I have always had a sort of love affair with Mellby Hall. While I have never lived in Mellby, I tend to gaze at her with the same admiration as I would a crush — I don’t know much about you, but wow, you’re really something.
To me, Mellby is the crown jewel of St. Olaf. Located in the heart of campus, it is beautiful year round. In the fall, the surrounding trees turn hues of red, yellow, and orange, while in the spring, Mellby lawn welcomes frisbee players and spikeballers on its freshly sprouted green. In the winter, it glows warmly against the backdrop of a cold, snowy night. A lush green Minnesota summer makes Mellby smile.
Every time I walk by Mellby Hall I feel only what could be described as awe. Being that it is the oldest dorm hall on campus, it possesses a sort of romantic and historic charm in its architecture and stature that surely could not be replicated today. I also adore the orange doors that pop against that classic St. Olaf limestone. Its build could only be described as grand, as it looks over the quad with its timeworn presence.
But my love affair extends beyond appearance. Mellby has seen so many generations of St. Olaf, all the way back to 1938. I am enamored by the idea of Mellby holding on stories, adventures, and faces that have passed through from generations prior. Maybe the “if walls could talk” cliche is overdone, but I rest my case.
Since I’ve only spent a brief amount of time in Mellby my freshman year when my boyfriend lived there, I cannot fully speak to its amenities, as I do not have much memory of them. While the bathrooms are just fine and the stairwells are somewhat ominous, Mellby’s appeal is certainly not attributed to modern comforts and conveniences. If you want the newest and freshest kitchens, there’s New Hall (it’s literally in the name). But you’re not going to get the old-fashioned, idyllic allure that Mellby serves.
Kate Linggi is from San Diego. Her major is English.
