Stroud Water Research Center is pleased to announce the Foxwynd Foundation DAF funded the Foxwynd Foundation’s generous $60,000 donation to the Stroud Center in support of a capital campaign to restore a historic, mission-critical cabin on the Stroud Center’s campus. The campaign is called Preserving the Past, Building the Future.
Originally renovated in 1967 by W.B. Dixon Stroud Sr., the circa 1710–1740 structure is a cornerstone of the Stroud Center’s history and a vital asset for its future. After decades of use and incremental updates, the building now requires a comprehensive restoration to address significant structural deterioration, particularly to exterior logs, stonework, and essential mechanical systems.
With design development and a full conditions assessment completed in partnership with John Milner Architects, construction is set to begin this spring. The restoration will be carried out by R&B Restoration Carpentry and will preserve the cabin’s historic integrity while modernizing critical infrastructure. Planned improvements include exterior log replacement, masonry repointing, window upgrades, new plumbing and electrical systems, modern HVAC installation, bathroom renovations, floor refinishing, and enhanced safety features.
The cabin plays a central role in the Stroud Center’s ability to host a wide variety of guests including students, researchers, and collaborators who play an integral role in the Stroud Center’s mission. With capacity to house up to 12 individuals, the on-site accommodations allow the Stroud Center to strengthen partnerships with local universities such as the University of Delaware, Millersville University, and West Chester University. This resource can serve as temporary housing for visiting postdoctoral candidates, guest lecturers, and collaborating scientists, and it can serve as long-term housing for scientists on a 6–9 month sabbatical.
“This investment from the Foxwynd Foundation is not just about preserving a building, it’s about strengthening the infrastructure that makes hands-on science and education possible,” said Toren Peterson, director of institutional advancement and major gifts at the Stroud Center. “Without this space, our ability to train and inspire the next generation of freshwater scientists would be limited to those who live close to our campus.”
“At the Foxwynd Foundation, we believe that access to place-based learning and scientific collaboration is essential to building the next generation of environmental stewards,” stated Erin Bentley, Grant Committee member at the Foxwynd Foundation. “This investment supports not just the restoration of a historic structure, but the expansion of opportunities for students, researchers, and educators to engage deeply with freshwater science.”
By restoring this historic structure, the Stroud Center will expand its capacity to engage students and partners while honoring its legacy of advancing freshwater science through research, education, and watershed restoration.
For nearly six decades, the Stroud Center has been a global leader in freshwater science. This restoration project reflects a broader commitment to sustaining the physical and intellectual resources needed to protect clean water for future generations.
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About the Foxwynd Foundation
The mission of the Foxwynd Foundation is to act as a lifeline for communities in need by enhancing access to key pillars of human dignity and potential such as healthcare, housing, and sustainable environmental initiatives.
About Stroud Water Research Center
For more than half a century, Stroud Water Research Center has focused on the science of rivers and streams. In its mission to advance knowledge and stewardship of freshwater systems through global research, education, and watershed restoration, the Stroud Center produces the trusted science needed for successful stream and river conservation while fostering people’s passion for the water in their lives. The Stroud Center is an independent, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. stroudcenter.org
Contact
Diane Huskinson, Associate Director of Communications, Stroud Water Research Center
Preserving the Past, Building the Future
The restoration of Stroud Water Research Center’s historic cabin is not merely a preservation effort — it is a vital investment in the future of environmental research and education. By safeguarding this physical link to our past, we create a dynamic space that honors the legacy of the Stroud Center while expanding its capacity to engage, educate, and inspire future generations.
With your support, we will restore more than just a structure — we will restore a place where science, history, and community converge in service of clean fresh water for all.
