Posted by Darlene Bolyard on
March 3, 2010
Deb Miller, 2010 WV History Hero
Deborah Miller has been a volunteer and member of Arthurdale Heritage since 1991 Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Amanda Penix on
February 1, 2010
Arthurdale Heritage Awarded 2010 FOCUS Grant
Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. has received a $5,000 grant through the 2010 FOCUS WV Brownfields program to address barriers to redevelopment of the Arthurdale school buildings.
According to Sarah Barnes, President of Arthurdale Heritage, “The Arthurdale Revitalization Project seeks to conduct a community needs assessment and redevelopment visioning effort to create a revitalization plan for the Arthurdale school buildings”.
The Foundation for Overcoming Challenges and Utilizing Strengths (FOCUS) West Virginia Brownfields program funds were awarded to Arthurdale Heritage by the West Virginia Brownfields Assistance Centers through funding from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation. The program provides financial and technical assistance enabling communities in West Virginia to create a redevelopment vision for brownfield properties of strategic community interest.
The Arthurdale Revitalization Project was one of only 11 projects awarded statewide to receive a 2010 FOCUS WV Brownfields grant.
Brownfields are abandoned or underutilized properties that have not been redeveloped due to real or perceived environmental barriers. Examples of brownfields include former gas stations, glass factories, machine shops, manufacturing and processing facilities, dry cleaners, and mine scarred lands.
Sera Zegre, FOCUS WV Program Manager says, “The Arthurdale Revitalization Project provides an initial stepping stone for revitalization efforts in this New Deal Community, initiating redevelopment progress and community involvement.”
The program was funded through a grant from the Benedum Foundation through the WVU Foundation, a private non-profit corporation that generates, receives and administers private gifts for West Virginia University. Information about the FOCUS WV Brownfields Program can be found at www.wvbrownfields.com. The Northern WV Brownfields Assistance Center is located at the West Virginia Water Research Institute, at WVU’s National Research Center for Coal & Energy; the WV Brownfields Assistance Center at Marshall University is located in the Center for Environmental, Geotechnical and Applied Sciences.
Arthurdale Heritage will be releasing information about community surveys and visioning meetings within the next few months. We hope that everyone in the Arthurdale community will participate in this process to provide us with a clear vision for the Arthurdale School buildings.
Posted by Sarah Barnes on
January 11, 2010
Taylor County Students Learn West Virginia’s Great Depression Story
Students at Grafton High School received an in-depth look at West Virginia’s struggles during the Great Depression. Arthurdale Heritage’s Jonas Knotts presented West Virginia’s unique depression history to Richard Zukowski’s American history class. The lecture to a class of over 20 students covered everything from the suffering of families in Scotts Run and other communities to infrastructure and conservation efforts of the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps. The lecture also focused on the unique place of Arthurdale in the New Deal and West Virginia history.
Zukowski said that while students are introduced to the national history of the Great Depression in textbooks, it’s important for students to connect national history to local events, “focusing on West Virginia’s history helps students connect better to the surroundings in their local area.” It affects them personally because many times, they are not aware of just how many roads, buildings, and parks in their community were built during the depression through the New Deal”, said Zukowski.
“Guest lectures and presentations like this help to develop interest about the New Deal and Arthurdale among students”, said Knotts. The lecture can also help students draw connections between the 1930s and today. “By learning about New Deal programs in West Virginia, students can draw parallels between those programs and the current recession stimulus programs like the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, Cash for Clunkers, and the Troubled Asset Relief Program”, said Zukowski.
AHI provides numerous educational opportunities including tailored age and topic appropriate tours of Arthurdale’s New Deal Homestead Museum, guest lecturers, and speakers. AHI is happy to provide these to schools and community organizations. For more information about AHI education opportunities, email ahi@arthurdaleheritage.org.
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