Harrison Hall is a former student dormitory located on the campus of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Perkinston, Mississippi. It was constructed in 1936–37, and was designated a Mississippi Landmark in 2003. Following renovation in 2018, the building was repurposed to house administrative offices.
History Harrison Hall was designed by Gulfport architect Vinson Smith and was constructed in 1936-37 by building contractor Newton and Schmoll of Hattiesburg, Mississippi.Newton & Schmoll, Builder/Contractor Retrieved 2014-01-31 The two-story building was renovated in 1974, and air conditioning was incorporated into the design.Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Catalog (2013-14) Retrieved 2014-01-31
From 1937 to 1983, Harrison Hall served as a dormitory for female students. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College—Action Alumni News (Spring 2010) Retrieved 2014-01-31 In 1983, the building became a men's residence hall.
Following approval of remodeling plans by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History to insure historical integrity, renovation of the 81-year-old building was completed in 2018. After a dedication ceremony on April 18, 2018, Harrison Hall became the District Office Headquarters for Gulf Coast Community College.
Weddings
During the 46 years that Harrison Hall functioned as a women's residence hall, the lobby was often the focal point of "manless weddings". Sullivan, Charles. 2002. Archival Odyssey No. 7—Manless Weddings and Womanless Weddings, pg 6, In: In Touch with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Retrieved 2014-01-30 These were major social events on campus and were elaborate affairs, usually sponsored by student organizations, such as the YWCA. The "weddings" were attended by faculty, students, and out-of-town guests.
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