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!

Volunteers of the Month Donna Harris, Holly Spooner, Roger Day, Marvin Hileman, John Bolyard, Loretta Davis (Volunteer of the Year), Arnold Bolyard, and Wanda Bolyard

Thank you to everyone who came out and helped!

Thanks to everyone who attended and volunteered!

Read the changes to the by-laws here: AHI By-Law Changes (revised September 2010)

The annual membership meeting and dinner is scheduled for Sunday, October 24 at 5:00 p.m.

Here are the nominations for the 2010-2011 Board of Directors:

Board of Directors Nominees

Term Ending 2011

Please vote for 2 candidates:

_____ Nick Taylor – Kingwood, WV

Nick Taylor is the banking center manager for WesBanco in Kingwood.  He is interested in serving on the AHI Board because of his close family ties to Arthurdale.  His grandmother, Juanita Radabaugh Taylor, is a homesteader descendant and has been an active volunteer of AHI for many years.  Nick is a 2006 graduate of West Virginia University with a B.S. in Business Administration.  He resides in Kingwood with his wife, Melissa.

_____    Amanda Strippel – Arthurdale, WV

Amanda Strippel is the office manager of Pro Performance gym in Morgantown.  She became became an interim director in 2010 to fill an unexpired term created by a resignation on the Board.  She quickly took to the job and began working with the Arthurdale Farm Stand this summer.  She has a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Science from WVU and also volunteers for the WV Raptor Center as well as M.T. Pockets Theatre.  Amanda lives in an original Arthurdale home with her dog and 3 cats.

_______________ (Write-In Candidate)

Term Ending 2012

Please vote for 2 candidates:

_____    Dee Myers Hays – Masontown, WV

Dee Hays is a business manager in Morgantown.  Dee filled an unexpired term created by a resignation on the 2009-10 Board of Directors.  In her short time on the Board, Dee has served as a member of the Events Committee, helping with the annual Elimination Dinner, the New Deal Festival, and Ice Cream Social.  Dee grew up in Arthurdale on CR Road with her parents, brother, and sister.  She attended WVU on a full scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering with Honors.  Dee lives in Masontown with her husband Harry and their dog Carter.

_____    Scott Spooner – Arthurdale, WV

Scott Spooner currently works at Hillcrest Veterinary Clinic.  Before moving to Arthurdale in 2008, he worked as a veterinary technician for Texas A&M University’s College of Veterinary Medicine (working exclusively with horses) as well as managed a farm store in Michigan.  Scott and his wife Holly, a professor of animal science at WVU, are excited to be part of such a great community! Scott and his wife Holly just joyfully welcomed their first daughter, Grace, this July.  In their free time, Scott and Holly enjoying showing Quarter Horses, spending time with their dogs, Cash & Beaumont, and doing other outdoor activities.  Their house in Arthurdale is quite the zoo (or maybe Noah’s ark), with two horses, two dogs, two cats, two donkeys, two goats, and just one rabbit.

_______________ (Write-In Candidate)

Term Ending 2013

Please vote for 5 candidates:

_____    Sarah Barnes – Arthurdale, WV

Sarah Barnes is a web developer and designer who currently works as a Systems Engineer for createTank, LLC.  Before switching to the private sector in 2009, Sarah worked for WVU and WVNET in web development and public relations.  Sarah has been a volunteer and member of AHI since 2007, when she redesigned and brought AHI’s new website online.  Since then, she has become more interested in AHI and recently served as the President of the Board of Directors.  Sarah graduated in 1998 with a Bachelor’s degree in Foreign Languages and History from WVU.  Although currently on hiatus from her studies, she has completed all but her thesis for a Masters of Science in Journalism.  Sarah lives in an original Arthurdale home with her husband Steve and their two children.

_____    Kathryn Burton – Morgantown, WV

Dr. Kathryn Burton is an Assistant Professor at WVU teaching History of Interiors & Furniture, Design Foundations, and Residential Design Studio courses.  Prior to moving to WV in 2009, Dr. Burton worked on arts and culture committees in Oregon.  Arthurdale was one of the first places she visited after moving to WV.  Dr. Burton has a Bachelor’s degree in Art, a Master’s degree in Interior Design, and a PhD in Historic Cultural Aspects of the Near Environment from Oregon State University.  In addition to teaching and researching, she is also a visual artist who works with watercolor, colored pencil, acrylic, and fabric.

