945 in Washington, D.C. The son of the late Murray V. Churchill and Lucille (Craven) Churchill. Mr. Churchill was a graduate of The University of MD and held a Masters Degree from Towson State University. He was a member of Pershing Rifles. He was co-founder of Watson’s Tin Box, He was also a member Baker St. Irregulars. He began his teaching career at Longfellow Elementary School and later taught at Centennial High School and most recently was a Latin Adjunct Professor at Hood College in Frederick. Mr. Churchill taught several Sherlock Homes Appreciation classes in the local region. Surviving are Sons and Daughter-in-laws Mark G. and Susan Churchill of Lincoln, Nebraska, Gregory and Danielle Churchill of Parkville, MD. Brothers: James R. Churchill of Alexandria, VA and David M. Churchill and wife Susan of Frederick, MD, Granddaughter, Ellie Churchill of Nebraska. Also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial Services will be conducted on Saturday November 15, 2008 at 1:00 PM at Burrier-Queen Funeral Home and Crematory, P.A., 1212 W. Old Liberty Rd. Winfield, MD 21784 with Pastor Andy Honeycutt of Gethsemane Baptist Church officiating. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The ALS Association( Lou Gehrig’s Disease), Development Department, 27001 Agoura Road Suite 250 Calabasas Hills, CA 91301.
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