What is the 577 Foundation?
The 577 Foundation was established in 1988 and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community arts and nature center situated on the former estate of their founder, Virginia Secor Stranahan. There are multiple historic buildings on the property each with unique stories to tell.
Mission
Open to all, 577 builds a creative, caring community through curiosity and lifelong learning.
The History at the 577
There are multiple buildings dating back to the late 1800s that are full of history.
Location:
577 East Front Street,
Perrysburg, OH 43551
https://577foundation.org
Exclusive 577 retreat locations:
Virginia’s House
- Library
- Dining Room
- Kitchen
- Screened Porch
- Lounge
Greenhalgh Cottage
Green Door Studio
Explore this interactive map of the grounds:
History of Virginia’s House
In 1935, Duane and Virginia purchased the property and built the house they named Needmor, where Virginia lived until her death in 1997. The architect for the Colonial Revival style house was Toledo’s Mills, Rhines, Bellman & Nordhoff. The house is Colonial Revival in style, built of fieldstone and clapboard with the cornice running the full length of the building. Chimneys are on the ends for visual balance. Wings on the right side are clapboard while the main section is stone.
Landscaping was created by Ellen Biddle Shipman, a remarkable landscape architect from New York whose artistic, harmonious-with-nature, hospitable designs influenced the field of American landscape architecture for years to come. When she designed over 650 gardens between 1914-1946 (including 577, Wildwood Metropark in Toledo, and Stan Hywet Hall in Akron), it was alongside the all-woman colleagues she employed at her firm.
History of Greenhalgh Cottage
Around 1914, Col. George P. Greenhalgh, an artillery officer in WWI and his wife Marie, the niece of Edward Drummond Libby, built a small farm and country estate on their twelve-acre property in Perrysburg, Ohio.
Known as a “gentleman’s farm” or “hobby farm,” 577 was for the Greenhalgh’s leisure and fun, to escape the pressures of the business world. It was designed for the accommodation of horses for playing polo and a small cow dairy, not a farm for producing large amounts of food or livestock for major markets.
During this time period, many owners of hobby farms found it satisfying to see plants growing, visit and train their livestock, and taste fresh milk and butter. It’s not unlike people who now come to 577 to enjoy the peaceful surroundings, tend a garden, make something with their hands, and play.
History of The Green Door Studio
Originally built in 1914 as a wagon shed and later used as a maintenance shop, the Green Door Studio was transformed in Fall 2025 into a welcoming space for hands-on art and gardening classes. This bright studio space is designed for hands-on learning and creative exploration.
Other Special Features at the 577 to explore.
Every corner of the property offers something to observe, sketch or write about. Other things to explore while at the 577. These locations are also open to the general public.
- Bee Room: Education about bees with 6-10 hives on the property.
- Community Gardens: With over 60 garden plots, community gardeners tend to the organic gardens and donate 25% to local food banks.
- Children’s Nature Playscape: An interactive children’s garden where they can play naturally with nature.
- StoryWalk Trail: The trail goes around the circumference of the 577 grounds with stops for each page of the book. Stories rotate monthly.
- River Walk: A grassy trail winds through an apple, peach, and pear orchard to a hilltop view of the Maumee River.
- Bird Blind: In the winter months, birds are fed at this location. There is a covered area for observation.
- Did’s Dig: During the Devonian period, a shallow sea covered Northwest Ohio. Discover fossilized remains of creatures from the 375-million-year-old past in the silica shale rock pile.
- Log Cabin: A historic cabin from the early 1800s
- Geodesic Biodome: Home to tropical plants and find ponds
- Scenic Trails: Leading to quiet river views and wildlife
To learn more about this amazing location, please visit their website at https://577foundation.org