Walsh (1909) is the elegant bride. With her three God Quad entrances, she is a regal princess, the dormers at the top jutting out like the peaks of her tiara. Though she used to be wilder in her earlier days, she has recently refined her image to a sophisticated facade. Extending long and stately in her straight appearance, to some she gives off an air of being uncompromising, but her alcoves that emerge like the ruffles of her wedding dress make her more welcoming.
Morrissey (1925) is the handsome groom. Like his bride Walsh, Morrissey also underwent a recent transformation and cleaned himself up from his youthful antics. Born into a rich military family, his manor exudes his prominence but also his attentiveness to beauty. He is intriguingly unpredictable, with his asymmetrical front entrance and right spire that looks like an old radio tower. Adorned with bird, fish and floral motifs, Morrissey continued his family legacy by becoming a decorated war veteran himself.
Lyons (1927) is the old family matriarch. A powerful woman, she was the first to assume a man’s role, as the first dorm converted for women’s residence. She embraces her femininity in her distinct tutor style and broad arch, and even her gutters are adorned with flowers. Ever the matchmaker, she finds joy in watching young love kindle at her arch parties.
St. Edward’s (1882) is the old family patriarch. Wounded in a fiery battle long ago, his scars are still visible in the brick color transition from the old to new wings of the building. However, this has not dampened his dignity, as he proudly states his name above both main entrances.
Badin (1897) is the grandmother. Her brick feels very immediate, even jutting out at times to pull you in for an embrace. She frequently hosts four o’clock tea parties from her second-story porch rocking chairs. Though she tries to be “hip with the times,” she frequently exudes signs of her elderliness, such as her door labeled “telecom room.”
Sorin (1888) is everyone’s beloved grandfather. His brick is weathered, but that only adds to his charm. He hosts his old prep school chums over to smoke cigars and pipes on his front porch, reminiscing about the good old days as they look out at God Quad. Sorin’s turrets smooth his edges, so that he, too, is full of only hugs. (Once devoted lovers, Badin and Sorin suffered a contentious breakup after an alleged frog burning incident, but rumors have indicated that the marriage of their granddaughter is bringing them closer again.)
Howard (1924) is the maid of honor, with stained glass window lilies in her bouquet. She is the bride’s best friend, but she still has a lot in common with the groom, with a football player icon embellishment overhead on one of her twin arches.
Alumni (1931) and Dillon (1931) are twin princes. They live in nearly identical castles adorned with embattled parapets and no lack of ornate decorations. Both are deeply religious, with reliefs of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Bonaventure and St. Thomas Aquinas (Alumni) and St. Jerome, St. Augustine and St. Patrick (Dillon). Alumni tended to get into more trouble in his youth — the mischievous gargoyles still accent his exterior — and is still slightly in the family’s doghouse for his idolization of Knute Rockne. Dillon, adorned with unicorns, a winged lion and vines, was rightfully chosen as the best man.
Cavanaugh (1936) and Zahm (1937) are the young collegiate twins. While appearing unassuming with their lack of ornate detailing, due to being on a college budget, both dorms emit a simple charm. While Zahm is often in danger of flunking out of university due to the wild adolescent parties he throws, Cavanaugh’s studious but spirited natur, tends to keep her brother in line enough to continue another year.
Carroll (1906) is the family’s long-lost cousin. No one ever knows what he is up to with his mysterious golden-haired brick. He tends to send correspondence from an undisclosed location around Christmas and April informing the family of the lavish festivities he hosts, but as his letters appear to have traveled a great distance, no one has made much of an effort to pinpoint his exact place of residence.
A dorm wedding
Liya Blitzer | The Observer
Liya Blitzer | The Observer
