Past, Present and Future

"The 577 Foundation is a work of art being molded by the community."

 
 
TABIn 1917, Mr. and Mrs. George F. Greenhalgh (Mrs. Greenhalgh was a niece of Edward Drummond Libbey, major benefactor of The Toledo Museum of Art) built a farm group for a country estate on their 12 acre property in Perrysburg, Ohio. It was designed for the accommodation of hunter horses, a few head of cattle and a small dairy. In 1935, Duane and Virginia Stranahan purchased the property, built their home and raised a family of six children.
Virginia Secor Stranahan and friend, circa 1910.

 

TABMany of the riverfront estates began to sub-divide and develop, so Virginia decided to "keep a corner of Perrysburg green" for people of all ages to love and enjoy. The 577 Foundation, created in 1988, is a place where the community can be a part of something experimental, educational, environmental and fun.

 

TABVirginia Secor Stranahan died in 1997. The 577 Foundation receives operating funds through the Toledo Community Foundation, a gift endowed by Virginia. As well, in 1996, The Nature Conservancy executed a conservation easement to protect the property from future development. In 1998, the easement was transferred to a local organization, Black Swamp Conservancy, for continual monitoring.
TABThe original idea was, what does the community want…what do people want? Therefore, The 577 Foundation continues to evolve and change.

 

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