During the early morning hours of Oct. 5, a fire raged through the historic Woodward Inn in Haines Township. The inferno tore through the old stone inn, which dates back to 1814. The two-and-a-half story structure and the broader Woodward community were devastated by the tragedy. However, community efforts are in the works to raise money for the inn’s revival. With appropriate mitigation, the limestone exterior can still be restored and rise from its ashes.
The Woodward Inn was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. According to the NRHP nomination form, the stone inn is a rare example of Pennsylvania vernacular architecture of the traditional Georgian design. At the time, it was one of only six known stone inns of its kind remaining in Centre County. Its “impressive character and design” was reflected in its original stairway, chair rails, wainscoting, pit-sawed plank ceilings, detailed carpentry and trim, and original exterior hardware, as well as the semicircular fanlights over its twin doors. The nomination said it is an example of “excellent rural Pennsylvania craftsmanship of the period, and stands as a testimonial to the settlers who founded and developed the small rural agricultural community of Woodward located at the eastern end of Penns Valley in Centre County.”[1]
While the community mourns the loss of such artifacts, it can find some solace in the fact that the property has survived emergencies before. This is not the first fire that has wreaked havoc on the historic landmark. In November 1934, the Millheim Fire Department responded quickly to a fire that started in the upper story of the building. Firefighters checked the fire’s spread, but flames, smoke, and water considerably damaged the upper bedrooms and bathroom. At that time, the hotel was a “widely known summer resort,”[2] owned and operated by the Hosterman family.
The historic hostelry has always been vital to the Woodward community, even before the burg was called Woodward. The Motz family (also spelled Moatz) first settled the area, which became known as Motz’s Mill, Motz’s Bank, or simply Motz’s. John Motz (1758-1802) had immigrated from Germany and built a gristmill here. He and his wife, Mary, raised a large family including John Motz Jr. (1792-1849). After John Motz Sr. passed away in 1802, his widow and John Jr. built the stone tavern in 1814, replacing an earlier frame (or log) tavern. The family had been in the tavern business for some time before 1814 and had tavern licenses dating back to 1801.
The inn serviced the first road to enter Centre County from the east, an early road developed by the namesake of the township, Reuben Haines. This was the eastern edge of Centre County, and the hotel served as an essential stopover at the head of the Woodward Narrows (also known as the Penns Valley Narrows). The stagecoach stop was a transportation milestone, facilitating rapid growth and immigration into Central Pennsylvania.
As a village developed around Motz family descendants, it was also known by the name of their properties, called Liberty Mills. An 1853 newspaper advertised that Liberty Mills was located on Pine Creek in Haines Township, Centre County. It had “never-failing” water for a stone gristmill and a sawmill, and had a still house in good repair. It also had tenant houses, farms, and a hotel along the Mifflinburg and Old Fort Turnpike. It was situated 26 miles from Bellefonte, 11 from Hartleton, and 25 from Lewisburg.[3] The town also temporarily adopted the name Taylorville in honor of Gen. Zachary Taylor circa 1848, right before his brief term as U.S. president.[4]
However, Woodward won out when it became the official post-office name. Judge George W. Woodward had begun his career at the Centre County Courthouse, later served on the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and was an unsuccessful candidate for Pennsylvania governor.
In a town with many names, the Woodward Inn had many names too. It has been called the old Motz Hotel, Woodward Hotel, Woodward House, and the Stagecoach Inn. The inn has been the nucleus of Woodward and gateway to Centre County for over 200 years. Countless travelers, dinner guests, hunters, wedding parties, and even horses have found refuge there. In 1854, a group of gentlemen[5] had a nice stay at “Motz’s” en route to a railroad convention, according to a newspaper report. In 1938, the inn was even the scene of an investigation after a hunter was fatally shot near Winkelblech Mountain. During the inquest, a jury of nine people ruled it an accidental death.
As the saying goes, “If the walls could talk.” Within those walls and porches, people have vacationed, laughed, cried, worried, dreamed, worked, and celebrated. It was a literal stop on the timeline of regional history.
The recent fire has imposed the most difficult challenge to date upon the inn’s storied history. But there is hope. Melody (Breon) Wright and David Wright started a fundraiser for their sister and brother-in-law, Melissa (Breon) Stover and Corby Stover, current owners of the historic Woodward Inn. After the inn had sat vacant for several years, the Stovers purchased it in March 2023 and were in the process of restoring the property when the fire occurred. According to the Wrights, “There has been a heartwarming outpouring of support from the community. … We would like to see their ‘Phoenix’ rise from the ashes.”
Go to gofundme.com and search for “Help Preserve the Woodward Inn Legacy” to find out about the restoration plans and to donate. Hopefully, there are more chapters to write about the historic Woodward Inn. T&G
Local Historia is a passion for local history, community, and preservation. Its mission is to connect you with local history through engaging content and walking tours. Local Historia is owned by public historians Matt Maris and Dustin Elder, who co-author this column. For more, visit localhistoria.com.
Sources:
Linn, John B. History of Centre, and Clinton Counties. Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts, 1883. P. 306-307.
Melish-Whiteside County Maps (PHMC), 1816-1821. Union County (1). https://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17-534WhitesideMaps/r017-534WhitesideMapInterface.htm
“Most Valuable Property.” Lewisburg Chronicle (Lewisburg, PA). July 29, 1853. https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn85055197/1853-07-29/ed-1/seq-2/
“Rail-Road Convention.” Lewisburg Chronicle (Lewisburg, PA). June 16, 1854.
https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn85055197/1854-06-16/ed-1/seq-1
“Woodward Hotel on Fire.” Centre Reporter (Central Hall, PA). Nov. 15, 1934. https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn83032058/1934-11-15/ed-1/seq-4/
“Woodward Inn.” National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form, Dec. 18, 1978. National Archives Catalog: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71998786
Wright, Shannon. “Centre County Courthouse.” Centre County Encyclopedia of History & Culture. Centre County Historical Society. https://centrehistory.org/article/centre-county-courthouse/
[1] https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71998786
[2] https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn83032058/1934-11-15/ed-1/seq-4/
[3] https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn85055197/1853-07-29/ed-1/seq-2/
[4] Linn, John B., 1883. P. 306. https://archive.org/details/historyofcentrec00linn/page/306/mode/2up
[5] https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn85055197/1854-06-16/ed-1/seq-1/
