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.

• Museum Closed in Observation of Independence Day.
  Posted on Wednesday July 03, 2019
  We at Arthurdale Heritage will be closed for the 4th and 5th of July in preservation of Independence Day. We will reopen and continue operations on Saturday, July 6th with the help of our great volunteers! The post Museum Closed in Observation of Independence Day. appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• 2019 New Deal Festival is July 13th!
  Posted on Saturday June 29, 2019
  Join us as we celebrate the 85th anniversary of Arthurdale; Eleanor Roosevelt’s little village, at the 2019 New Deal Festival !  Your admission includes access to all museum buildings and exhibits, live music performances, the Antique Car, Truck, and Tractor show, artisan demonstrations, Craft Market, horse drawn carriage rides, hay rides, children’s petting zoo, children’s activities and more! Discounted tickets to the 2019 New Deal Festival are available now through July 11th! Save $$$ by getting your tickets in advance ... read more The post 2019 New Deal Festival is July 13th! appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• Celebrate 2019 Preston County History Days on every third Sunday from June – October
  Posted on Tuesday June 11, 2019
  Learn more about the amazing history in your backyard during Preston County History Days on June 16, July 21, August 18, September 15, and October 20. The Arthurdale Heritage Museum will have free admission to the museum for Preston County residents during the regular hours of 1 – 5 p.m.         Some sites charge admission; parking is free. Arthurdale Heritage, a five-building museum complex representing the New Deal subsistence homestead project championed by Eleanor Roosevelt, including a restored homestead, on Rt. 92.  Craft Shop also ... read more The post Celebrate 2019 Preston County History Days on every third Sunday from June – October appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• Hoof it through history at the Goat Gallop 5k
  Posted on Tuesday June 04, 2019
  The 2019 Goat Gallop 5k Run / Walk is just around the corner and we can’t wait! Join us on Saturday, June 15 for a gallop around historic Arthurdale with the herd. Celebrate the history of Preston County by enjoying an event in the heart of Eleanor Roosevelt’s “Little Village”. Registration will be open online and onsite until the event. Register online at runsignup.com/Race/WV/Arthurdale/goatgallop5k or stop by the office for paper registration. Visit the race website goatgallop5k.wordpress.com  for more information! The post Hoof it through history at the Goat Gallop 5k appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• AHI featured on WBOY’s Roaming West Virginia
  Posted on Wednesday April 24, 2019
  Last Saturday morning, a man stumbled upon Arthurdale Heritage. He said he had just spent the day driving around Preston County, looking for unique things to feature on Roaming West Virginia. He was pleasantly surprised to discover Arthurdale! Check out the article and video here! “You can certainly make a day out of it, or a whole weekend out of it. This is just a small portion of what this part of West Virginia has to offer. “ The post AHI featured on WBOY’s Roaming West Virginia appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• Why Join AmeriCorps at AHI
  Posted on Monday April 22, 2019
  Why join AmeriCorps at Arthurdale Heritage? After graduating from WVU last year with a degree in International Studies, I decided to take an AFHA AmeriCorps position at Arthurdale Heritage. My year of service here has been incredible. It’s not only a great resume booster, but also the perfect transition from college to a career. Thanks to the meaningful work we do here, I have learned so many new skills and can now market myself in so many different directions. I’ve ... read more The post Why Join AmeriCorps at AHI appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• New donations for our collections
  Posted on Thursday April 18, 2019
  A BIG thank you to Tom Belmaggio for donating two photos, three reflectors, and two sets of post office boxes!! The reflectors were made in the forge and had come from Wagner house U3. The post office boxes are from the original post office, which was a part of our Center Hall complex, located right next to the Craft Shop. It is so neat to have these items back here to display! The post office likely moved to its current ... read more The post New donations for our collections appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• You’re invited to Mr. Moran’s 100th birthday celebration!
  Posted on Monday April 15, 2019
  Long-time Arthurdale resident Lawrence K. Moran will be 100 years old on Saturday, April 20! His family is hosting a celebratory reception for friends and neighbors at our historic Center Hall from 2-4 p.m. on Easter Sunday, April 21. Mr. Moran was born on an Easter Sunday, April 20, 1919. He has lived in Arthurdale for nearly 74 years and raised his family of four children here. Many residents will remember him as the person they called each year to ... read more The post You’re invited to Mr. Moran’s 100th birthday celebration! appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• Rep. McKinley visits Arthurdale!
  Posted on Tuesday April 02, 2019
  Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. was honored to host Rep. McKinley, his wife Mary, and 14 staff members to celebrate our 18 county area being designated as the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area (AFNHA). Years of hard work and dogged determination by Rep. McKinley and members of AFNHA paid off and will bring a vast array of new opportunities to the area. This is a huge plus for regional tourism! To see the video of Rep. McKinley’s visit: https://www.facebook.com/RepMcKinley/videos/440556530022926/ The post Rep. McKinley visits Arthurdale! appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• Community Yard Sale 2019
  Posted on Monday March 25, 2019
  The annual Arthurdale Community Yard Sale is Saturday May 11! Drive around historic Arthurdale and stop at the many houses that will be selling all sorts of treasures. Free maps with a list of sellers will be available outside the Visitors Center on Saturday morning. Want to add your house to our map? The deadline is Friday April 27 at noon. Registration is FREE! Call the office or email ahi@arthurdaleheritage.org with any questions. Add your listing to the online form at your convenience ... read more The post Community Yard Sale 2019 appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »