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The Forest Inn hotel building was three stories high,  and
surrounded by a covered porch. There were originally three other buildings associated
with it: a maintenance building (which was incorporated in the Practice House -- it still
stands), a bowling alley and billiard room (which was replaced by the first
Gymnasium), and the Gas House (which still stands on Woodstock Court as
"Building 126"). The building was built in the Shingle Style that was popular
at the time, with dark shingles and clapboards. Later, Dr. Ament
had
the walls covered with pebble-dash stucco. Above the front entrance is a
stained-glass panel spelling out "Ye Forest Inne." Click on any of the images below to see a larger version of the picture. |
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The interior rooms which had been used as gaming
rooms and bars in the last year of the hotel were converted into classrooms and
parlors by the Cassedys. |
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Before there were sorority clubhouses, there was
a social hall within Main. |
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An art studio occupied one of Main's rooms in
the early days. |
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By the end of the Cassedy era, Main was
no longer such a multi-purpose building. Social functions were held in the sorority houses, and
students resided elsewhere. It was still an elegant building, as this
1918 view of the Reception Hall shows. Although the fireplace is still there, the
appearance of the entryway has otherwise been changed drastically by the Army. |
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During the Ament
era, the bookstore, post office and bank were located in the hallway (known as the
"Ballroom Link") leading from Main to Ament Hall. |
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The dining room was expanded several times
to
accommodate an increasing number of students. The Dutch fireplace at the center of the room
dominated the scene. It still stands today, but the beautiful ceiling and ornaments have been
covered in Army painted colors. |
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Another view of the dining room. Today,
the room is unused, badly damaged from water and neglect. Faded tapestries on the walls are among the
only hints at the beauty of the room. |
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The kitchen was also expanded and moved. A large
number of cooks and serving maids were employed by the school. Some of them lived on
campus, and others came from surrounding neighborhoods. |
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Adjacent to the dining room on the first
floor of Main was Ye Blue Bird, a popular place to get ice cream and
desert. This room was originally a tea room. |
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The scenic view of the Glen from the
veranda has endured (although now you are treated to the sights and sounds of the Capitol
Beltway). Recuperating war veterans also rested on this porch. |
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