History is the pathway to seeing how others lived. It’s in more places than you’d think.
On Sunday, Preston County History Day will be observed at Arthurdale Heritage, open 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; the Aurora Area Historical Society Museum, 1-4 p.m.; the McGrew House in Kingwood, 1-3 p.m.; the Szilagyi Center museums in Rowlesburg from 1-4 p.m.; the History House Museum in Terra Alta, 1-4 p.m.; and the Tunnelton Train Depot from 1-3 p.m.
Walk back in time and learn about the groundbreaking efforts of the nation’s first New Deal subsistence homestead project at Arthurdale, the first time the federal government would serve as a landlord for deserving families. The unique project also included health care, local schools and new homes with electricity, indoor plumbing and refrigerators.
Open the door on appreciating why Aurora’s mountaintop air was once part of a Victorian summer resort town for wealthy city residents, who came by train and U.S. 50.
Based on the work of many volunteers, visitors will understand more about the accomplishments of Kingwood businessman, James McGrew, who also participated in the process of West Virginia staying in the Union and becoming the 35th state. His home shows the lifestyle of the era. Additional exhibits of county life are included.
The Szilagyi Center in Rowlesburg provides connections to World War II’s heroes, Preston County’s high school athletic history, and railroad bridges. Shortly before West Virginia was added to the Union in 1863, a confrontation between Union and Confederate troops happened in Rowlesburg, so check out the Cannon Hill sign in the park, too.
The History House features exhibits based on collections from county residents, including a bell and a model of a sailing ship, and various records of family histories and government records from earlier centuries. Many are amazed at the various exhibits connecting us to both the recent and distant past.
The 110-year-old Tunnelton Train Depot museum illustrates railroad life and commerce that were a part of daily living during much of the 20th century. A new model train display has been set up in the depot built by the B&O Railroad for handling the U.S. mail, passengers, coal shipments and freight. There are two historic tunnels nearby.
Also, there are three outdoor Civil War Trail sites near Aurora and Rowlesburg and the Virginia Iron Furnace located along W.Va. 26 near Albright. Iron was smelted using a waterwheel powered system.
All of these county sites will be open the third Sunday of each month through October.
