Arthurdale, New Deal homestead community in Preston County, United States
Arthurdale is a residential community of roughly 165 homes spread across rolling hills in Preston County, West Virginia. Each house was built with modern conveniences like indoor plumbing, heating systems, and electricity, which was remarkable for the time.
The settlement was created in 1933 as the first New Deal homestead project by the federal government to help 81 families from northwestern West Virginia during the Great Depression. The project marked a new approach to reviving rural economies through planned communities.
The Mountaineer Craftsmen's Cooperative produced furniture, fabric, and metalwork, with their pewter candlesticks representing American craftsmanship at the 1937 Paris World Fair.
The New Deal Museum interprets this settlement's history through several restored buildings and original homes on the grounds. Visitors can explore the structures and learn about daily life as it was when families first arrived and settled here.
Eleanor Roosevelt visited this settlement more than 30 times between its founding and 1960, personally attending ceremonies and community events. Her repeated journeys from Washington D.C. demonstrated how central this project was to the Roosevelt administration's vision.
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