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Letter to the Editor

An alumna remembers the Castle as “University-at-Home”

The item about the history of the Castle, included in the April edition of BU Forward, drew the following response, from reader Alice Bradie (CAS’65) of Fort Collins, Colorado.

 

You overlooked some critical aspects of its use. For one, it was the location where Alexander Graham Bell first proved his telephone could work by summoning his assistant, who was in a different part of the house, with “Watson, I need you!” But for me, its most important use occurred during the tenure of Harold and Phyllis Case, who lived in the Castle.

They conceived of and developed a program to bring together groups of students, faculty and dignitaries visiting Boston, to meet and engage in guided conversation using the Castle as the venue. Called University-at-Home, it was implemented by a committee of students purportedly selected for their leadership potential. University-at-Home events consisted of guided tours of the Castle, followed by a formal reception line where invited attendees would meet President and Mrs. Case (they both held the title of doctor — she of biology, he of divinity) and the guest of honor. After the reception line, the Cases and honored guest would seat themselves at the base of, and facing, the grand staircase, while all the attendees, including the committee members, would sit arrayed on the staircase. One especially unforgettable event featured Coretta Scott King describing her and Martin Luther King’s approach to human rights; others included well-known performing artists, national and international politicians, and noted academics.

As a committee member for most of three years (1962–1965), I conducted tours, acted as an usher for several of the guests, and took part in the staircase conversations. But the job that taught me the most was the one I wanted the least, and which Mrs. Case, to my everlasting gratitude, insisted I take. This job had no formal name, but it planted me squarely on Dr. Case’s right and Mrs. Case’s left and entailed my formal introduction of Dr. Case to each person in the reception line and then, after about two endless minutes, figuring out how to graciously interrupt whatever conversation was happening to keep the line moving. Usually, it required my interrupting Dr. Case, who would be trying to deflect whatever departmental ox was being gored or special favor being requested. I’ve never forgotten how much politicking and petitioning could occur in less than two minutes! And I’ve never forgotten the Castle, University-at-Home, or Phyllis Case and the great kindness she showed me.