French House

French House in 1941

French House in 1945

French House in 1954

A replica of the “American House” at the Cite Universitaire in Paris, the French House was the gift of Mabel Knowles Gage (1871-1948) of Worcester, Massachusetts, in memory of her father, Francis Bangs Knowles (1823-1890), a charter trustee of the College in whose honor Knowles Memorial Chapel was erected. Designed by Kiehnel and Elliot of Miami, and constructed by Harry. C. Cone, the building was fashioned after the “Mas Provencal” style popular in south France, known for its simple yet glorified look. It was also one of the first Rollins buildings designed by Kiehnel & Elliot to accommodate the conference-method plan of study, its three classrooms originally equipped with oval tables long enough for twenty students to gather around. 

Social gathering inside the French House

Ground was broken for construction on May 31, 1941, and the French House was ready for use by October of that same year. At an approximate cost of $32,000, the building stands two stories tall, and its balcony and terrace have a beautiful view of Lake Virginia. The spacious salon, measuring twenty feet by thirty feet, features a high ceiling and a fireplace beneath a Madonna in mosaics. The French House initially was the residence of the head of the French Department, and was also used for foreign language classes. The second floor originally contained an apartment which guest professors and lecturers occupied during their stay on campus. In 1974, minor alterations were made. Today, it houses the offices of the Department of Philosophy and Religion.

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