The community center was set up in a horseshoe design with three hard-surfaced roads connecting Penderlea to surrounding towns.  The school, constructed in 1939, was placed in the curve of the horseshoe. 

The federal government withdrew from Penderlea in 1944 and transferred the project to the newly created Farmers Home Administration, which began the liquidation of the government’s interests in Penderlea.  Homesteaders soon acquired the right to purchase their farms through a deed-mortgage arrangement.  The prices of the 105 consolidated farms ranged from $2,700 to $5,000 with an average price of $3,020.  

That year, Penderlea was re-organized into 105 farm units of 40 to 125 acres each.  Also, that year, the hosiery mill which was owned by Penderlea Mutual Association, the retail and service cooperative, was sold to local businessmen for private operation. It was was sold in September of that year to Dexdale Hosiery Mills for $603,619.  In addition, the Penderlea Manufacturing Company (furniture factory) was liquidated at a small loss to the government.

 In 1949, the hosiery plant was sold to the Concentrate Manufacturing Company, a processing and packaging company for Roger and Gallet, a French cosmetics firm.

 By 1950, Penderlea was no longer a homestead cooperative project but a community of independent farmers who were buying, not leasing their farms.

 Today, of the 300 homes built on Penderlea only about 99 remain.

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