Solved Photo

Which Res Hall Did These Men Live In?

If we spotted you the context — a yearbook photo of floor residents — would you be able to guess the hall that produced this unique staging?

Wheeler, of course. Specifically, Wheeler III, according to members of the class of 1970 who were perched atop this bus in spring 1967 and kindly wrote in 50+ years later to identify themselves.

The photo can be found on Page 142 of the 1967 Purple Patcher, which Kevin M. Connell ’67 notes was home to several nontraditional photos: “I don’t know why the bus was there, but I know that many other hall photos for the yearbook that year were a lot more casual than would be considered customary. Come to think of it, that was the only time in four years at Holy Cross that I can recall a Worcester Transit bus on the campus. I think Wheeler III just decided to be a little different.”

That year, many halls chose outdoor pictures for their entry in the Patcher, notes John Day ’70: “Each corridor was pictured in a different spot on campus. Why was the bus top chosen for the 1966-1967 residents of Wheeler III, which was a first-year residence? I don’t know.”

“I can’t even remember how we climbed up on the roof of the bus. I guess we had a ladder,” Dave Smith ’70 says. “We climbed up the door,” Bernie Monbouquette ’70 explains. “The 18 freshmen from Wheeler III that appear in the photo represent less than half of the residents there. Those not present showed good judgment by not trying to get up on top of the bus. No ladder or other device used; a very dangerous climb to the top of the bus.”

“Seeing this pic was a walk down memory lane — or Linden Lane!” says Marty Gauthier ’70.

The Wheeler III class of 1970 roof riders are, left to right: Anthony Lea, F. Patrick Ahearn, Tom Donnelly, Jim Coleman, Fred Cullen, Tony Sarno, Mark Olivo, Tom Walmsley, Jim Jalil, Dave Smith, Bill Mara, Ken Pervier, Mike Hoover, Bernie Monbouquette, Bill Reid, Lee Merkel, Vince Ferri and Marty Gauthier. ■