Up until 1962, about ten percent of The Mount’s students lived on campus. I was one of them. We were called “Residents.” The dormitory space was on the third and fourth floor of the A Building for rooms, and on the upper floors of the M Building for open dorm spaces.
Here are some generalized recollections which others may share:
- I never thought there was a problem blending in. There was no great wall separating Residents from the “Dayhops.”
- The Mount faculty was almost all Brothers; very few lay. A few Brothers and one lay faculty member had rooms along side the Residents’ sleeping quarters.
- Residents had separate teams in basketball and football (Six man football at that – go look that one up). Always had a game or two each season against Boys’ Latin and other smaller-scale teams. Even won sometimes.
- It was a time before soccer gained popularity and the sport simply did not stir any great passions. Very low key. There were some Residents from Latin American countries where, of course, passions for soccer were well ahead of the U.S. and soccer skills were much more developed. The soccer skills they brought with them led to MSJ consistently leading the pack in Baltimore high school soccer.
- Evening study time was mandatory. No exceptions. Two hours as I recall. Same for “lights out” at somewhere either side of 9:30 p.m.
- There was an order of German nuns who cooked meals for Residents and brothers. I’ve never since had chicken croquettes like the nuns served us. Tastes vary, so that would be for better or worse. At some point in time they acquired the dubious label “Mounds of Joy.”
- My arithmetic tells me that Mount grads younger than 80 years old would likely have no recollection of the Residents.
- Contacts with other Residents were 24/7, not just six hours for five days a week. So I think friendships were possibly deeper and longer lasting. I’m still in touch with some former Residents, and would be delighted to re-connect with any Resident alums of my vintage, Class of 1957 and nearby years.
