Property

Location Information
(for the Callaway Hall)

Name:

Callaway Hall

Address:

Mississippi University for Women

City/County:

Columbus, Lowndes County

Architectural Information

Construction Date:

1860

Architectural Styles(s):

Gothic Revival

No. of Stories:

3.5

Registration Information

NR District Name:

South Columbus (1982)

NR Status:

Contributing

Element No.:

496

NR District Name:

South Columbus Amendment No. 2 (Boundary Increase/Decrease) (2021)

NR Status:

Contributing

Element No.:

449

Mississippi Landmark Information

Designated:

03-05-1986

Recorded:

04-15-1986

Book/Vol. No.:

V. 772, p. 199

Context/Comments

Callaway Hall, built in 1860, is the oldest building at Mississippi University for Women.

It was listed as a contributing element (element #496) 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 #449 (previously listed/contributing). It was designated a Mississippi Landmark in 1986.

Callaway Hall is included in "The State of Mississippi – Historic Properties" (1982) (p. 16) and "Buildings of Mississippi" (2020) (p.188, in the listing for Mississippi University for Women, PR32).

Brief Description

Callaway Hall is a four story Victorian Gothic building of masonry construction on a raised basement. It has multi-gable and hip roofs on a fifteen bay plan. Two three-bay gable roof pavilions flank each side of the central bay . The central pavilion has five bays and a six story octagonal clock tower . The facade is decorated with brick belt courses and a water table and terra cotta tiles. There are dormers on the roof. At ground level the building has ornamental iron air grills that ventilate the basement. The original three story wooden porticoes that flanked the clock tower have been enclosed in a masonry wall.

Designed by James S. Lull. a Columbus architect. the building has elements common with other buildings and residences in Columbus. Piers with inset panels and simple flat arched windows with limestone lintels and sills are characteristic of Lull's work. The brick piers at Callaway Hall are surmounted by pinnacles. The original interior of Callaway Hall has been replaced with a fireproof building inside the original shell. The entrance foyer and lobby have arched openings that reflect the original character of the building.

Historic Information

Callaway Hall, formerly known as Main or Old Main Dormitory, was constructed in 1860, prior to the creation of the college. It is the oldest building on the campus, having originally served as a dormitory and classroom building for Columbus Female Institute, a women's school that operated on the site of the present day campus from 1847-1877. It is the only remaining building associated with Columbus Female Institute.

During the Civil War Callaway Hall was used as a hospital for both Union and Confederate soldiers wounded during the Battle of Shiloh. In 1884 this four-story building was turned over to the newly established Industrial Institute and College by the city of Columbus. Upon acquiring the building, II&C had the building remodeled by B.H. Bartlett, an architect from Des Moines, IA. He also designed the clocktower. The bell in the clocktower was likely acquired by the college secondhand, as it was cast sometime earlier, in 1857, by Jones & Hitchcock Co., Founders.

The bell was electrified in the early 1920's, and the clock was retrofitted with an electric motor in the early 1940's.

When acquired by the college, Callaway Hall was used as a dormitory & dining hall, though it also accommodated a kitchen, infirmary, boiler room & the laundry. The building was used continually for many years until it was temporarily closed in the early 1930's due to disrepair. In 1938 it was renovated with the assistance of a Public Works Administration loan, and renamed in honor of Mary J . S. Callaway, Mistress of Mathematics and twice acting President of the College . Further improvements were made in 1960, and the interior was completely renovated in 1968-69.

In 1977 the clock was restored by the Clock Service Company of Dunnelon, Florida. On Oct. 10, 1992, the clock tower was completely destroyed by a tornado, but it was reconstructed in 1992-1993 by the Clock Service Company. The building has a new roof, installed in 2015.