Society’s first croquet event recalls a bygone era
representing Evolution Printing Systems along with her son Maxwell Brown and her nephew Journey Brown. State-record-level speed did not seem likely to help when it came to croquet, but it probably didn’t hurt, either.
“We’re terrible,” Ms. Kinder added as she watched her son lining up a shot, “but this is a great event.”
The three, dressed all in white, were competing against a team representing the orthodontic practice of Douglas N. Smith. Mike Davis, wearing knickers with a tweed jacket and cap, was clearly the team’s fashion leader, but he pointed to Mr. Smith as the team’s leader when it came to actually playing.
“Doug’s played before,” Mr. Davis said. It was not a boast that every team could make about its members.
“He thinks it’s a blood sport,” agreed team member Deb Smith.
No blood and no decapitations were evident, however, as the ambiance at the Baldwin-Reynolds House owed more to “Downton Abbey” than “Wonderland,” despite the occasional gibes emerging from players who questioned the placement of certain wickets.
The well-mannered competition no doubt owed something to Eleanor Davies, to whom the event was dedicated. Ms. Davies, who died just over one year ago, shared Sunday dinners with the Reynolds family in their mansion for about 15 years after coming to Meadville during World War II, Mr. Sherretts said. Later in life, she was a key supporter of both the museum and the Historical Society, among numerous other Crawford County organizations.
Not only did the event honor Ms. Davies’ memory and her dedication to the museum, that dedication continued to live on in the competition as players actually used Ms. Davies’ personal croquet equipment, Mr. Sherretts said.
Whether the relaxed approach and amateur background of most competitors continues in future years remains to be seen. Already this year, several players claimed “ringer” status and with the Convention and Visitors Bureau team defending its championship, play could be more intense next year.