Evening star., 1942-08-27
Army 10 Take
Over National
Park College
Closes to End
For 400 Students
Of Finishing School

The War Department today con-
firmed reports that it will take over
National Park College at Forest
Glen, Md. and announced that 1t
will be used as branch of Walter
Reed Hospital.
Just how the institution will be
used will be left to the discretion Of
Walter Reed Hospital adminis-
traitors, the War Department said.
Students Notified.
The announcement came after
The Star learned yesterday that 400
students at the school had been
notified not to return to the institu-
ton to resume classes next month.
Letters and kilograms have been
sent the students who expected to
return this year, DR.. Roy Tasco Da-
Wis, president of the school, said.
Already 80 per cent of the faculty
have been placed in other educa-
tional institutions, and all probably
will be placed soon.
DR.. Davis said it is understood that
the Army will keep such non-faculty
employees as gardeners, cooks and
others at the institution.
Finishing School.
For about so years the college has
been finishing school for members
OF socially prominent families and
has been landmark in the Capital
area.
Its strange types Of architecture
have attracted thousands of visitors.
Buildings are situated In forested
glades and on hillsides, connected
by bridges, winding roads and walk
ways. A variety of periods of
architecture are represented and
the observer is given the impression
of medieval castle.
Eight sorority houses surrounding
the main group OF buildings follow
architectural styles of as many
foreign countries, one representing
a Japanese pagoda but renamed
Chinese pagoda" after Pearl Har-
Dor.
There are 180 acres of land in
the tract.
Letter to Students.
In letter to students DIR. Davis
declared: II deeply regret to in
form you that the United States
Government has found it necessary
to take title by condemnation pro-
ceedings to our entire National
Park College property for the use of
the United States Army as a hos
pital. The fact that the campus
and buildings are near Walter
Reed Hospital Army Medical Center
makes them desirable and neces-
sary for the use of the Government
in the war emergency"
The pending acquisition is the
second such step taken by the Fed
eral Government recently. About
two months ago the Government
filed suit in Federal Court at Alex
andria to take over buildings and
grounds of Arlington Hall Junior
College for Girls at Glebe road and
Lee boulevard, Arlington.
After that step was taken. many
officers and faculty of Arlington
Hall combined with Chevy Chase
Junior College for Girls, and many
OF the former Virginia students will
4C1uIu W Tile IIlcFy CIldSe SCHOOL,
Founded 50 Years Ago.
DR.. Davis said no such consolida.
ton with Chevy Chase Junior Col
lege has been made by National
Park. Former students who inquire
where they may resume their courses
are given a list of institutions which
they may attend.
National Park was founded so
years ago by the late John Irving
Cassidy and offered a junior college
course. Until about three years ago
1t was known as National Park
Seminary.
DR.. Davis, former member of
the diplomatic corps, has served as
Minister to several Central and
South American republics. He as
sumed charge of the school about
five years ago and has made no
immediate plans for entering an
other school, he said.
"An that am concerned with
now" DR.. Davis said, sis placing
our girls and faculty members in
other schools"