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.

• Events Calendar (January-April)
  Posted on Tuesday January 10, 2023
  See everything we have planned for the spring on the calendar below! We are excited for more fun here in Arthurdale and hope to see you here! You can download… The post Events Calendar (January-April) appeared first on Arthurdale, WV. Continue Reading »
• New Exhibit open December 5: Treasured
  Posted on Wednesday November 30, 2022
  We are excited to present a new temporary exhibit at Arthurdale Heritage, which will open to the public on Monday, December 5 and run through Friday, January 13. Treasured: Contemporary… The post New Exhibit open December 5: Treasured appeared first on Arthurdale, WV. Continue Reading »
• Giving Tuesday
  Posted on Tuesday November 29, 2022
  EXCITING news! A generous donor has offered to match all donations from now until the end of the year up to $25,000! With your help, $25,000 will become $50,000 !!… The post Giving Tuesday appeared first on Arthurdale, WV. Continue Reading »
• StoryWalk Now Open!
  Posted on Monday November 07, 2022
  We’re excited to announce that the Arthurdale Story Walk is officially open! Walk along our path of numbered signs and enjoy reading ”M is for Mountain State: A West Virginia… The post StoryWalk Now Open! appeared first on Arthurdale, WV. Continue Reading »
• Only in Your State: Arthurdale, WV
  Posted on Friday September 02, 2022
  We were featured in a new article from the website Only in Your State. Read it here! The post Only in Your State: Arthurdale, WV appeared first on Arthurdale, WV. Continue Reading »
• Fall 2022 Events
  Posted on Thursday August 25, 2022
  We’re gearing up for a busy fall season here in Arthurdale and are excited to offer events for all ages! To help you keep track of everything we’re up to,… The post Fall 2022 Events appeared first on Arthurdale, WV. Continue Reading »
• Preston County History Days on WBOY
  Posted on Monday August 22, 2022
  Arthurdale Heritage is proud to participate in Preston County History Days! Watch the video below from WBOY to learn more about this opportunity to visit our museum! https://www.wboy.com/news/preston/travel-back-in-time-with-preston-county-history-days/ The post Preston County History Days on WBOY appeared first on Arthurdale, WV. Continue Reading »
• Download the 2022 New Deal Festival program!
  Posted on Tuesday July 26, 2022
  Did you miss the New Deal Festival? Or forgot to pick up a program booklet? You can download a copy of the 2022 program from our website here! Our New… The post Download the 2022 New Deal Festival program! appeared first on Arthurdale, WV. Continue Reading »
• Now Streaming: Videos made by West Preston students with the Smithsonian
  Posted on Monday July 18, 2022
  A few months ago we shared information about a new project we at Arthurdale Heritage were working on in collaboration with West Preston School and the Smithsonian. This program, Coming… The post Now Streaming: Videos made by West Preston students with the Smithsonian appeared first on Arthurdale, WV. Continue Reading »
• Craft Shop Closed; Tours Available
  Posted on Thursday June 16, 2022
  The Arthurdale Heritage Craft Shop will be closed from tomorrow, Friday, June 17, through Tuesday, June 21, as we have new floors put in. We will still be open for… The post Craft Shop Closed; Tours Available appeared first on Arthurdale, WV. Continue Reading »