On Terry Doner’s desk at his cubicle job building databases, there sits a photo of himself in full armor, commanding an army of 100 people in battle.
“It was sort of like one of those childhood dreams,” said Doner. “I have that [photo] blown up 13-by-14 on my desk, and people walk by and are like, ‘That’s so cool.’”
Doner, also known as Baron Henry of Exeter, his medieval name and title, is a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, SCA, which was founded in the 1960s in California as a historical organization aiming to reenact the Middle Ages. Since then, the SCA has evolved into an international organization of 19 “kingdoms.”
“We do anything that could have been done in the Middle Ages, except for the bad stuff,” said Doner. “We don’t do the plague. But we do the dancing, the cooking, we sew our own costumes.”
Glenbrook North’s head groundskeeper Patrick Hickman is also a participant in the SCA.
“It started as something my whole family did together,” said Hickman. The SCA allowed his family to spend “quality time together” by camping and competing in events like archery and fencing.
Hickman said he brought the SCA to the fieldhouse 15 years ago when the group needed a space to practice.
“[Being able to hold fencing practice at the school] allows us to offer GBN students and their families to try fencing and find out about the SCA,” Hickman said.
On Tuesday nights, 30-60 people gather in the fieldhouse to practice both heavy fighting (with wooden swords) and rapier (fencing) for Saturday events which occur most weekends. The events consist of fighting tournaments, nine-course feasts, socializing among friends and medieval dancing.
“Obviously it’s not clubbing, it’s historical,” Doner specified.
Senior Molly Orbon has seen the SCA group practicing in the fieldhouse after her swim practice since she was in elementary school.
“It’s cool that they’re carrying out their passions,” Orbon said.
According to Doner, the SCA pursues a certain level of historical accuracy for the period 600-1600 AD. For example, participants put their iPhones in cloth pouches and conceal Coke cans.
“Put it in a mug or a goblet and you’re fine,” Doner said.
Participants also make their own 16-gauge stainless steel armor and other medieval clothing.
“Some people will come to the events fully in their [SCA] clothes,” said Doner. “I can’t do that. I’m always afraid I’ll get a flat tire. I’ll be out in tights, trying to change my flat tire on the side of the highway.”
In addition to regular Saturday events, Doner said the SCA hosts a special annual war in Pennsylvania called Pennsic, in which 11,000 members camp out and fight in a large-scale war, with battles of 800 on each side. The battles use the “honor system,” so if someone’s arm is hit, they must continue to fight without using that arm.
“It’s meaningful to me because these are my friends,” said Doner. “You realize you have at least one thing in common with everybody here. …So right away you have something to talk about, and you just develop friendships.”