Martin Hall

Entrance gate to Martin Hall

Located at 1000 Genius Drive across Lake Virginia from the campus, Martin Hall was bequeathed to Rollins College by Dr. John Martin (’37H), a conference leader and consultant on International Relations. After relocated to Winter Park in the 1930s, Martin became a visiting professor at Rollins, and in 1956 left the house to Rollins upon his death. Constructed in 1925, the building was originally designed as a clubhouse for a league of local businessmen, but sold to John and Prestonia Mann Martin before its completion. The architecture of the house is in the Spanish mansion style, which has many balconies, a tiled roof as well as water spouts from the roof to prevent flooding when it rains. It would be a perfect fit to the rest of Rollins buildings had the structure located near campus. At the time of bequest, its market value was estimated at around $50,000.

Martin Hall interior

When the Martin Hall was willed to Rollins, the Rollins music program had been moved around many houses that the College owned. With the generous gift, the Music Department finally had a place to call their own. The Conservatory of Music stayed in the Martin Hall until 1976, when the school no longer wished to keep a building so far removed from campus. Trying to schedule classes proved to be too much hassle. Some students even bought a boat to row from sessions in the conservatory to classes on the main campus. Finally in 1976, the premium real estate property situated on both Lake Virginia and Lake Mizell was sold to Walter and Marlene Pyne. Three years later, the Keane Hall became the new home of the Music Department in 1979.

Martin Hall postcard

Backside of Martin Hall

Martin Hall in 1998

Martin Hall in 2006, view from campus across the lake