Fantasy meets reality at 1205 Broad Street, “The Borough”—home to Marta Andelson, Caitlin Beckwith-Ferguson, Gracie Brandsgard, Kate Loftur-Thun, Lucy Marcus and Naomi Ramsay (all ’14).
Despite its seemingly simple name, the meaning behind “The Borough” is quite elaborate. The name draws on the boroughs of New York, but also on the Weasley family home, “The Burrow.” Along this line, the housemates have placed Harry Potter-themed posters all along their living room to designate parts of the home to each Hogwarts’ four houses: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin.
The reference to Harry Potter is in line with the women’s love for the Harry Potter series, which all but New York native Marcus have read. To ensure that Marcus was included in the naming of the house, the members thought it appropriate to reference the boroughs of Marcus’s hometown.
Adding to the already multilayer meaning of the name, Ramsay has found “The Borough” especially fitting for the past several cold months in Grinnell.
“We burrow up in The Borough,” she said.
The housemates are fans of putting together group events—the Harry Potter posters being from Loftur-Thun’s recent surprise birthday party. However, being all seniors, it is not surprising that their time has been gradually more hectic and filled with other obligations.
“Well, we used to do family dinner, but then we all got busy. Those were good—we always organized and cooked meals together, and [had] communal time, but then it stopped,” Andelson recalled.
What is surprising is that being a house with all seniors, the six rarely find themselves hosting many off-campus late-night parties.
“We don’t want to clean up,” Brandsgard explained.
However, the group is willing to give an exception to their loathing of cleaning for one honorary member of the house: Loftur-Thun’s dog, Merlin.
“He’s magic. He’s managed to get through the pet gate and the pet lock on the trash can multiple times,” explained Loftur-Thun, in explanation of the mystical connotation behind the dog’s name.
Photo by Tela Ebersole
In addition to accounting for Merlin’s behavior, the group has also had to learn to accommodate Andelson’s gluten-free diet. Marcus, the home’s consistent cook, admits that she is not always very careful with Andelson’s dietary needs.
“I always start off with a gluten-free recipe, and by the end I forget,” Marcus admitted.
There have been times when her diet proved to be especially difficult for her to bear, such as when Loftur-Thun made her signature zucchini-feta fritters.
“I had to destroy the mood by saying, ‘Oh I can’t eat that,’” Andelson said.
“Marta’s the house Debbie Downer, because she can never eat anything,” Brandsgard explained.
However, Andelson assures these minor discords are not indicative of their strong friendships as a whole.
“We really have a loving relationship. I’m not abused any way in this house,” Andelson clarified.
Rather, the housemates have protected each other from the difficulties the house has presented them with. 1205 Broad St. was previously featured in the S&B on Jan. 24 after their ceiling collapsed—several times.
“The first time was in Lucy’s room, and it was over winter break so no one was here. And the second time … we were watching a movie and I thought someone fell through the roof,” Brandsgard said.
Ramsay notes that the group had initially thought the collapse was at the hands of Marcus.
Though the home may not exactly be in tip-top shape, the six cite its shortcomings for creating some of their most memorable experiences living together.
Ramsay recounts a time when they managed to corner a bat, one of two that currently live in their home.
“The bat would dive at you. Our landlord gave us a tennis racket and a bucket, and he told us swat at it,” Ramsay recalled. “But we were too scared, so we didn’t. So we still have it. It’s still in the walls.”
“They probably have babies now,” Andelson added.
Hopefully those babies as well as the memories formed from the attempted murder of their parents will last well after the six seniors graduate from Grinnell in just a few short weeks.
