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.

• Beautiful Day Lilies Donated to AHI
  Posted on Monday October 07, 2019
  A HUGE thank you to Brenda Gould for donating over 20 day lilies to AHI! Master gardeners, Brenda, Susan Bell, and Melinda Shrout took the time to plant each and everyone of them on a very hot day. The day lilies look so wonderful planted outside our office and Center Hall and we can’t wait til they start blooming next summer. Thanks again, Brenda, for a gift that keeps on giving!     The post Beautiful Day Lilies Donated to AHI appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• Arthurdale Contractor Wins Preservation Award!
  Posted on Tuesday October 01, 2019
  Congratulations to Jeff Zinn of Gerald C. Zinn & Son for being awarded the Rodney Collins Preservation Achievement Award by the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia. Jeff was awarded for his fantastic preservation work at Arthurdale Heritage over the years, and we are lucky to have him working to maintain the six historic buildings in our care. Jeff Zinn is unparalleled as a contractor, as a preservationist, and as a dear friend and supporter of AHI. His work along with ... read more The post Arthurdale Contractor Wins Preservation Award! appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• Cancelled (will be rescheduled in the Spring)Fairy Garden Party Fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 21 at AHI
  Posted on Thursday September 05, 2019
  On Saturday, September 21st from 11am-2pm, AHI will be hosting its first Fairy Garden Party. Bring your kids out to enjoy a magical afternoon filled with fun activities in our Eleanor Roosevelt Memorial Garden and in our historic Center Hall! We will have wand and crown making stations, DIY terrariums, scavenger hunts, and other fun crafts and activities. There will be great snacks, drinks, and a nice woodland tapestry to make the perfect backdrop for your little fairies! Kids are ... read more The post Cancelled (will be rescheduled in the Spring)Fairy Garden Party Fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 21 at AHI appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• Arthurdale Heritage will be closed on Monday, September 2 in honor of Labor Day
  Posted on Wednesday August 28, 2019
  The Arthurdale Heritage Visitor Center and Craft Shop will be closed Monday, September 2nd in observance of Labor Day. If you’re interested in a tour, visiting, or have any questions, we will still be open regular hours on Saturday and Sunday! The post Arthurdale Heritage will be closed on Monday, September 2 in honor of Labor Day appeared first on Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. Continue Reading »
• 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 »