White Hall (Rosenweg)

White Hall (Rosenweg) - Picture by Jason Bain

One of the Magnificent Seven, a group of mansions located at the northwestern corner of the Queen's Park Savannah, White Hall as it is known today, was built in 1904 by cocoa planter Joseph Agostini. The mansion was built following Mr. Agostini's design, influenced by the Moorish Mediterranean  style and reminiscent of the architecture of Corisca, an island in the Mediterranean Sea where the family originated. 

Construction took approximately three years, and this residence, the largest of the Magnificent Seven, was originally called Rosenweg. The family was unable to meet mortgage payments and so the bank foreclosed. It is said that to this day Joseph Leon Agostini can be still be seen sitting on his porch, mourning his loss. 

Since then the property has changed hands several times, from private owners to U.S. troops, White Hall was purchased by the Trinidad and Tobago government in 1954 and became the office to the Prime Minister at the time, the Honorable Dr. Eric Williams, Trinidad and Tobago's first Prime Minister after independence. Restored in 2009, it remained office of the Prime minister until 2009.  this structure has played crucial roles in  the development of Trinidad and Tobago on a whole being the former office of the Prime Minister. 

The rational behind choosing this building as a member of our blog is that it reminds us of what our local architects and construction staff are capable of- creating this majestic mansion that has been able to withstand the test of time. Being more than a century old, with only general maintenance being conducted on it, this is quite an impressive feat as compared to some of the other Magnificent Seven, which appear to be two shakes away from becoming rubble. The building has an eerie feel to it, especially knowing the stories and sightings if Mr. Agostini after all these years, reminding one of a mansion that can be seen in almost every typical horror movie.

References: 

http://citizensforconservationtt.org/main/index.php/builtherit/magnificent-seven/125-white-hall-rosenweg