Eleanor
was established in 1934, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt and first
lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited the county and developed it as a test
site for families. It was one of three resettlement communities in West
Virginia, the others being Arthurdale and Tygart Valley. When the town
was developed, the houses were built to look very similar to one
another and are now referred to as old Eleanor houses. Each new family
of homesteaders is placed on probation for one year before attaining
the status of permanent resident. Men classed as farmers are employed
in the farming and dairying occupations, producing corn, wheat, oats,
tobacco, beef, pork, and dairy products, while the others work in the
cooperative canning plant, the workshops or greenhouse. Part of
that effort was the possibility of giving these people jobs right there
in their community.
|