_____    Richard “Dick” DeGolyer – Kingwood, WV

Dick DeGolyer is an Arthurdale homesteader descendant.   In addition to his numerous other volunteer services to Preston County, Mr. DeGolyer has served on the AHI Board of Directors for many terms.

_____    Mary Maxwell – Morgantown, WV

Mary Maxwell is currently a student in the Public History program at WVU who expects to graduate in December 2010.   She recently spent a year as an intern at The Grave Creek Archaeological Complex where she helped inventory and curate the state’s archaeological collections, including field work to rescue exposed Native American human remains.  Mary has a passion for historic preservation and is looking forward to helping with the museum and archival collections in the New Deal Homestead Museum.  She holds a Master’s degree in Classics from the University of Colorado/Boulder and a Graduate Certificate in Cultural Resource Management from WVU.

_____    Alisha Myers – Arthurdale, WV

Alisha Myers currently works as a Web Coordinator for the WVU Office of Information Technology (OIT).  While attending WVU as an undergraduate, she worked as a Web Assistant for the Downtown Campus Library assisting the Web Master and Reference Librarian.  After graduating, she taught for Monongalia County Schools as a substitute until taking a Web Assistant position at WVU OIT.  Alisha has a Bachelor’s degree of Fine Arts and a teaching certification as well as a minor in Art History from WVU.  She lives in an original Arthurdale home.

_______________ (Write-In Candidate)

Nominating Committee

Term Ending 2012

Please vote for 2 candidates:

_____    Tom Bonnette – Arthurdale, WV

Tom Bonnette is a homesteader descendant.  His mother, Hazel Bonnette is the only original Arthurdale homesteader still living in Arthurdale.  He recently completed his second three-year term on the AHI Board of Directors and can be frequently seen volunteering at our fundraising events.  He resides in Arthurdale with his wife Dyanna.

_____    Richie Davis – Arthurdale, WV

Richie Davis is a homesteader descendant.  He recently completed his second three-year terms on the AHI Board of Directors and can frequently be seen at most of AHI’s fundraising events as our resident hamburger/hot dog grillmaster.  Richie resides in Arthurdale with his wife Suzie.

_______________ (Write-In Candidate)

By-Law Revisions

The Board of Directors recently spent time reviewing the by-laws of the organization in order to update them.  An electronic copy of the proposed changes can be found on our website at www.arthurdaleheritage.org/2010bylaws/.  If you would like to request a hard copy of the proposed changes, contact AHI at (304) 864-3959 and one will be mailed to you.

_____      I approve the proposed by-law changes

_____      I do not approve of the proposed by-law changes.

Front Row (left to right): Helen Nikirk, United Way coordinator Martha White. Back Row (left to right): Nick Taylor, Chris Hudson II, Brandon Hudson, Chris Hudson Not Pictured: Lora Quince

Volunteers from the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties rolled up their sleeves to help Arthurdale Heritage (AHI). It was all part of the United Way’s Day of Caring. Six United Way volunteers from WesBanco’s Kingwood branch and Allegheny Energy’s Albright Power Station teamed up with AHI volunteers to clean and organize storage facilities at its Center Hall Complex.

“Our storage areas in the historic service station garage bays had not been thoroughly organized or cleaned for several years. It’s a project that wasn’t vital to our day-to-day operations, but still sorely needed. With the help of the United Way, we were able to complete a project in two hours that would have probably taken us two days,” said Jeanne Goodman, AHI Executive Director.

Goodman said the workers uncovered things like old, bedding and fixtures, office equipment, outdated foodservice products, and other items. AHI volunteers Randy Weaver and Roger Day helped guide the United Way workers to ensure only valueless items were disposed of. AHI volunteer Jeff Zinn provided a trailer and hauled away the trash.

“We would like to thank the United Way and the volunteers for coming out and working on such a hot, humid day. I also appreciate their employers, WesBanco and Allegheny Energy for allowing people time off to volunteer for United Way’s Day of Caring. We appreciate their time and commitment to Arthurdale Heritage,” Goodman said.

Front: Helen Nikirk. Back (left to right): Nick Taylor, Chris Hudson II, Brandon Hudson, Chris Hudson

Arthurdale Heritage President Sarah Barnes (left) and AHI Executive Director Jeanne Goodman (right) display Governor Manchin's proclamation declaring July 'Arthurdale Heritage Month.'

Arthurdale Heritage (AHI) is celebrating its Silver Anniversary this July at its New Deal Festival. To kick off the celebration, West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin issued a proclamation declaring July ‘Arthurdale Heritage Month.’

