66 used to be a morgue
A spooky all-hallow’s-eve tale
Most students don’t learn about 66 Commonwealth Avenue until the final day of the housing process.
Freshmen who don’t receive a pick-time for 8-mans, 4-mans, 6-mans, and 9-mans believe that 66, a traditional dorm with doubles, triples, and communal bathrooms, is their only hope left for living on Lower campus in the fall.
Home to Honors students, 66 is located directly behind 90 with an attached multi-faith chapel directly in front of the building’s entrance.
What most people don’t know is that 66 is a relatively new dorm with a surprising history.
Prior to becoming a dorm for 227 lucky Boston College students, 66 was known as the Baptist Home, owned by the Baptist Association of Massachusetts.
According to Ellen Modica, the Resident Minister of 66, the Baptist Home was a nursing home. Ellen gradated from BC in 1982, and 66 was still known as the Baptist Home then.
After BC acquired the building around 1985, it took about two years to renovate 66 and transform its many single rooms into doubles and triples.
She said with a laugh: “It was not in great shape. It became known as ‘Swinging 66’ because it definitely was not.”
According to a haunting rumor, the basement of 66, a boys’ floor, was a morgue before renovation took place.
“I believe it’s true,” said Ellen.
She added: “It makes sense to have a morgue in a nursing home, and the basement would be the logical place.”
Now, Ellen organizes the famous 66 “Cookie Night” which happens every Wednesday at 10pm for all 66 residents. She bakes three types of cookies, starting on Sunday night, to give students, usually 60-70 people on average, a time to relax, socialize, eat home baked goods, and de-stress during the middle of the week.
She said: “I have a blast! My mother helps too when she can, so it’s a family affair.”
Ellen truly cares about her building-mates and seeks to build personal relationships with all her “Cookie Night” customers.
While 66 is not everyone’s first-choice dorm on Lower, it truly is a great place to live. This is why:
Cookie Night: Enough said.
Lawn: 66 is one of the only dorms on Lower campus that has a beautiful lawn. @Walshparkinglot
Lounges: Most dorms have a lounge or two, but 66 has a whole floor. The fourth floor of 66 has several clean, private study rooms and a separate TV room. There is also a lounge on the first floor, providing ample, quiet space to do homework in your own building.
Marathon Monday view: 66 is located right on Commonwealth Avenue where all BC students gather to watch the runners every April.
Your ID: Most sophomores love to party in Walsh and other buildings on Lower. While other sophomores cannot swipe into Walsh directly and need to be signed in by friends, your 66 ID will allow you to enter Walsh right away, no problem. Your ID will also allow you to swipe into all senior building on Lower campus too, eliminating the awkward texts to upperclassmen friends asking if they can come down and let you in. (We’ve all been there)