Four massive two-story white columns with Corinthian capitals dominate Kennedy Hall, now the business and marketing office for Stratford House, a continuing-care retirement community set to open in the former Stratford College Main Hall next door. Architecturally, Kennedy Hall contributes greatly to the streetscape at the triangle where Main, South Main, and West Main streets converge.

Built in 1903-04, this handsome Neo-Classical Revival brick house was designed by London-born architect-contractor Harry T. Pearson for his residence. After his death in 1924, Mr. Pearson’s widow continued to live in this house until 1931.

For the next 13 years, this was the home of Bessie W. Anderson, widow of Joseph Roscoe Anderson. Mrs. Anderson, a member of Danville's leading social and cultural organizations, entertained here frequently. She enlarged the house by enclosing the back porches with brick, and filled its rooms with antiques acquired during her world travels.

When Mrs. Anderson sold the property to Stratford College in 1944, the house was occupied by Dean Mabel Kennedy and other faculty forced out of “Old Main” next door because of increased student enrollment. Dean Kennedy lived on the first floor here until her death in 1969. The Stratford Alumnae Association named the house in honor of the beloved Dean Kennedy. After Stratford College closed in 1974 Dean Kennedy’s friend and colleague, Mrs. Ann Carrington Revell, continued to live here until her death in 1977 at age 99.

For a number of years since The Memorial Hospital acquired Stratford, the future of Kennedy, and Main Hall next door, remained uncertain. Happily, in its proposals for a retirement complex, the hospital was able to incorporate these historic structures together with plans for sensitively-designed new buildings to begin “New Traditions” for Stratford House residents about a year from now.