Arthurdale Heritage is inviting the public and local businesses to participate in a three-day holiday fundraising event. The Arthurdale Festival of Trees will feature fully decorated trees and wreaths donated by friends, supporters, and businesses. The trees, wreaths, and a beautiful handmade quilt made by the Arthurdale Homestead Quilters will be raffled just in time for the holiday season.

The Arthurdale Craft Shop will also be open for the holidays and children can sit down and write a letter to Santa with some help from his elves.

Arthurdale Heritage will provide trees for donors to decorate and volunteers will be available to assist with decorating. Set up and decoration of the trees will take place November 29-December 1 in the Arthurdale Forge and other museum buildings. Bidding will start on December 2 with a reception and tree showcase from 5-7 p.m. The bidding will continue on December 3 from 12-4 p.m. Refreshments will be offered during the event. Admission is free, donations appreciated.

On Sunday December 4, the Festival will continue with the craft shop open house, horse-drawn wagon rides, letters to Santa, and holiday family photos by Steven Marra.

Those interested in participating are encouraged to contact Arthurdale Heritage at 304-864-3959 or register online at arthurdaleheritage.org.

Read the rest of this entry »

We are raffling this Civil War reproduction fabrics quilt made by the Homestead Quilters Guild. Tickets are $2 each or 3 for $5 and are available from AHI board members, quilt guild members, and at the AHI office during regular business hours. Drawing will be on December 9 at noon.

Thanks to the Homestead Quilters Guild for making and donating this beautiful quilt!

Size is 6.5 by 8 feet

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!

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