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.

• This week’s videos: The Arthurs, Becoming a Homesteader, and Fairfax Facts Friday
  Posted on Monday March 30, 2020
  Ever wonder how “Arthurdale” got its name? Watch this video to learn more about the history of the Arthur Family and how their land would become the site of the first New Deal Homestead Community in the United States. Youtube: The Arthurs Who were the original homesteaders? In this video, learn how Arthurdale’s homesteaders were selected and about the Homesteader Test. Youtube: Becoming a Homesteader It’s our first Fairfax Facts Friday! Watch this video to learn about John Fairfax, a read more The post This week’s videos: The Arthurs, Becoming a Homesteader, and Fairfax Facts Friday appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• Inside the Museum Web Series
  Posted on Friday March 27, 2020
  Arthurdale Heritage might be closed to the public, but our AmeriCorps have been working hard to bring you unique online content! AHI has launched a new web series, uploaded on our YouTube channel and our Facebook page, that will share with you all Arthurdale’s unique history. Our fully guided tour gives you a very in-depth look at Arthurdale and the homesteaders, but there is so much more we want to share with you all. We will be exploring artifacts in read more The post Inside the Museum Web Series appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• Growing up in Arthurdale – A History of the Eble Family by Gwynne Mesimer
  Posted on Friday March 27, 2020
  Gwynne Mesimer is the daughter of Reverend Charles Eble, who used to be the pastor of Arthurdale Community Presbyterian Church. She shared her story with us, which we are now sharing with you all! She details moving to Arthurdale, some of the community members who impacted her, and her reflections on her family. Have a story you would like to share with us? Email ahi@arthurdaleheritage to give us a glimpse into life in Arthurdale – during any decade.    I was read more The post Growing up in Arthurdale – A History of the Eble Family by Gwynne Mesimer appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• Please Tell Congress: Include Museums in COVID-19 Economic Relief !
  Posted on Friday March 20, 2020
  Urge Congress to Support Museum Community Economic Relief The post Please Tell Congress: Include Museums in COVID-19 Economic Relief ! appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• Arthurdale Heritage Closed for Foreseeable Future
  Posted on Tuesday March 17, 2020
  It is with heavy hearts that we are announcing that Arthurdale Heritage will be closed for the foreseeable future. This includes our fully guided tours and our Craft Shop. We discussed this issue at length, but we believe we should do our part in limiting social interaction to best protect our most vulnerable community members. After all, our community is the most important part of the Heritage. This doesn’t mean we are going away! We will be increasing our social read more The post Arthurdale Heritage Closed for Foreseeable Future appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• Melinda Shrout Receives History Hero Award
  Posted on Thursday February 20, 2020
  Arthurdale’s Volunteer of the Year for the 2018-2019 fiscal year, Melinda Shrout, was honored today in an annual ceremony held at the Culture Center in the Norman L. Fagan West Virginia State Theater in Charleston, WV.  There, she received a certificate award and was recognized as a “History Hero.”  Melinda has shown an extraordinary commitment to our purpose and is always willing to lend a helping hand or a bright smile!  She continues to make Arthurdale a better place, better read more The post Melinda Shrout Receives History Hero Award appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• Remembering S.L. “Bud” Bjorkman
  Posted on Tuesday February 11, 2020
  It is with deep sadness that we share with you the passing of S.L. “Bud” Bjorkman. Arthurdale gained another angel on February 10th.  Bud will be greatly missed by our community having been life long residents of Arthurdale and friend to all. Bud was born November 27, 1927 in Connersville (Dunn County), Wisconsin the son of Joseph & Olga (Hedlund) Bjorkman. He graduated from Masontown High School in 1947, where he was a standout in baseball, basketball, and selected all read more The post Remembering S.L. “Bud” Bjorkman appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• Kroger Rewards Help Arthurdale
  Posted on Tuesday January 14, 2020
  Want an easy way to support Arthurdale? Consider signing up for Kroger Rewards! If you already have a Kroger card, simply sign in to your digital account and select Arthurdale Heritage (HA732) from the list of local organizations. Once you’re enrolled, AHI is rewarded EVERY time you use your loyalty card when you shop. This support comes at absolutely NO extra cost to you; all you have to do is shop as normal! DON’T FORGET! Once enrolled, you need to read more The post Kroger Rewards Help Arthurdale appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• Remembering William “Bill” Bauer
  Posted on Tuesday January 07, 2020
  Sadly, we share with you news of the passing of William “Bill” Bauer. On January 4th, Arthurdale gained another angel when Bill was reunited with his beloved wife Barbara. Bill and Barbara lived in one of the historic Arthurdale homes and raised six children there. Many of us have wonderful memories of playing in the Bauer home as kids with Linda, Hank, Eddie, Jack. Suzy and Nancy. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to read more The post Remembering William “Bill” Bauer appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• AHI Closed for Christmas Break
  Posted on Friday December 20, 2019
  Arthurdale Heritage will be closed from December 23 to January 3 in observance of the Holiday season. Normal winter hours (Monday through Friday, 9-5) will resume on Monday, January 6. Have a very Merry Christmas and a Healthy, Happy New Year! The post AHI Closed for Christmas Break appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »