Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. » News

2011 Best Yard and Garden Contest Winners

alisha.myers — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 17:00:14 +0000

Arthurdale Heritage’s annual Best Yard and Garden Contest winners have been announced for 2011. For July, Daley and Shelba Fullmer’s garden and Matt and Mary Smith’s yard are the winners selected by a team of Master Gardeners. For August, Dan and Marty Luzier’s yard and George and Jeanne Bucklew’s garden were voted the best. For September, Maxine and Paul Friend’s garden and Vickie Cummings’ yard scored the highest. Each would be glad to pass on their green thumb tips to anyone who asks.

Celebrate Preston County History Day, July 21

alisha.myers — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:00:44 +0000

Explore the history at your back door. Preston County History Day will be celebrated on Sunday, July 21 at numerous historical sites around the county. The variety of historic interests provides an educational family outing in scenic surroundings.

In addition to Arthurdale Heritage’s five-building museum (including a restored homestead) representing the New Deal’s first subsistence homestead project (open 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays, noon – 4:00 p.m. on Sundays all summer), other sites open for tours on Preston County History Day are located in Kingwood, Rowlesburg, Terra Alta and Tunnelton. Find these sites on a Preston County map (.pdf).

The times and locations for the other interesting sites are:

James McGrew House, 1831 Kingwood home built by the prominent businessman involved in the formation of West Virginia, (1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.) on Rt. 7
Szilagyi Center in Rowlesburg featuring the World War II Museum, Preston County Sports Museum, and B&O bridges exhibit, café and shops, (11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) on Rt. 72
Terra Alta History House, with 3 floors of Preston County history exhibits, photos and genealogy records, 109 East Washington Street (1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
Tunnelton Train Depot Museum, the 1913 brick train station once operated by the B&O Railroad, (1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.) on Boswell Street
Westbrook’s Esso, Kingwood, showing the full-service gas station of yesteryear and antique truck on display (1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.) at 101 West High Street (corner of Price and W. High Streets).

Admission is charged at some sites.

Future Preston County History Days will be observed on August 21, 2011 and September 18, 2011.

Don’t miss this chance….

Darlene Bolyard — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 20:00:05 +0000

Bayard Young was a free lance photographer who took photos of Mrs. Roosevelt during her visits to Arthurdale. On May 7th, you will have the chance to hear Judi Tarowsky share her father’s unique story of when he was a freelance writer and photographer in the 1930s. Glenville native, Bayard Young wrote newspaper articles and took photographs while a graduate student at WVU.

Ms. Tarowsky will describe her father’s experience with his Speed Graphic camera used to successfully capture photographs of Eleanor Roosevelt during her visits to Arthurdale, WV.

May 7th, Center Hall at 2pm.

Photograph courtesy of Judi Tarowsky

Homestead Quilters Guild

alisha.myers — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 20:02:17 +0000

Preston County quilters are invited to attend the organizational meeting of the Homestead Quilters Guild on Monday, December 6 at noon. Plans for Guild activities and future class offerings will be discussed in Arthurdale Heritage’s Center Hall along Rt. 92. Anyone at any skill level is welcome to attend!

On Monday, December 20 at 6:30 p.m. a UFO meeting will be held in the Center Hall. UFOs are unfinished objects, and members can bring their sewing machines and work with others to finish those items.

Local quilter Janet Collins is organizing the Guild and anyone with questions can call Arthurdale Heritage’s office at 304-864-3959.

Arthurdale Heritage Offers Free Admission on Smithsonian Magazine’s 6th Annual Museum Day

Sarah Barnes — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 15:15:58 +0000

Visit America’s first New Deal Homestead Community

On Saturday, September 25, 2010, Arthurdale Heritage will participate in Smithsonian magazine’s 6th annual Museum Day. A celebration of culture, learning and the dissemination of knowledge, Smithsonian’s Museum Day emulates the free-admission policy of the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington, DC-based properties. Doors will be open free of charge to Smithsonian magazine readers and Smithsonian.com visitors at museums and cultural institutions nationwide.

