‘So very thankful.’ Rebuild of historic Woodward Inn begins after community support
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Haines Township residents organize benefit dinner to fund Woodward Inn rebuild.
- GoFundMe started Oct. 22 and has raised $11,355 of $125,000 goal.
- Demolition began and building was tarped, masonry repairs planned in spring.
Restoration work is underway at the fire-ravaged historic Woodward Inn, with members of the Penns Valley community continuing to come together to help with the effort.
The fire destroyed the centuries-old building, located on state Route 45 in Haines Township, in October — just weeks before the inn was set to reopen as a bed and breakfast. Owners Corby and Melissa Stover quickly said they intended to rebuild, starting with demolition of what’s left of the building until only the stone frame remains.
The effort has been aided by thousands of donations through a GoFundMe campaign, with a fundraising dinner set for Saturday.
“People have been so supportive and kind,” Melissa Stover wrote in a text message. “We know the inn means so much to many people, as it does to us.”
Demolition recently started, and Stover said that she and her husband, with the help of several volunteers, have already made some headway.
“We had a huge amount of demo to be completed before the winter temperatures arrived,” she wrote. “A group of Amish men volunteered to remove the fire-damaged materials. That was an incredible offer, and we were so grateful for their community support.”
Once the roof was removed, the building had to be tarped off to protect the stone edge from further damage, Stover said, and to stop rain and snow getting into the stone and freezing it over the winter.
When the weather warms up again, the Stovers’ plan is to bring in stonemasons to repair, sandblast or replace the damaged stones, which will be followed by a repointing of the building in the spring.
Once restored, the Stovers hope to open up the inn as a bed and breakfast — a similar purpose to what it was originally built for in 1814, when it was still a bustling hotel that served as a “collection spot and deposit of goods and a gathering spot for area residents,” according to the Centre County Historical Society.
Saturday’s dinner is being organized by Haines Township and Woodward Village residents Kathy Campbell and Scott Dash, and will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Aaronsburg Civic Club, 315 W. Aaron Square.
Tickets for the event cost $25 for adults and $15 for children under 10 years old, and can be purchased either at the event or online by contacting rebuildwoodwardinn@gmail.com. All proceeds from the dinner will go directly toward the Stover’s rebuilding efforts.
According to the event’s Facebook page, homemade meatloaf, garlic and onion mashed potatoes, sautéed vegetables, pickled red cabbage, homemade rolls and an assortment of desserts and beverages will be served. Anyone who’d like to help with either food or monetary donations should call the event organizers at 814-880-1228.
“We appreciate [Campbell and Dash’s] time, work and effort in making this event happen,” Stover wrote. “It will consist of a variety of homemade food and great music. Corby and I are so very thankful for the community support that we’ve been receiving.”
For more information on Saturday’s event, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1276382834248390/.