Public School, Deer Creek Minnesota, 1918 LakesnWoods.com Postcard and Postcard Image Collection - click image to enlarge Aerial view, Deer Creek Minnesota, 1972
Whenever work is done upon an object by an external force, there will be a change in the total mechanical energy of the object. If only internal forces are doing work (no work done by external forces), there is no change in total mechanical energy; the total mechanical energy is said to be conserved.
The force is static, hence no motion (i.e. no change in velocity), hence no acceleration. This assumes an object at rest. If one can get an object moving, and then the applied force equals the friction force, one can have a constant velocity, but no acceleration.