A building known as "the board shack" originally stood on the present site of LeTourneau Hall. It was a simple wooden structure that was built a short time after the Haddock Inn fire. It became the residence of Richard and Evelyn Forrest along with the Institute's young women. It also served as the administration building and in 1914, it is where Mrs. Forrest established the Toccoa Falls grammar school.
By the late 1930s, all the cottages along with Stewart Hall were filled to capacity. Dr. Forrest and the Executive Committee made a decision to build a new girl's dormitory but there was no money to fund the project. The Forrests asked the student body and faculty and staff to fast one meal a day and pray that God would provide the money needed to build a new dormitory. In an act of faith, the Institute's boys cleared the area off and broke ground for the new building.
Step by step the Lord supplied the money. Texas businessman R.G. LeTourneau, gave half the amount and the rest came from private donations. The new dormitory contained a dining room, kitchen, gymnasium/auditorium, and rooms for fifty students. The gymnatorium was the largest recreational room on campus. In 1950, the original LeTourneau Hall burned to the ground. Dr. Forrest was away at the time preaching in Roanoke, Virginia, at a large Methodist church. The title of his message was "I will trust and not be afraid."
After receiving the news about LeTourneau, Richard Forrest said, "I told myself, 'Look here, old man, you'd better begin to practice what you preach.' Then I got down on my knees and spread the matter before the Lord." By 1953, the Lord provided the money needed to rebuild. Dr. Forrest was committed not to begin until he had $100,000 in hand. Friends in Toccoa and around the world donated over $62,000. The balance came from North Carolina businessman David Ovens. This time, according to Dr. Forrest's wishes, it was constructed of brick, concrete, steel, and tile. In other words, nothing that would burn!
This historical marker is placed in honor of the Centennial Celebration 1907-2007. Donated by Brenda (HS 1971) and Mary Kay (HS 1972) Ritchey.
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