A Brief History

Melville Hall, named after Herman Melville, the author of Moby Dick and a Long Island resident, is also known as the Officers' Club or O Club. Melville Hall is part of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, a Federal Service Academy located in Kings Point, New York.

Melville Hall was built around 1912 as a summer residence for the silent movie actor Thomas Meighan. In 1916, Meighan appeared as the star of Peck's Bad Boys, a satire of President Wilson's administration. Along with Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks Sr., Meighan was well known in the industry. Hollywood at that time was centered in New York so many theatrical stars such as Groucho Marks, Fannie Bryce, Charlie Chaplin and literary authors such as F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of The Great Gatsby, lived in the surrounding areas. Mr. Meighan, upon the inception of "talking" movies, in 1928 moved to the Broadway "legitimate" stage. From this beginning Melville Hall was destined to be a showplace for hospitality and entertainment.

The first mayor of the village of Kings Point, where Melville Hall is located, was Henry Barstow whose home is now the American Merchant Marine Museum. In January, 1942, the Academy site was purchased by the U.S. Government; in the ensuing years Melville Hall was used as the Administration building and Publication Center for the Academy. Later the Chrysler Mansion, now Wiley Hall, became the Administration building. This building was the former residence of the industrialist Walter P. Chrysler.

The conversion of Melville Hall into an Officers' Club did not begin until the 1950's when the renovation of the existing bedrooms on the second deck occurred. Lodging then became available for visitors to the Academy on a short-term basis. There are presently six rooms, all with private bathroom facilities at the club.

The Dining Room overlooking Long Island Sound was completely funded by the USMMA Alumni Association and the Kings Point Fund in 1976. It was not until the mid 1980's that a full kitchen and in-house catering service for food and beverage was established. Further renovations in the 1990's up scaled the Dining Room and front entrance as well as the guest facilities.

Today Melville Hall hosts many catered functions for the Academy, Alumni, Active Military and community organizations. Eligibility for the use of Melville Hall is limited. Guests are invited to join the faculty and staff on Wednesdays for a delicious buffet lunch at 11:30 (see Weekly Buffet Menu). A social hour is planned each day, weekends excluded at 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. The bar is located past the living room on the main floor. Enjoy the Academy and Melville Hall