“We are pleased to join with hundreds of museums in celebrating Museum Day by extending our hours from 9am to 4pm and offering free admission with a Smithsonian ticket,” said Jeanne Goodman, Executive Director of Arthurdale Heritage. “This is the perfect opportunity for us to showcase Arthurdale and its important part in America’s history.”

Arthurdale, the nation’s first New Deal subsistence homestead community, was established in 1933. It provided a new chance at life for residents of North Central West Virginia who were suffering from the effects of the great depression. Today, the community is a National Historic District.

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt served as the empathetic force behind the project, was concerned with the families, and often visited the community.

This multi-building museum illustrates the story of Arthurdale as a New Deal Homestead. There is a forge filled with original tools, a service station reminiscent of a bygone era, historic Center Hall, the original federal government administration building, and a fully restored Arthurdale homestead.

Visit www.smithsonian.com/museumday to download your Museum Day Admission Card. Attendees must present the Museum Day Admission Card to gain free entry. Each card provides museum access for two people, and one admission card is permitted per household.

For more information on Arthurdale and for driving directions, see “Visit Arthurdale.”

NDF 2010 Photos

Sarah Barnes — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:33:52 +0000

FDR and Eleanor

Many many thanks to Maria Af Rolén for taking these wonderful photos of the New Deal Festival. Maria is a professional photographer based in Morgantown, WV. She volunteered her services for the NDF and got some beautiful shots!

FDR and Eleanor

FDR (Bill Donogan) at the 2010 New Deal Festival

Stained Glass by David Houser

Eleanor Roosevelt (Patty Cooper) at the 2010 New Deal Festival

Antique Car, Truck and Tractor Show at the 2010 New Deal Festival

Kid's Area at E-15 Homestead

Dan Baker Trio at the 2010 New Deal Festival

Elsie Clapp (Linda Donogan) (right) and friend (left)

Face Painting

Eleanor Roosevelt (Patty Cooper)

New Deal Festival Hayride

Verena Mullins of Charleston, WV in period dress

FDR (Bill Donogan) and Josephus Daniels (Jim Barnes)

David Houser demonstrates stained glass making

Center Hall banner

Josephus Daniels (Jim Barnes) assists FDR (Bill Donogan)

P.U.R.R. kitten

Horse-drawn wagon tours

Volunteer Button

Antique Car, Truck and Tractor Show

Arts and Crafts vendors

Hay ride

Fiber guild

Horse-Drawn Wagon tours

Thank You!

Sarah Barnes — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 02:44:00 +0000

We had a great turnout, great weather and a wonderful time at the New Deal Festival today! Thanks to each and every one of you who who came out today!

We will be posting pictures of the event soon. Stay tuned!

Please let us know what you thought of the event. We value any and all feedback we receive.

See you next year on July 9, 2011!

WBOY Interview with Sarah Barnes

Sarah Barnes — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:46:25 +0000

Arthurdale Heritage president, Sarah Barnes, went on WBOY‘s noon news on July 6 to talk about the New Deal Festival. Watch the clip here:

Thanks to WBOY for sharing the video clip with us so we can post it here!

Check out the New Deal Festival’s TV Ad

Jonas Knotts — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 02:58:38 +0000

The New Deal Festival’s TV spot is now airing throughout north central West Virginia, western Maryland, and southwestern Pennsylvania. Click below to check it out.

New Deal Festival Program – Available for Download!

Sarah Barnes — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 20:23:14 +0000

This year we are able to publish the New Deal Festival program online in advance of the event. Everyone who attends gets a printed copy of this with General Admission. Please help us spread the word about the New Deal Festival and let your friends know to take a look at the program!

Download the New Deal Festival Program (30 MB .pdf)

Please note that the New Deal Festival program requires Adobe Reader to view.