The Hill Family House for Invited Guests of the College

The Hill Family Guest House has been a feature of Mayflower Hill since before Colby’s move from its cramped downtown campus in the 1930s. The predominant name on Mayflower Hill at that time was Morrell: no fewer than five Morrell families lived there. Of the numerous farm buildings that once stood on the hill, only the Hill Family Guest House remains. It was originally the home of Josiah Morrell, constructed “about 1850,” and stood behind the tennis courts, the former site of the Ephraim Morrell home.For a time, the House served as the residence for the superintendent of buildings and grounds and later was converted into various administrative offices prior to its complete renovation in 1987. Its original timbers are all that are left of the old structures on Mayflower Hill.

In 1977 the house was named the “Hill Family House” in honor of Dr. James Frederick Hill of the Class of 1882, M.A. 1917, who was instrumental in the move to Mayflower Hill, and his descendants: Dr. Frederick Thayer Hill ’10, Sc.D. ’36, a founder of near-by Thayer Hospital and a leader in the development of Colby’s summer medical programs; Dr. Howard Foster Hill ’18, Sc. D. ’56; and Dr. Kevin Hill ’50, M.A. ’77, who founded Colby’s summer postgraduate course in ophthalmology, later named for him.

The Hill Family Guest House now features in Colby’s largest expansion, the Colby Green, since Jens Frederick Larson’s original design for the Mayflower Hill campus. The Hill House is complemented on the Green by the Lunder Admissions Building, completed in 1992; the Schair-Swenson-Watson Alumni Center, completed in 2005; the Diamond Building, housing departments in the social sciences and interdisciplinary studies divisions and the Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement, opened in early 2007; and the Davis Building for math, computer science, and psychology departments which recently opened in 2015.

Rooms 1 and 2 (downstairs) are singles at $80 per night. Room 1 has an accessible bath. Rooms 3 and 4 (upstairs) are doubles (queen size bed). They are $90 per night. Light breakfast and snack foods are included in the price of the room.

When attempting to make a reservation in Colby’s guest house the following information must be provided to Campus Events ([email protected]):

1. Name of sponsoring department
2. Appropriate account number
3. Name of guest
4. Date(s) of reservation
5. Signature (name if by email) of the person authorized to disburse funds from the account

Due to the number of reservations made at the Hill House, please allow at least 24 hours notice of room cancellation. We will need to charge the regular room fee for any last minute cancellations.

Check-in is 2:30 p.m. Check-out is 11 a.m. Flexible hours may be arranged by calling us at ext. 4735.

Food and beverages: In the kitchen are light snacks, light breakfast foods, toaster, coffee pot, and microwave oven.

Telephones: Telephones are provided in each room. Campus calls: Dial the four-digit extension. Local calls: Dial 9, plus the seven-digit number. Long distance: Use one of the pre-set buttons for AT&T, or SPRINT as follows: lift the hand-set; press the button for you preferred carrier; dial 0 plus the number you are calling; at the tone, enter your calling card number. To use any other calling card, follow the instructions on the calling card. If you would like to use a modem, unplug the phone line from the base of the phone and plug it into your computer. When dialing out to another system, you need to dial a 9 to get an outside line. Please note that only local calls can be made on the telephone in the dining room.

Computer/printer/fax machine: A computer, printer and fax machine are located in the living room for your convenience. Directions are provided. The fax number for incoming faxes is (207) 859-4045.

Televisions/radios/clocks: The televisions are operated either by remote control or manually by the hidden button panel in the upper right-hand corner of the set. A clock/radio with alarm is located in each room (operating instructions in night table drawer).

Towels/emergency supplies: Extra towels are provided in each room in a drawer in the armoire. An extra pillow and blanket, an iron and ironing board, and a fan are found in each closet. There are hairdryers in the bathrooms, and an “emergency kit” of personal supplies is located in the chest of drawers at the top of the staircase in the event that a guest finds her/himself without such necessities. We would very much appreciate your returning the articles to the chest when you are finished with them so that they may be available to any other guests.

Keys: Keys are available from Security. Upon arriving at the Guest House, dial 0 (Colby switchboard) on the telephone in the vestibule (the front outer door will be unlocked), identify yourself, and wait for a security officer to deliver the keys. Check-in time is 2:30 p.m.

At the end of your stay, please leave your keys on top of the desk in your room and close your door. Check-out time is 11 a.m. on the day of departure. However, if you plan to stay on campus later than 11, you may leave your packed luggage in the living room, and then deposit your keys in the “Late Key Return” container located on the sideboard in the dining area when you finally leave. (If you should retain the keys accidentally, please return them by mail as soon as possible to the Office of Campus Events.)

In the event that you do not have your keys with you, find a phone to call the switchboard and have them request that a security officer assist you.

Walking trails: If you would like to take a walk, the closest trail is the Campbell Cross-Country Trail, behind the Guest House (see campus map).

Housekeeping: The rooms will be cleaned each day. If you do not wish to have your room cleaned, please put out the “Do Not Disturb” sign on your door.

Traveling with family: For the comfort of all guests, the Hill House at Colby is not recommended for children under the age of 12. Please book guests with children under the age of 12 at area hotels who are better equipped to offer young children and families traveling with children a more comfortable experience.

Colby College is a Non-Smoking campus.