Watson's Tin Box meeting summary - December 15, 2025

On the third Monday of each month, the Watson's Tin Box of Ellicott City scion meets at Union Jack's in Columbia MD and we gathered on December 15 for another great gathering of members - 23 in total - but it felt a lot more crowded than that!

I again took a census of where people attended the meeting from (MD locations unless otherwise stated): Baltimore; Carol County; Columbia; DC; Darnestown; Ellicott City; Frederick; Gaithersburg; Harford County; Silver Spring; Woodbine. Quite a mix! It was bloody freezing outside (16 F) so we understandably lost a few attendees along the way.

The story of the meeting was Black Peter. This meant walking through the bar to set up the Evidence Box carrying a full-size harpoon! No rum was consumed in dirty glasses.

After introductions, we moved to the toasts, with a simple toast to 'The Woman' (Irene Adler), and Tom Fahres delivered his traditional Haiku for the story. 

Harpooned pig carcass

Is his morning exercise

Strange fellow, that Holmes

We then moved on to Announcements - 

• We were reminded that the Irene's Cabinet publication from WTB will return in 2026. The deadline for submissions to Jacquelynn Bost-Morris was December 15 - late last-minute submissions will be considered.
• At least a dozen of our members are heading to New York for the Baker Street Irregulars 'weekend' in early January. If you're interested, you can learn more here.
• The DC Whiskey and Sodality meeting will again take place on Sunday, December 21, 2 pm at Shelly's Back Room, 1331 F Street NW. Contact Terry McCammon for details. "Excellent ventilation, excellent pub type food. Good whisky and draft beer list. I have cigars to share." Smoking optional ; ventilation excellent.
• As mentioned in a separate blog post, Debbie Clark announced that as she's moving homes, the amazing Evidence Box collection now has a new home.
• Michelle March announced that Harford Community College will hold a course on Single Stick Combat - you can find details of how to register here. Here's a brief course description: "Join us to master the basics of Single Stick Combat and connect with a rich martial tradition that has captivated enthusiasts for centuries".... BYO deerstalker.
• The next Red Circle next meets on Saturday March 14 - details here - I will be speaking!
• Another great reason to come to meetings: Debbie Clark brought along free Sherlockian goodies (!) for people as part of her clean-up and move. Many walked out with new t-shirts and knick-knacks. I picked up a Sherlock action figure.... with removable pipe !!

As a final announcement, our createive-artist-in-residence Michelle March shared her story-themed creative product for the month that was also the prize - an amazing shirt design with harpoon incorporated that says it all:

We've had some fantastic talks lately, with quite a few guests to inspire our members. A fantastic talk from a new member as of 2025: Michael Ravnitzky. Michael gave a talk that we all hope will be a Sherlockian article in no time at all.

Michael began 'I’m here to take you on an adventure – the story of the famous non-canonical phrase “Elementary, My Dear Watson”....'. Michael walked us through the origins of the phrase that never appears in the stories, and reported on statistical analyses to demonstrate to us that it is very likely that Holmes did say 'Elementary, my dear Watson' in some of those stories still locked away in the tin box.

 

 

We next moved on to our story for the month: Black Peter. As always, Debbie Clark presented the contents of the evidence box. This box had a LOT of documents. Along with the photo of Debbie displaying the contents, I've placed here some images of items from the evidence box - you can look at all the items here at the Watsons Tin Box website.

I really like the Brambletye Hotel receipt, because it's a real hotel in New Forest!

And so to the story discussion. In some ways this is a complex story - is it a story of financial crimes? It is one of those Doyle stories that involves someone who commits a crime over the seas (or on the seas) then brings their wealth back to a quiet part fo respectable England to start a new life - it's a kind of nautical. 'Boscombe Valley mystery'.

We ran a quick survey on the 'rum vs brandy/whiskey tantalus' and the majority were non-sailors and would have chosen the tantalus - so Sherlock's logic was correct! We also feltBlack Peter may have built the ultimate man cave.

We wondered why Holmes ended the story by stating he was heading off to Norway. After all, he'd been there just a few years earlier as Sigerson. Would he blow his cover if he returned so soon? And what was he going to do in Norway? It was also pointed out that 'Norway was not Norway as we know it' in 1895 - it was part of Sweden till 1906. Either way, was Holmes after some of those lost bonds?

There was a general feeling that the police should have cast a closer eye over Black Peter's wife and daughter - after all, while the harpoon transfixing required great strength, they'd been through hell living with an abusive alcoholic.

We ended with with traditional quiz, set by our torquemadae Olivia Millunzi. There was no tie-breaker! Well done Cindy for winning the quiz, and the prize!

2025/26 meeting schedule as it stands: