Celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2024, Arthurdale is a rural community originally designed for unemployed coal miners during the Great Depression. "We were Eleanor Roosevelt's pet project; She visited more than 30 times and was influential in creating this community," says Elizabeth Satterfield, the curator and director of education of Arthurdale Heritage Inc. She says Arthurdale was the first of 99 federal community-building projects offering housing to suffering Americans. "We were the prototype for all the others meant to follow." A 15-mile trip from Morgantown, the community is intentionally secluded, where both historic and new homes sit atop multiple acres, often used for hobby farming today. Life here is quiet, though residents can access practical amenities and rural perks like wildlife refuges and small-town events.
Arthurdale was established in 1933-34 under the Homestead Act and was the first of its kind.
Of the 165 original houses built in Arthurdale, the Kee's home was the very first to be built.
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New construction outside national historic district
The community's original 1930s homesteader dwellings were built to accommodate small families and ample space for farming. These three- and four-bedroom homes have a Colonial Revival look, often combining wood, brick, and stone elements. Some have fully renovated interiors and attached garages. "People really take a lot of pride in owning original homes," Satterfield says. Not all homes fall within the historic district, however. Construction has picked up in recent decades, just beyond the Arthurdale core. "We're the fastest-growing area in the county," she says. Like their historic counterparts, these ranch-style homes sit on 1- to 3-acre plots, which residents use to install pools and cultivate hobby farms. Prices range between $160,000 and $375,000, depending on upgrades made to the property. Most homes hover around $200,000, while homes needing significant restoration can dip below $100,000.
A few larger homes can be seen around the neighborhood of Arthurdale.
Newer homes have been constructed in recent years around Arthurdale but they fit in nicely.
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Fishing at Fairfax Pon
Though vast expanses of green surround homes here, Reedsville has the closest playground and other park facilities. At Reedsville Park, kids can scale mossy boulders and swing from updated play equipment. The park is well-shaded, with picnic tables often used for birthday parties. Nearby wildlife refuges, such as Fairfax Pond, allow fishing, hunting and trapping. In Kingwood, the Craig Civic Center hosts weekly roller-skating sessions in the winter, and the Kingwood Pool next door opens for swim lessons, night swimming and open play in the summer.
Summer days can be spent fishing at Fairfax Pond in Arthurdale.
Fairfax Pond is centered on a series of ponds remaining from previous strip mining operations.
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Future Farmers at Preston High
Kids here attend West Preston School from kindergarten through eighth grade. The school is within a mile of most Arthurdale homes and gets a C-minus rating from Niche. Teens travel about 10 miles to reach Preston High, a C-minus-rated school within Kingwood. The school offers a Future Farmers of America vocational program in which students raise livestock and take horticulture and greenhouse management courses.
Preston High School students are 41% proficient in reading according to testing.
West Preston School has an overall rating of a C- on Niche.
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Celebrating 90 years at the New Deal Festival
For more than 25 years, Arthurdale Heritage Inc. has sponsored the New Deal Festival, celebrating Arthurdale's roots with acoustic music acts, blacksmith demonstrations, an artisan market and an antique car show. The festival also hosts a pie-baking contest, a watermelon eating contest and a sack race for kids.
Vendors set up tents to offer some shade while they sold their wares at the New Deal Festival.
The New Deal Festival celebrates the history of Arthurdale which turned 90 years old this year.
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Morgantown a 15-mile drive
Arthurdale has one bus stop next to the post office, which connects to Reedsville, Kingwood and Morgantown. Most people here drive, however, using West Virginia Route 92 to connect to Kingwood Pike and West Virginia Route 7. Morgantown is a 15-mile drive, and Pittsburgh is 90 miles away via Interstate 79.
Route 92 is the main road through Arthurdale and goes past Fairfax Pond.
You won't see many rows of homes in Arthurdale as the homes are spread further apart.
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Shopping and dining options in Reedsville
The closest grocery store is the Shop 'n Save Express in Reedsville, also home to a Dollar General and a handful of local stores, including Eleanor's Quilts and Fabric and Hospice Care Thrift Shop. Though PC's Pizza and Old School Pizzeria offer sit-down dining and takeout, Reedsville restaurant options are limited. Kingwood has a broader array of options, such as Down Home Diner, which serves all-you-can-eat buckwheat pancakes, and Monroe's, which is equally beloved for steaks and cheesecake. The Kingwood Walmart is a 6-mile drive.
Morgantown has museums, music venues and movie theatres, though Arthurdale residents do not have to drive into the city to have an entertaining weekend. Luigi's Sports Center hosts open bowling and several leagues, including a youth league for bowlers under 18. Hovatter's Wildlife Zoo is a regional destination, a sanctuary to more than 30 animal species, offering hands-on feeding experiences with giraffes, camels and lemurs.
Residents of Arthurdale stock up on groceries at the Shop'n Save Express a few miles away.
For pizza, Arthurdale residents head to PC's Pizza a couple miles away for lunch and dinner.
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Descendants and new residents preserve Arthurdale history
Arthurdale has a strong contingent of people committed to preserving the community's history. "We have a good-sized population of descendants of the original homesteaders, mostly grandchildren and great-grandchildren now," Satterfield says. The Arthurdale Heritage Inc. preserves several historic sites in the area and operates a museum with guided tours of original buildings where the community's original residents conducted businesses, shared meals and danced. According to Satterfield, people continue to make new memories while maintaining a connection to the past. "It's still a really nice, tight-knit community," she says. "Our grounds are open to the public; people walk their dogs."
The New Deal Homestead Museum is a multi-building museum located in Arthurdale.
An original Arthurdale house can be found on the grounds for the New Deal Festival.
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On average, homes in Arthurdale, Kingwood sell after 62 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Arthurdale, Kingwood over the last 12 months is $205,000, down 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Reconnect with nature! Located just across the road from the scenic Teter Creek Lake in Barbour County. This property features 4 adjoining lots, giving you ample possibilities to build your very own vacation get away!
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