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 |