Photos by Beth Buglione/Mid-Valley Sunday

The audience watches as rapier fighters Kendall Tempest, left, played by Ken Spencer of Salem, battles Don Simone Nicholls, played by Jason Bakanoff-Ellis of Eugene, during "A Winter's Knight: An Evening of Living History," performed at Oregon State University Saturday night.

The Society for Creative Anachronism brings back the medieval days on the Oregon State University campus

By Aaron Corvin

Mid-Valley Sunday

CORVALLIS - The sound of swords clinking inside Oregon State University's Memorial Union Ballroom left no doubt: This wasn't going to be your typical history lesson.

Here, a textbook or desk couldn't be found, but knights clashed and lepers mumbled, while onlookers scooped chicken stew from bread bowls.

The medieval sights and sounds that turned a part of OSU campus back to the Middle Ages Saturday night was courtesy of ``A Winter's Knight: An Evening of Living History.''

The three-hour event - sponsored by the nonprofit Society for Creative Anachronism - offered the public a chance to learn more about the Middle Ages through historical music, fashion and dancing; armored battle; and medieval food.

In fact, those who attended the event were treated to a four-course meal based on historical European recipes. One could nibble on figs, apricots and wheat rolls while sipping lemon water.

There was room for 288 people inside the ballroom, and people filled the seats quickly.

Marilyn Monson and her husband, Gary Noble, decided to bring their youngster, Matthew, to the event because it offered education and a clean entertainment.

The Stayton family was looking for something different to do that wouldn't cost too much money, said Marilyn, a court clerk for the city of Albany.

``A lot of entertainment is so expensive, and a lot of it isn't child-oriented,'' she said. ``How many G movies are there?''

Kathy Schmidt, a 22-year-old OSU student who organized Saturday evening's event, zipped across the ballroom to make sure everything was in place before the festivities got underway.

Yagar Stumpface, a fool played by Dublin Briggs, puts rolls in his hat to get a laugh during the performance.

Schmidt, who is studying natural resource management, is president of the Freehold of Turris Nimborum, the campus group that's affiliated with the Society for Creative Anachronism. The campus group's name translates to ``the foggy tower'' and refers to Weatherford Hall.

The group meets regularly to practice dancing and fighting. Saturday's event was the biggest the group has been involved in, Schmidt said.

The Society for Creative Anachronism's focus on education was a big reason why Schmidt decided to join the local affiliate.

``I love history, and you learn a lot about history,'' she said.

The escapist nature of the activity also attracted her to it.

Schmidt, like other participants, even has a medieval alter ego: Catriona Stiubhard.

When she gets into costume, she said, her worries melt away.

``I can be someone else for a weekend,'' she said.