Mars Hill College

Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, North Carolina

Mars Hill College Preservation Plan (PDF) 27.1MB

Mars Hill College, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, was founded as a Baptist-affiliated coeducational institute in 1865. Its 94-acre campus includes eight buildings dating from 1892-1935, with several distinctive native fieldstone structures. To mark the school's Sesquicentennial, campus leaders plan to nominate the significant historic core of the campus to the National Register of Historic Places. Grant funds will support the preparation of the nominations, as well as a comprehensive preservation plan that will guide future work on the historic quadrangle.

Historic Designation(s): The campus’ Historic District, comprising the 8 oldest buildings: Founders Hall, Spilman Hall, Marshbanks Hall, Montague Hall, Owen Theatre, Jarrett House, McConnell Gymnasium, and Robinson Wellness Center (National Register of Historic Places).

Mars Hill College received a Getty grant in 2004 for $125,000 to support campus heritage planning.

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Report Summary

Purpose: Campus leaders plan to nominate the significant historic core of the campus to the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing the school's Sesquicentennial. Grant funds will support preparation of the nominations, as well as a comprehensive preservation plan that will guide future work on the historic quadrangle.

• Work on the Quadrangle’s historic buildings will increase functionality, correct for damage caused by deferred maintenance, and increase code compliance.
• The report text mentions developing related educational activities, but students aren’t noted as part of the report process or the future plans.

History:

The school’s history dates back to 1856, when settlers of the Blue Ridge Mountains (now western North Carolina) created the French Broad Baptist Institute to educate their children. The school’s 1859 state charter uses the shorter name known today, Mars Hill. Existing structures date back to 1892. Architect Martin Egbert Parmalee of Knoxville, Tennessee, designed several college buildings from 1910 to about 1920, succeeded by Richard Sharp Smith of Asheville, North Carolina. Noted folklorist Bascom Lamar Lumsford grew up on the campus.

Planning Process:

• Architectural elements were surveyed and assessed, based on exterior observation from ground level and from rooftop level plus interior observation of lighting.
• Mechanical and structural engineers assisted with interior observation and assessment.
• Each building’s history and archaeology were researched and assessed for landmark eligibility.
• Assessed elements were categorized, or zoned, for treatment according to published Department of Interior standards, including National Register of Historic Places criteria for significance (i.e., zoning for preservation, rehabilitation, or no action).

Outcomes: Products

• The end goal was a user-friendly, detailed, illustrated preservation plan making up for past damage caused by the lack of such a plan. Products at this stage support but don’t include either a school-determined preservation plan implementing the consultants’ recommendations for rehabilitation and maintenance
• Illustrated chronology of campus appearance and building use
• Visual baseline for future assessments, i.e., photographs documenting building conditions discussed in the report
• Assessment of each building’s compliance with relevant building codes
• Condition assessment for each building regarding structure, systems, and code compliance, and architecture, illustrated with existing floor plans
• Prioritized, proposed scope of work for each building, including associated floor plans and estimated costs apart from asbestos abatement
• Revised chronology for Jarrett House, based on analysis of historic photographs

Outcomes: Policies and Plans

• Assumption that all painted historic surfaces include lead and need appropriate abatement
• The report text mentions developing a policy for an institutional review process for work on historic buildings

Unique features:

• Recognition of tax credit programs related to preservation (but without a suggestion of participating)
• Assessment according to (multiple) building codes
• Attachment of building codes
• • 2002 North Carolina Building Code,
  • 2002 North Carolina Building Code, chapter 34: Safety,
  • 2006 North Carolina Rehabilitation Code, plus
  • reference to additional codes for Accessibility, Energy Conservation, Fire, Fuel Gas, Mechanical, and Plumbing
• Adaptive reuse of buildings and related research in order to serve both the campus and non-campus communities
• • Conference Center adapted from the 1907 Quadrangle Building (originally a dorm)
  • Madison County Visitors Center and Rural Life Museum adapted from the 1918 library (originally called Montague Hall)
  • Ramsey Center for Regional Studies