History of Knott Hall


        Marion Burk Knott Hall, or simply Knott Hall, was

constructed in 1988. Henry J. Knott, Sr.—the Baltimore-born,

Roman Catholic businessman and philanthropist who funded

the construction of Knott Hall—named the residence hall

after his wife, Marion Burk Knott. Along with Siegfried Hall,

Pasquerilla East Hall, and Pasquerilla West Hall, Knott Hall

formed Mod Quad.

        Originally a female residence hall, Knott Hall was the

home of the Knott Hall Angels until shortly after

renovations began on the interior of the Main Building in

1996. With the Main Building unusable, many administrative

offices were moved to Grace Hall, which, together with

Flanner Hall, were the male residence halls nearest to Knott

Hall. Residents of Grace Hall moved to the newly constructed

residence halls on the southwest side of campus—Keough Hall

and O’Neill Hall.

        Although these relocations were meant to increase

academic office space at the University of Notre Dame,

shortages of space persisted. Therefore, Notre Dame decided to

convert Flanner Hall to an academic office building in the

autumn of 1997. In order to maintain a gender balance

throughout campus, the Knott Hall Angels moved into McGlinn

Hall, the Siegfried Hall Slammers moved into Welsh Family

Hall, and the Flanner Hall Gamecocks moved into both Knott

Hall and Siegfried Hall.

        With new residents came a new identity for Knott Hall.

Knott Hall adopted orange as its official color and the

Juggernaut—a massive inexorable, irresistible force that

crushes whatever is in its path—as its official mascot.

Thenceforth spelled Juggerknott, the new mascot came to

symbolize the unmatched intensity of Knott Hall residents.

        Led by upperclassman and first male President of Knott

Hall, Peter Cesaro, Knott Hall made herself felt throughout

the campus in her first year as a male dorm. Knott Hall became

known as one of the most intensely spirited residence halls,

and quickly came to dominate home football game pep rallies.

In 1999, merely two years after its rebirth as a male residence

hall, Knott Hall became Interhall Football Champions, All-

Interhall Sports Champions, and the Most Improved Hall at

the University of Notre Dame.

        While residents, resident assistants, and assistant

rectors have come and go, two men have remained constants

in Knott Hall: Brother Jerome Meyer, C.S.C, and Father Jim

Foster, C.S.C. The rector of Knott Hall since its rebirth as a

male dorm in the autumn of 1997, Brother Jerome has now been

the rector of Knott Hall for ten years. Commonly referred to

as BroJo within Knott Hall, Brother is famous both for his

commitment to Knott Hall and his delicious chili. Father Jim,

usually the celebrant of Knott Hall liturgies, has been our

Priest in Residence since men first moved into Knott Hall in

the autumn of 1997.

        The men of Knott Hall constantly strive for academic and

athletic excellence, and Knott Hall constantly strives to be

the greatest male residence hall at the University of Notre

Dame. This year Knott Hall will strive both to improve the life

of its residents and to win the coveted title of Overall Hall

of the Year.