Community members are rallying to support efforts to restore a historic Penns Valley building that was devastated by a fire earlier this month.
A GoFundMe campaign for the Woodward Inn has set a $125,000 goal to help with the rebuilding efforts of owners Melissa and Corby Stover.
The fundraiser — which was established by Melissa Stover’s sister Melody Wright and her husband, David Wright — has raised $7,660 as of Monday afternoon.
Fire engulfed the 211-year-old building at 105 Mountain Avenue in Haines Township at around 2:30 a.m. on Oct. 5. More than a dozen fire companies from throughout Centre and Union counties battled the three-alarm blaze. While the building was gutted, its stone walls remained standing but damaged.
Constructed in 1814, the inn and tavern at one time known as the Stagecoach Inn was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
It sat vacant for several years until the Stovers purchased it in 2023. They had been in the midst of an extensive renovation to restore it as a lodging venue when the fire struck.
“The inn would have been (and, it is hoped, still will become) a valuable resource to the local community as well as visiting outdoorsmen, college football fans (Penn State to the west, Bucknell to the east) and other travelers,” the Wrights wrote on the GoFundMe page. “Corby and Melissa were born and raised in that area, and for the past 2-1/2 years they have planned, designed, and labored to bring the inn back to life. They have worked with local licensed tradesmen and suppliers whenever possible.”
Community members have shown “a heartwarming outpouring of support,” asking how they can help to revive the structure, according to the page.
The GoFundMe will support phase one of restoring the landmark’s stone walls.
“Renovation specialists have concluded that, upon completion of the necessary demolition, the original stone walls can be repaired through fire damage mitigation/sandblasting; repointing the stone; and repairing/replacing where intense heat damaged the integrity of the stone. Heat-shattered stone will need to be replaced,” the Wrights wrote.
Once that work is completed, the Stovers will assume the cost of engineering and construction for all other work to bring the Woodward Inn back to life, according the GoFundMe.
“We would like to see their ‘Phoenix’ rise from the ashes,” the Wrights wrote.
For updates and to donate, visit gofundme.com/f/help-preserve-the-woodward-inn-legacy.
