Prior to FDR?s election in 1933, Eleanor became interested in the work of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), a Quaker organization which had begun a child feeding program in Pennsylvania and West Virginia at President Hoover?s request. Clarence Pickett, secretary of the AFSC, was invited to Hyde Park, NY, FDR?s home, to discuss the AFSC?s efforts at vocational reeducation and subsistence living projects. FDR, after his 1933 inauguration, promoted a bevy of bills to address the problems of the Depression. One of these was a bill to establish a subsistence homestead fund. This bill interested First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and she, along with Clarence Pickett, who by then had been appointed chief of the Stranded Mining and Industrial Populations Section of the Department of the Interior, became involved with The Reedsville Project.

The Reedsville Project, later named Arthurdale after Richard Arthur, from whom the land was purchased, was begun in 1934 as a homestead community. Land was purchased, residents were selected, homes were constructed, more residents were selected, more homes constructed? until there were 165 homes and several community buildings including a school complex, built on approximately 1200 acres in rural Preston County, WV. Today, most of the community buildings still stand and most are part of the New Deal Homestead Museum.

Many of the new residents were displaced miners from the Scott?s Run area near Morgantown, WV, but some moved here from other areas of Preston County and WV. Some of the homes housed the government employees who were assigned jobs here such as teachers, physicians, surveyors, engineers, secretaries, etc.

The homesteaders themselves were responsible for paying rent, working and farming their allotted acreage, and some were employed to build new homes and the administration building, forge, gas station, cooperative store, craft shop, center hall, and school buildings. Some found work in the schools, post office, barber shop, and the Mountaineer Craftsmen?s Association. Some were hired to work in the numerous business ventures which were enticed to the area.

The federal government liquidated its holdings in Arthurdale in 1947; all homes and community buildings were sold to private ownership. In 1984, the community celebrated the 50th Anniversary of its homesteading. This celebration resulted in the establishment of Arthurdale Heritage, Inc., whose mission is to preserve the historic community of Arthurdale.

• Giving Tuesday at AHI
  Posted on Monday December 02, 2019
  Great news! Starting precisely at 8 AM EST tomorrow Facebook and PayPal will match donations up to $7 million world wide!   Thanks to YOU, we have made incredible strides on our historic preservation efforts this year, specifically on our beloved Center Hall.   In 2020, however, we need $93,000 to complete critical repairs to its porch beams and roof, the back of the Craft Shop, and to the deteriorating roof on our museum building.   Please help us continue ... read more The post Giving Tuesday at AHI appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• AHI Closed for Thanksgiving
  Posted on Tuesday November 19, 2019
  Arthurdale’s Craft Shop and Visitor Center will be closed for the week of Thanksgiving, November 25-29. The Craft Shop will be open November 30th 11-3pm, starting our Saturday Holiday Hours. Additional Holiday Hours are: Saturday, December 7th 11-3pm Saturday, December 14th 11-3pm Saturday, December 21st 11-3pm Happy Holidays and have a great Thanksgiving! The post AHI Closed for Thanksgiving appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• National Register of Historic Places Resurvey
  Posted on Monday November 18, 2019
  Arthurdale Heritage is in the process of updating the National Register of Historic Places nomination, which was completed in 1989. The boundaries of the historic district will not be changing, but in order to have the most accurate and up-to-date information needed for the state, we will be doing a resurvey of the district. A survey includes gathering information about the properties within the district, included but not limited to siding material, date of construction, and photos of the structures. ... read more The post National Register of Historic Places Resurvey appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• Community Christmas Contest
  Posted on Thursday November 14, 2019
  Let Arthurdale Heritage help get you in the Christmas spirit this holiday season!  Join us on Sunday, December 15th for a festive evening of Christmas decorations, a fun contest, open museum exhibits, hot chocolate and cookies, and performances by the Preston High madrigal choir!   Families and homeowners in the community are encouraged to partake in Arthurdale’s Christmas Decoration Contest. Voters will drive around, awe at the wonderful decorations, and vote for three categories: Best Traditional Christmas, Most Creative, and ... read more The post Community Christmas Contest appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• Veteran Memorial Plaques Made by Homesteader Descendant Terry Day
  Posted on Tuesday November 12, 2019
  In honor of Veteran’s Day, homesteader descendant Terry Day has graciously handcrafted these memorial plaques of veterans buried in the Arthurdale Cemetery.  These beautiful pieces commemorate those who fought for our freedom. Local residents Jennifer Bonnette Funk and Lorraine Weaver volunteered their time to take the photos for Terry to work from, and we are so thankful for their efforts! Posted below are the names of the plaques already made. Only one was made for each individual, but more can ... read more The post Veteran Memorial Plaques Made by Homesteader Descendant Terry Day appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• Arthurdale Heritage will be closed on Monday, November 11 in honor of Veterans Day
  Posted on Monday November 04, 2019
  The Arthurdale Heritage Visitor Center and Craft Shop will be closed Monday, November 11 in observance of Veterans Day. If you’re interested in a tour, visiting, or have any questions, we will resume regular business hours on Tuesday! The post Arthurdale Heritage will be closed on Monday, November 11 in honor of Veterans Day appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• Craft Show and Fall Festival October 26th
  Posted on Thursday October 17, 2019
  It’s that time of year again! Arthurdale Heritage’s annual Craft Show and Fall Festival will be held Saturday, October 26th from 10-4 pm. Beautiful, handmade items from WV artisans will be for sale in our historic Center Hall and outside on the lawn. After shopping, take the kids on a hay ride or to get their face painted. They can also visit our homestead goats, and we will be telling spooky West Virginia ghost stories for older children. In addition, ... read more The post Craft Show and Fall Festival October 26th appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• Beautiful Day Lilies Donated to AHI
  Posted on Monday October 07, 2019
  A HUGE thank you to Brenda Gould for donating over 20 day lilies to AHI! Master gardeners, Brenda, Susan Bell, and Melinda Shrout took the time to plant each and everyone of them on a very hot day. The day lilies look so wonderful planted outside our office and Center Hall and we can’t wait til they start blooming next summer. Thanks again, Brenda, for a gift that keeps on giving!     The post Beautiful Day Lilies Donated to AHI appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• Arthurdale Contractor Wins Preservation Award!
  Posted on Tuesday October 01, 2019
  Congratulations to Jeff Zinn of Gerald C. Zinn & Son for being awarded the Rodney Collins Preservation Achievement Award by the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia. Jeff was awarded for his fantastic preservation work at Arthurdale Heritage over the years, and we are lucky to have him working to maintain the six historic buildings in our care. Jeff Zinn is unparalleled as a contractor, as a preservationist, and as a dear friend and supporter of AHI. His work along with ... read more The post Arthurdale Contractor Wins Preservation Award! appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• Cancelled (will be rescheduled in the Spring)Fairy Garden Party Fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 21 at AHI
  Posted on Thursday September 05, 2019
  On Saturday, September 21st from 11am-2pm, AHI will be hosting its first Fairy Garden Party. Bring your kids out to enjoy a magical afternoon filled with fun activities in our Eleanor Roosevelt Memorial Garden and in our historic Center Hall! We will have wand and crown making stations, DIY terrariums, scavenger hunts, and other fun crafts and activities. There will be great snacks, drinks, and a nice woodland tapestry to make the perfect backdrop for your little fairies! Kids are ... read more The post Cancelled (will be rescheduled in the Spring)Fairy Garden Party Fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 21 at AHI appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »