Conor Kimbro, Jack D, Billy Fields

Looking to the Future

The Beacon Society

The Beacon Society is a scion society of The Baker Street Irregulars (BSI) and serves as a link to other scion societies, providing educators with local resources to bring the magic of Sherlock Holmes to life in the classroom, library, museum, or theater.
Learn about The Beacon Society on their website.


Nurturing Young Sherlock Holmes Fans

In 2013, Shannon Carlisle led her 4th grade Accelerated Learning Language Arts Class to find answers to a question posed in “The Adventure of the Six Napoleons” (SIXN). One of the members of that class, Conor Kimbro (the tall one in the image to the right) became the youngest member of the Nashville Scholars. Here is the story and the conclusions of the research done by Mrs. Carlisle and her students: SIXN Safe Research Project.

This video looks to the future with our Young Sherlockians as well as remembering those who “crossed the Reichenbach” before the rest of us were ready.

Young Jack D.

This young man has already written a play for the Nashville Scholars! Members of the Fresh Rashers volunteered to portray the characters in the play and, on a recent pandemic Zoom meeting, recorded the play with Jack D. playing a significant part.

Before Christmas, 2021, those of us who participated in recording Jack’s play, ”The Blue Carbuncle,” received the following email from young Jack D.:

December 1, 2021

Dear Nashville Scholars of the Three Pipe Problem,

I am proud to have joined you as a Scholar in July. So, I have decided to send you a Christmas gift. When I was in first grade, after reading “The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle,” I decided it should be a play. I wrote one and recorded it over Zoom with a few of the members. So today, you get your gift!

The audio is 16:34 minutes in length. Click anywhere on the black space
to fast forward to a particular point in the recording.
Please no downloading, thank you.

The cast is introduced by the author, Jack D.

The Cast
Narrator - Mallory, my mommy
Sherlock Holmes - Bill Mason, “The Hydraulic Press” of the NS3PP
Dr. John H. Watson - Marino Alvarez, “Professor Coram” of the NS3PP
Peterson - Jack, “The Blue Carbuncle” of the NS3PP
Henry Baker - Dave Price, “Grimpen Meyer” of the NS3PP
Mr. Windigate - Billy Fields, “Horace Harker” of the NS3PP
Breckinridge - Dean Richardson, “Shinwell Johnson” of the NS3PP
James Ryder - Jim Hawkins, “Little Jimmy Griggs” of the NS3PP

Jack D. is a busy young man! In addition to the play above, he has written two Sherlock Holmes stories. His first one is now published in the Sherlock’s Spotlight newsletter sponsored by The Beacon Society.
Access the PDF here, and find Jack’s story on page 9, Sherlock Holmes and the Missing Kentucky Derby Horse.

Fresh Rashers

Nashville Fresh Rashers - Supporting Mrs. Carlisle’s Class in Franklin annually

In 2021 Bill Mason, founder of The Fresh Rashers of Nashville in 2001, and several faithful members met for an anniversary breakfast. The Fresh Rashers have done excellent work supporting Shannon Carlisle’s 221b elementary classroom in the Franklin Special School District.
Fresh Rashers of Nashville, 20th Anniversary

Fresh Rashers Visit Mrs. Carlisle’s Class - 2018

On May 8, 2018, at 7:50 a.m., five of the rasher members of the Nashville Fresh Rashers met Shannon Carlisle at Moore Elementary School in Franklin, Tennessee. The mission: inflict our curmudgeonly ways on an innocent group of fourth graders. (From Dean Richardson’s article, Rasher Measures: A Visit to 221b in Franklin).

Members of the Nashville Scholars have been keenly interested in the success of The Beacon Society and have contributed to the growth of the organization by taking leadership roles.

  • Dr. Marino Alvarez - Has served the Beacon Society as 
    Program Committee Member, Awards Chair, and on the Board of Directors.

  • Shannon Carlisle - Developed the Junior Sherlockian Society and brought two students into the Nashville Scholars scion society.

  • Billy Fields - has helped nurture our young Sherlockians. They are like Holmes’ Baker Street Irregulars.

  • Bill Mason - Was the Head-Light (President) of The Beacon Society for three years. Served two years on the committee that allocates Jan Stauber Grants to schools and libraries. One major accomplishment of Bill’s tenure was the establishment of the Junior Sherlockian Society and appointing Shannon Carlisle to oversee it.