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.

• OOPS! If you received an order confirmation email from us from purchases pre 2021, please ignore it. Our website was being worked on and the revision caused clients to be re-notified of their orders. We have not been hacked and you have not been charged for an old, out of date order. PLEASE excuse this inconvenience. Darlene Bolyard, Executive Director
  Posted on Tuesday March 30, 2021
  The post OOPS! If you received an order confirmation email from us from purchases pre 2021, please ignore it. Our website was being worked on and the revision caused clients to be re-notified of their orders. We have not been hacked and you have not been charged for an old, out of date order. PLEASE excuse this inconvenience. Darlene Bolyard, Executive Director appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• Take Out Creamed Chicken and Biscuits Lunch
  Posted on Monday March 22, 2021
  Support Arthurdale Heritage while enjoying a delicious homemade meal, Sunday April 18th. The meal includes creamed chicken over biscuits, mashed potatoes, green beans, and a dessert. It can be picked up anytime from 11am-1:30pm. Adult tickets are $10, and children are $5. This dinner is a take-out only dinner. Volunteers will be wearing masks, gloves, and taking all the necessary steps to remain clean and safe. As you arrive to Arthurdale to pick-up your meal, volunteers will bring it out read more The post Take Out Creamed Chicken and Biscuits Lunch appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• Spring Reading Challenge
  Posted on Monday March 15, 2021
  The Arthurdale Heritage is hosting a community spring reading challenge from April 1st to April 30th. During this month we are challenging adults and kids to read everyday! We want kids to aim to read or be read to for 20 minutes each day, and for adult participants to read or listen to an audiobook for 30 minutes each day. Prizes will be awarded to child participants who read a total of 10 hours or more during the month and read more The post Spring Reading Challenge appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• Voices from Arthurdale
  Posted on Wednesday January 27, 2021
  Featured in the latest issue of the Restoring Yesterday for Tomorrow newsletter is the story of Dorothy Mayor Thompson. In the article we mentioned an oral history interview conducted by Augusta Heritage with Dorothy Thompson in April of 1990. The post Voices from Arthurdale appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• Craft Shop Holiday Hours
  Posted on Thursday December 10, 2020
  Due to the rise of COVID cases in our community, we are limiting the hours we will be open to the public. We will be open for special holiday shopping hours next Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Otherwise, if you would like to visit the craft shop or take a tour, please email or call. Our craft shop is full of local handmade items so please contact us and stop by! The post Craft Shop Holiday Hours appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• Half a hog benefit auction
  Posted on Friday October 16, 2020
  Support Arthurdale Heritage and stock your freezer at the same time!  Up for your consideration is one half of a prime, locally raised, “Buckwheat Festival” hog ; generously donated to Arthurdale Heritage by Stone Paving.    This fundraising auction starts Sunday, Oct. 18 at noon and ends Oct. 28 precisely at noon. Big early and Bid often! To place your bid, click here: https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/auctions/half-a-hog–15687 Questions: ahi@arthurdaleheritage.org or call 304 864 3959 The post Half a hog benefit auction appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• November Homemade Lasagna take out dinner
  Posted on Tuesday October 13, 2020
  Please join Arthurdale Heritage for a homemade lasagna meal on November 8th! Each meal includes lasagna, garlic bread, salad, and dessert for just $10. Pre-order required: https://arthurdaleheritage.org/shop/uncategorized/takeout-lasagna-meal/ Volunteers will be wearing masks, gloves, and taking all the necessary steps to remain clean and safe. As you arrive to Arthurdale to pick-up your meal, volunteers will bring it out to your car for you! If you have questions, please email ahi@arthurdaleheritage.org or call (304) 864-3959.  The post November Homemade Lasagna take out dinner appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• October Steak Hoagie Takeout Dinner
  Posted on Thursday September 24, 2020
  Come and celebrate Eleanor Roosevelt’s birthday with Arthurdale Heritage at our Steak Hoagie Fundraiser Dinner! Meal includes steak hoagie, French fries, cake, ice cream and a drink for only $10. Volunteers will be wearing masks, gloves, and taking all the necessary steps to remain clean and safe. As you arrive to Arthurdale to pick-up your meal, volunteers will bring it out to your car for you! Preorders required. Make sure to reserve your meal ahead of time by purchasing tickets read more The post October Steak Hoagie Takeout Dinner appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• New Rotating Exhibit on Display in AHI
  Posted on Wednesday August 19, 2020
  Be sure to come visit our Center Hall to see a phenomenal exhibit showcasing the photography of Frances Benjamin Johnston, a Grafton-born professional photographer. Johnston was a photographic icon, taking images of decaying buildings, seasonal gardens, and expressive individuals that would soon be lost to time. This traveling exhibit was created by PAWV AmeriCorps member Ksenia Bradner and will be hosted by AHI from 9-5pm until September 10th and is free to the public. See a news release from WV read more The post New Rotating Exhibit on Display in AHI appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• Helen Kay “Susie” Mayor Vandergrift passes away
  Posted on Wednesday August 19, 2020
  Arthurdale has lost another homestead child. Helen Kay “Susie” Mayor Vandergrift, daughter of Alex and Rose Mayor, passed in Jacksonville FL last Friday. Born in Arthurdale on September 12, 1936, she grew up in SR-15. A 1953 graduate of AHS, she worked as an accountant for Montgomery Wards in Morgantown and later in Florida. She was preceded in death by her husband Donald, sisters Julia, Mary, and Dorothy plus brothers Mike, George, and Charles. A graveside service will be held read more The post Helen Kay “Susie” Mayor Vandergrift passes away appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »