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.

• 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 »
• Closed on Memorial Day
  Posted on Monday May 23, 2022
  Arthurdale Heritage will be closed on Memorial Day – Monday, May 30, 2022. Sorry for any inconvenience! The post Closed on Memorial Day appeared first on Arthurdale, WV. Continue Reading »
• Kids and Family Summer Programs
  Posted on Monday May 16, 2022
  We’re getting ready for an exciting summer this year with lots of programs for all ages!  There’s a little bit of everything, and we hope to provide an exciting summer… The post Kids and Family Summer Programs appeared first on Arthurdale, WV. Continue Reading »
• AHI Named WVAM Institution of the Year
  Posted on Friday May 13, 2022
  Arthurdale Heritage was selected as the 2022 Institution of the Year by the West Virginia Association of Museums! We are thrilled to receive this honor and to continue doing work… The post AHI Named WVAM Institution of the Year appeared first on Arthurdale, WV. Continue Reading »
• Children’s Art Classes
  Posted on Tuesday April 26, 2022
  We are excited to offer children’s art classes again this summer! There will be two classes every Friday from May 27-August 26 (except July 8 ).The Little Artists class is… The post Children’s Art Classes appeared first on Arthurdale, WV. Continue Reading »
• In Memory of Marilee Hall
  Posted on Monday April 18, 2022
  It is with profound sadness, we share with you the news of passing of Marilee Hall. As one of its earliest members, she worked closely with Arthurdale Heritage’s founding angel… The post In Memory of Marilee Hall appeared first on Arthurdale, WV. Continue Reading »
• AHI Closed Friday, April 15
  Posted on Tuesday April 12, 2022
  Arthurdale Heritage will be closed for a much needed break on Friday, April 15, 2022. The post AHI Closed Friday, April 15 appeared first on Arthurdale, WV. Continue Reading »
• Dominion Post: Arthurdale works to open historic trade skill school
  Posted on Friday April 08, 2022
  A historic trade school that will teach skills such as carpentry, masonry and metalworking is coming to Arthurdale Heritage Inc. The post Dominion Post: Arthurdale works to open historic trade skill school appeared first on Arthurdale, WV. Continue Reading »