Holly Hall

The Board awarded contracts on April 4, 1950, for the simultaneous construction of the three dormitories, a classroom building, and the “remodeling of the present heating plant on the college campus.” Each of the three dormitories cost $161,500 for a total of $484,500. On June 15, 1951, the Trustees voted to accept the names suggested by a faculty committee appointed by President McBrien. The three new dormitories would "bear the names of the trees mentioned in the ‘Alma Mater,' The Pines, The Oaks, and The Holly”.

Capable of housing 192 students, these three dormitories of red brick and contemporary functional design were “representative of the trend away from the large institutional type housing units.” With only 64 students housed in any one of the three units, the College hoped to create the effect or atmosphere of a “home away from home” for the residents. Each of the three two-story buildings featured two completely independent dormitory units, A and B; each unit housed 32 persons in 16 two-student rooms. Each A or B unit was “provided with a lounge on each of its two floors and a laundry room equipped with automatic washers; a kitchenette equipped with stove, refrigerator, and cabinets; and a two-bed infirmary; a dormitory office; and a hostess room.” All rooms were connected by an intercommunication system. Two rooms, served by a connecting tile bath, formed a four-student suite.

After the completion of the three new dormitories, the College designated that for the year 1951-52, women would live in The Oaks, The Holly and Mooney Hall. In 1977, Oaks, Pines, and Holly Halls for women housed the sororities, which had requested the designation of some residence halls for their use. Non-sorority women occupied any rooms not assigned to the sororities. During the summer of 1977, all three Halls were remodeled, including basic maintenance work, painting, and installing window air conditioners. Also, new furniture replaced the old. In 1980, Goodloe, Foster, and Newberry Halls men; Oaks, Pines, Holly, Turrentine, and Smith Hall housed women. Holly Hall was demolished in 2001, and the site is now used as a parking lot for Smith Hall.