Steampunk Festival salutes James Hartness and Springfield’s innovating inventor history

The First Annual Springfield Steampunk Festival, an official Vermont Arts 2015 event, slated for September 11, 12 and 13 in Springfield, Vermont hopes to put Springfield back on the map as a place where imagination happens and gears till turn.
Photo by Len Emery

      

Sabrina Smith, who is coordinating the festival states, “I think we are on the brink of a new beginning while standing firmly on the base of our industrial innovating inventor history. We are delighted to be partnering with the Hartness House and showcasing the inventiveness of James Hartness and other singularly inventive individuals who were drawn to Springfield in the last quarter of the 19th century.”

For those not in the know, Steampunk has been described as an imaginative mix of artisanship, Victorian-era fantasy and reality, the science fiction of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne. Science fiction writer George Mann describes Steampunk as “a joyous fantasy of the past, allowing us to revel in a nostalgia for what never was. It is a literary playground for adventure, spectacle, drama, escapism and exploration. But most of all it is fun!”

A key link to Springfield’s Victoriana past and inventor history is the Festival’s presenting partner and main venue for the festival, the Hartness House, an elegant Victorian turn-of-the-century mansion turned Inn that will be the perfect setting for Steampunk fantasy. The country inn is known worldwide due in part to the reputation of its namesake who built it, James Hartness, Governor of Vermont (1921-23), chief executive officer, inventor and wealthy industrialist. He was also an early proponent of aviation, and helped establish the first airport in Vermont in Springfield, which became Hartness State Airport.

Hartness’ avocations were interesting and illuminating and festivalgoers will have a chance to take a tour of his inventions and imagination. The Inn is a sprawling gabled edifice that sits high on a hill above Springfield, and features its own museum; astronomy observatory and antique telescope with a unique equatorial drive system. In 1910, Hartness built the Hartness Equatorial Turret Telescope and Observatory that are located on the lawn of the Hartness House. It was one of the first tracking telescopes in America. More unusual is the secret tunnel system built by Hartness to access the observatory, museum and his secret workshop.

Springfield Steampunk festivalgoers and guests of the Inn will have an opportunity to tour the secret tunnel, view the private workshop of Mr. Hartness, and see the observatory and telescope. The Hartness Equatorial Turret Telescope employs a sophisticated motor-drive, transmission system and clock drive to replicate the rotation of the earth. Using the equatorial drive system makes it possible to view heavenly objects over extended periods of time notwithstanding the rotation of the earth. Stellafane club members, a group of amateur telescope makers, will provide a limited number of guided tours during the festival.

In addition to the Hartness House tours, the 3-day Springfield Steampunk Festival promises fantasy, reinvention, and a chance to dress up, wear funny hats and goggles and play with gears. It features a Stargazer’s Ball at the Hartness House, top bands, workshops, tea dueling, a tweed ride and a real time machine. Vendors from all over the country will be selling everything Steampunk and more. There will be children’s activities and games, and a closing event picnic. Main events will occur at the Great Hall, One Hundred River Street and the Hartness House, 30 Orchard Street. Shuttle buses will be running regularly. For more information about the Springfield Steampunk Festival, to volunteer or to purchase tickets, please go to springfieldvtsteampunkfest.com.