Location Information
(for the Franklin Hall Old Infirmary)
Name:Franklin Hall (Old Infirmary)
Address:Mississippi University for Women
City/County:Columbus, Lowndes County
Architectural Information
Construction Date:1900
No. of Stories:2.5
Registration Information
NR District Name:South Columbus (1982)
    NR Status:Contributing
    Element No.:501
NR District Name:South Columbus Amendment No. 2 (Boundary Increase/Decrease) (2021)
    NR Status:Contributing
    Element No.:452
Mississippi Landmark Information
Designated:03-05-1986
Recorded:04-15-1986
Book/Vol. No.:V. 772, p. 182
Context/Comments
Designed by architect R.H. Hunt, Franklin Hall was built in 1906 to serve as the infirmary for the Mississippi Industrial Institute and College.

It was listed as a contributing element (element #501) in the South Columbus Historic District, which was placed on the National Register in 1982. When that district was resurveyed and enlarged as the South Columbus Historic District Amendment No. 2 (which was added to the National Register 29 September 2021) this building was included in the enlarged district as element #452 (previously listed/contributing). It was designated a Mississippi Landmark in 1986.

Franklin Hall is included in "The State of Mississippi – Historic Properties" (1982) (p. 16) and "Buildings of Mississippi" (2020) (p.188, in the listing for the North Campus of Mississippi University for Women, PR32.1).
Brief Description
2.5-story Queen Anne house of masonry construction. Truncated hipped roof covered with asphalt shingles with hipped dormers and two corner turrets topped by octagonal roofs with finials; one at the NW corner of the house, the other the SW. Main facade faces north and is five-bay. Partial-width projecting multi-story porch that extends in front of the central three-bays of the first floor, where it is topped by a hipped roof supported by paired columns on brick piers connected by a balustrade. Above, the porch is narrower, and consists of two arched openings supported by single and paired columns with balustrade, topped by a gable roof, with the gable being clad with diamond shingles and featuring a centrally located Palladian window. Most windows are 1/1 wood DHS with stone lintels. TWo exterior brick chimneys with corbelling.
Historic Information
Franklin Hall was erected in 1900 for $7,500, and used for 35 years as the college infirmary. In 1935, Franklin Hall was renovated for use as a dormitory. The building was unoccupied from 1971-75. Renovated in 1975 with funds provided by the Mississippi Building Commission and the Appalachian Regional Commission to serve as Center for Infants and Parents, though by the 1980's it was vacant again, and remains so at the present time.