Steampunk reigns supreme in Springfield

Hundreds of steampunk aficionados invaded a town that used to pride itself as “the Machine Tool Town” Saturday, celebrating the synthesis of science fiction, 19th and 21st century industrial technology and Victorian fashion.

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Published September 25, 2016 in the Times Argus

By SUSAN SMALLHEER SPRINGFIELD — Hundreds of steampunk aficionados invaded a town that used to pride itself as “the Machine Tool Town” Saturday, celebrating the synthesis of science fiction, 19th and 21st century industrial technology and Victorian fashion. The Second Annual Springfield Steampunk Festival attracted close to 600 people to the festival held on the grounds of the Hartness House Inn. The festival concludes today. There was a steampunk fashion show, a theramin play-a-long, teapot racing, absinthe tasting, lectures, Victorian and Edwardian parlor games, a tea party, music, workshops and the evening promised a steampunk burlesque show. There were tours of the Hartness House’s underground astronomy museum and Hartness telescope. There was even Springfield’s own goat, Bon go, who came dressed for the occasion with goggles and gears on his horns. But the most popular activity appeared to be people taking photos of each other. “Can I take your photo?” was the unofficial motto of the day. And there was a lot to take photos of: There were color-coordinated families in Victorian dress, but always with a science fiction flair; there were lots of ladies in corsets and decolletage; and men in science fiction battle dress. There were out-and-out costumes concocted for the event, including a Cornish, New Hampshire woman and her baby in a hot air balloon. Amanda Walker brought her 6-month-old baby daughter Charlotte to the event after making her hot air balloon costume. For the balloon, she considered a beach ball, but couldn’t find one big enough. She settled on a 30-inch round paper lantern, which she painted burgundy to set off the burlap basket; pieces of dowel wrapped in jute, connected balloon to basket. “And a lot of hot glue,” she said. Walker’s ingenuity meant she was stopped constantly by people wanting to take her picture. She said she and her sisters planned their costumes well in advance with the baby in mind. It may have helped that her sister Christine Virginia is a prop builder. “We put a lot of thought into it before building,” said Walker. “Everyone gets dressed to the nines,” said another sister, Melissa Merritt, also of Cornish. “It’s so much fun.” Deb Roy and Dee Bort of Rutland said it was the costumes that drew them to the festival. Roy was dressed for the event in black and purple, with a cascade of tiny gears festooned on her top hat. Bort carried a parasol. Roy said she had gotten a lot of her costume at thrift stores. “I like that it’s quirky,” she said. “The people do unusual things.” Bruce and Carol Hesselbach of Newfane were back this year just to enjoy the show. Last year, Bruce was a presenter on steampunk technology and the Victorian Age. The Hesselbachs know steampunk, and to them the Springfield festival “is really special.” “The Hartness House has a great astronomy museum. It’s just wonderful,” he said. And the setting in the turn-of-the-century mansion, once home to a Vermont governor, is also a big draw. Hesselbach, who practices law in Brattleboro, said that steampunk was a big attraction. “A fictional world is more elegant,” said Hesselbach, who was dressed in a suit and top hat, adorned with goggles. Carol Hesselbach topped her Victorian dress with a pith helmet. “It’s just a more elegant and beautiful time,” he said, as couples wearing fancy dress — collars of feathers; silk bustled skirts and lacy tights; men in kilts or uniforms walked by. Josh Siegartel, 28, and Skye Makaris, 22, of Winooski, were dressed to the nines, with Siegartel in his own version of an alchemist. “I just built it over time,” he said, adding features here and there. “I really like the blending of mysticism and mad-scientist fantasy,” he said. He had made leather gauntlets himself, designing them with Adobe Illustrator. He had a deer antler bolo tie, and had a bandoleer made of large syringes, and completed his outfit with potion bottles dangling down his side. “We met at haunted houses,” she said. Makaris was all 1930s and 1940s with a hat of flowers, and a flowered dress and bolero that screamed mid-century America. Sabrina Smith of Springfield, the festival organizer and co-founder, was busy tending to vendors, the food purveyors and the many activities. Last year, the festival was held at different locations in Springfield, but this year, all activities were centered at the Hartness House, with free shuttle bus service from different locations in downtown Springfield. Vendors were under a big wedding tent, and steampunkers could buy fancy corsets, feathered hats, hardware and gears. The nonprofit festival, which this year will benefit the Springfield Humane Society, was peopled by more than 100 volunteers, Smith said. People came from as far away as Colorado, and all over Vermont, for the festival, which had the air of an exuberant costume party. Smith said that the Friday “free” night had been very popular, even with a snag with the buses. “We’ll be back next year,” she said. For more information, including Sunday’s events www.springfieldvtsteampunkfest.com http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20160925/NEWS02/160929739