The Inn on the Library Lawn was originally known as “Over the Way” when it was part of the 19^th Century Westport Inn.  The following is extracted from “A Walking Tour Guide to Westport, NY”:

For those of us who never witnessed the Westport Inn during its heyday, historical documents and photographs are necessary to spark the imagination, helping us to recreate in our mind’s eye the splendor of a bygone era.  Certainly no history of Westport is complete without some attention to this well-known institution.  As we consider the vacant site on the corner of South Main and East Washington Streets, as well as many of the neighboring buildings, we find that their historical importance is largely connected to the former Westport Inn.

The Westport Inn originally stood on the lot across the street from the present-day Inn on the Library Lawn.  Its historical significance dated back to 1800, when John Halstead built the first frame house on this site.  His home was known as the Halstead Tavern and was used as a meeting place on many occasions.  In the mid-1800’s, the tavern was moved slightly to the south from its original position on the corner of South Main and East Washington streets, and this move, as well as the thick foliage that grows in front of the building, may have been vital in saving it from the fire of 1876.  In that year, the Halstead Tavern was enlarged to become the Marvin House under the ownership of General Marvin of Troy.  In 1887, Miss Alice Lee purchased the Marvin House and its properties which included tenements located near the lake and on the west side of South Main Street.  In characteristic style, Miss Lee completely upgraded the area, having the tenements torn down and transforming the Marvin House into a modern summer hostelry.  It was at this point that the Marvin House was renamed the Westport Inn.  The Inn was first managed by Mrs. Henry C. Lyons, then Mrs. O. C. Daniels, followed by Mr. Harry P. Smith (who eventually purchased Windward).  It was under Mr. Smith’s direction that, in the 1890’s, major additions were placed on the Inn, including a music and dance hall, a large dining hall with bedrooms above and a large porch enclosing the Inn on three sides….The present-day Inn on the Library Lawn was purchased by the Westport Inn in 1877 and became an annex accommodating extra guests.  This annex, called “Over The Way” housed twenty-one bedrooms with one bath on each floor and a barber shop in the north side.  From their private porches, guests housed in “Over The Way” could watch the activities on Main Street and take in the fresh mountain air.  In the 1920’s, under the direction of the Inn’s new owners, Mr. and Mrs. John deBois Wack, the character of “Over the Way” changed and the first floor was converted for use as an antique and linen shop and a brokerage office; the second floor accommodations remained unchanged.

Meanwhile, the Westport Inn was also receiving major alterations, with the old parlors being made into a dining room and kitchen with rooms above.  By now, steamboat, train and automobile transportation had made Westport easily accessible, and when the Inn opened each summer, many visitors came to enjoy the exceptionally beautiful gardens, beach, golf links, tennis courts and croquet greens.  At its height, the Inn was able to house 150 guests and it developed a worldwide reputation for excellence.  “Social Notes from The Westport Inn” was a regular feature in the New York Times and also the Boston papers.  Located at the heart of the village, the four-story Inn, with its wide verandahs, festive awnings, large fireplace chimneys and extraordinary garden surroundings, made it a most distinctive and beautiful landmark.

From the 1940’s on, successive owners had a difficult time keeping the Inn functioning due to the adverse effects of World War II on tourism and, in the summer of 1966, the Westport Inn was torn down.  As Raymond C. Clark has noted, “every trace of the old foundations has completely gone and only time can rid the mind of the hazy structural outlines one fancies he still may see in passing this unbelievably vacant spot.”

In 1979, the Inn on the Library Lawn, originally called “Over the Way,” resumed operation and now functions as a bed and breakfast inn, continuing to fill a need once met by the historic Westport Inn.

Home Page      About the Inn

History of the Inn   The Inn Cafe   Business Conferences

Special Occasions   Studio Apartment   What Guests Have to Say 

Picture Gallery   Future Rates   The Inn Book Store