“We are delighted that Governor Manchin has honored our beautiful community by declaring July ‘Arthurdale Heritage Month,’” said AHI President Sarah Barnes. “This recognition helps us spotlight the important role our state played during the New Deal era.  Eleanor Roosevelt would be proud to know that her ‘little village’ is doing so well and telling the story of what she set out to accomplish,” Barnes said.

The New Deal Festival is Saturday, July 10^th and features artisan demonstrators, a craft market, living history actors, an antique car, truck, and tractor show, quilt show, kids activities, live entertainment, barbecued chicken dinners, and more. More information about the New Deal Festival is online at: http://www.newdealfestival.org.

Throughout its 25 years, AHI has tirelessly worked to restore and preserve the New Deal Homestead Community of Arthurdale. The organization started as a grass-roots community group in 1985, raising money through donations from local residents and businesses. Today, AHI has successfully restored and preserved five buildings comprising the New Deal Homestead Museum. AHI also has three major capital projects underway to restore five additional structures.

“Arthurdale Heritage has truly been a grassroots organization.  Those of us involved in 2010 are so grateful to the determined group who started the organization 25 years ago and the community who supported it. They worked so hard to raise every penny to restore what is now the New Deal Homestead Museum today.  The community of Arthurdale is such a wonderful place to live – due, in no small part, to the efforts of this organization.  Without AHI, the community would be another town with abandoned buildings and struggling to survive.  The people of Arthurdale are to be commended for their efforts over the years by taking such pride in their community and seizing the opportunity to tell their story,” Barnes said.

West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin issued this proclamation declaring July 'Arthurdale Heritage Month.'

“This award is a huge honor for our group. Our project was selected over projects in larger counties in Monongalia and Kanawha Counties,” said award recipient Becky Friend.

AHI President Sarah Barnes said, “Arthurdale Heritage is very fortunate to have a dedicated group of volunteers like the master gardeners. Their dedication and vision has helped turn what was once an abandoned building foundation into a beautiful garden.”

The garden, built on the site of the former Finks Co-op General Store, was completed in the summer of 2009. The project was funded with a Green Thumbs/Healthy Joints Grant from the West Virginia University Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, Center for Excellence in Disabilities and a donation from Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. It features raised flower beds, decorative metal benches, and inspiring quotes from Eleanor Roosevelt.

The garden features raised flower beds to help teach ergonomic gardening techniques.

The garden sits on the site of the original Arthurdale co-op general store.

Being a tour guide is fun and enables you to meet some very interesting people. Last year, we had visitors from as far awa…y as the Ukraine. Another tour guide met a woman who served as a Peace Corp volunteer in Bosnia during the 1992-95 war!

Help Arthurdale Heritage do more to help others understand the value of this historic preservation project.

If you’d like to see what it is like to be a tour guide, please come to the training session this Saturday. Email or call for more info: ahi@arthurdaleheritage.org, phone: 304-864-3959 Tuesday through Friday, noon to 4 p.m., and we’ll be happy to discuss your interest in lending a helping hand.

We hope you will be able to help Arthurdale Heritage reach its goal of $8,500 by June to meet these grant requirements. By achieving this goal, each gift will be doubled by the state funds.

Click here to make your gift online or mail a check made payable Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. to P. O. Box 850, Arthurdale, WV 26520.

All donors who give $50 or more will be included on the donor listing displayed in the Center Hall year-round (in gift categories of $50 – $99, $100 – $249, $250 – $499, $500 – $999, and $1000 and above).

Fortunately, Rick isn't afraid of heights!

AHI only exists because of people like you who are willing to give of their time and money.  Please help us continue to save the past for the future.

Thanks so much,
Sarah Barnes, President
Jeanne Goodman, Executive Director

* The projects we’re so proud of are the new Center Hall floor, new garage bay doors, new service station doors and windows, and drainage improvements.

Deborah Miller has been a volunteer and member of Arthurdale Heritage since 1991 and served two terms on the board of trustees (1992-1998).

As a board member, she had the vision to make the homecoming weekend a marketable event outside the community, and her vision was realized when it became the New Deal Festival.

It also was through her perseverance and knowledge that the board created the maintenance/salary endowment fund. In addition to contributing to the newsletter, she presently schedules volunteers for museum tours and serves as a tour guide.

Deb was named AHI Volunteer of the Year in 2009.

To find out more about this award, please visit WV History Heroes