Volunteers Loretta Davis, Richard “Dick” Myers, and others honored at Annual Membership Dinner

Loretta Davis, of Arthurdale, was named 2011 Volunteer of the Year at the annual Arthurdale Heritage membership meeting and dinner on Oct. 23.

Mrs. Davis has contributed many hours of creativity and effort from Arthurdale Heritage’s beginning days, including her spearheading of the Craft Shop in recent years. The Craft Shop sells hand-crafted artisan items, just as the original Craft Shop did during the 1930s and ‘40s.

The late Richard “Dick” Myers, was honored with a Pioneer Award, Arthurdale Heritage’s award for lifetime dedication to the organization.  Mr. Myers was one of the volunteers who helped with the New Deal subsistence home project’s property acquisition and historic restoration efforts from the earliest days in 1984. Marilee Hall, gave a touching remembrance of Mr. Myers and his wife Carol received the award on his behalf.  Mr. Myers grew up in Arthurdale and met Eleanor Roosevelt on a number of occasions as a young man.

Others honored we the volunteers of the month, Donna Harris, Holly Spooner, Steven Marra, Janet Collins, Chris Shaffer, Roger Day, Marvin Hileman, John & Wanda Bolyard, Sarah & Arnold Bolyard, Mick Myers, Laura Bitely, Loretta Davis, and Carol Myers.

Special recognition was also given to the volunteer tour guides who staff the museum on the weekends to greet visitors from many states and parts of West Virginia.  The volunteer committee which handles the Craft Shop were also thanked. The successful completion of the first Preston County History Days from June through September involving publicity of the various historic sites around the county was celebrated.

Other recent events include four volunteers performing clean-up efforts during United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties “Day of Caring” in August. Their efforts resulted in more impressive museum exhibit areas and better access to and control of supplies. The exhibition of the Fratkin Collection during the summer provided additional FDR-related items for enhanced learning opportunities.

Thank you everyone for your dedication and hard work!

2012 Coupon Books for Sale

Arthurdale Heritage is selling coupon books again this year as a fundraiser. (They cost $30 and AHI gets to keep $10).

All of the offers are for local/regional businesses and are good through next October.

They are an excellent bargain – besides offering hundreds of discounted meals, they also have bargains on golf, Pirates tickets, flowers, Pittsburgh airport parking, dry cleaning, etc. Most deals are buy one, get one so taking advantage or 2 or 3 offers pays for the book.

Annual Dinner and Meeting, October 23

Arthurdale Heritage’s Annual Dinner and Meeting will be held on Sunday, October 23 at 5:00 in the historic Center Hall along Rt. 92 in Preston County. A program will follow about the past year’s events and progress with projects. Volunteer awards will be given. Cost is $16 for choice of baked steak or baked chicken dinner, including dessert.

To attend, mail your check payable to Arthurdale Heritage by October 18 to P. O. Box 850, Arthurdale, WV 26520 or call 304-864-3959 to charge it to your credit card.

Proceeds benefit the historic preservation efforts for the nation’s first New Deal homestead subsistence community project championed by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.