Airports Sites

Federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds enabled the construction of the old terminal at what was then known as Houston Municipal Airport. The Art Deco building at William P. Hobby Airport now serves as the 1940 Air Terminal Museum.

Adams Field, also since known as Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, was first constructed during the early 20th century. The federal Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) assisted with the airport's development. The W.P.A.'s Division of Operations wrote: This project is unusually interesting because of its history. The hangar was originally constructed by TWA in Waynoka, Okla. This stopping point was done away with by TWA. The City of Little Rock negotiated for its purchase, dismantled it and shipped the material to Little Rock where the Works Progress Administration constructed it. Prior to this the airport had no hangar and sometimes, during...

"By January, 1937, the Works Progress Administration had supervised the painting of one hundred and eight town markers, airport symbols, and meridian markers throughout Maine." (Marker is for the capital of Maine, but work was spread throughout the state)

The W.P.A. developed what is now known as Belfast Municipal Airport, in Belfast, Maine. W.P.A. project info: "Construct municipal airport" Official Project Number: 165‐1‐11‐120 Total project cost: $1,020,780.00 Sponsor: City of Belfast

The Works Progress Administration (WPA), in conjunction with the War Department, developed Beverly Airport in Massachusetts. WPA project details: "Construct municipal airport" Official Project Number: 165‐1‐14‐265 Total project cost: $168,866.00 Sponsor: War Department "Construct runways at airport" Official Project Number: 265‐1‐14‐50 Total project cost: $376,440.00 Sponsor: Mayor, City of Beverly

The Works Progress Administration (WPA), in conjunction with the War Department, developed Fitchburg Airport in Massachusetts. WPA project details (referred to as 'Leominster'): "Improve municipal airport" Official Project Number: 165‐1‐14‐260 Total project cost: $121,270.00 Sponsor: War Department "Make improvements to airport" Total project cost: $149,270.00 Sponsor: Mayor and Public Works Department "Improve airport" Official Project Number: 265‐1‐14‐59 Total project cost: $509,980.00 Sponsor: Public Works Department

The federal Civil Works Administration (CWA) worked to construct an airport for Grand Marais, Minnesota in 1933-4. Living New Deal believes this to be Grand Marais Cook County Airport, which is still in use today.

The W.P.A. worked to develop what is now known as Havre City County Airport, in Havre, Montana. W.P.A. project info: “Develop and improve airport” Official Project Number: 265‐1‐91‐58 Total project cost: $522,520.00 Sponsor: City of Havre and Hill County

Among the numerous infrastructure improvement projects undertaken by CCC Company 1915 near Hawthorne, Nevada was the construction of the town's new "12-acre airport." Living New Deal believes that this is what is now known as Hawthorne Industrial Airport.

The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) developed Mackinac Island's airport, originally a "simple grass runway."

"Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal programs helped the community... Additional aid came when the Works Progress Administration provided funds that ... developed the airport ..." The airport in question is unclear to Living New Deal.  A good candidate, the public Ralph Wenz Airport, was established during the 1940s according to the town's website.

From the Pittsfield Historical Society: One project that had far-reaching importance to Pittsfield was the construction of an airport. Mr. McDonough was an old baseball player and he urged many of the towns to build baseball fields. Our officials preferred and strongly recommended an airport and after several meetings in Augusta, a grant of $25,000 was made to Pittsfield for the survey and initial construction of two runways. Administrator Badger appointed Ralph Cianchette Foreman and work was started. As a result of this decision, Pittsfield was later designated an official landing field on the first Maine airway map, and when...

The W.P.A. worked to develop what is now known as Princeton Municipal Airport, in Princeton, Maine. W.P.A. project info: "Improvements to airport" Official Project Number: 165‐1‐11‐52 Total project cost: $358,036.00 Sponsor: War Department "Make improvements to municipal airport" Official Project Number: 165‐1‐11‐61 Total project cost: $417,070.00 Sponsor: Town of Princeton

The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) aided in the construction of Raton Municipal Airport. Official Project Number: 265‐1‐85‐63 Project cost: $265,565.00 Sponsor: City of Raton

The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) aided in the development of what is now Tucumcari Municipal Airport. Official Project Number: 165‐1‐85‐164

Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) labor worked to develop Turners Falls Airport.

Tennessee Encyclopedia: "Some of Tennessee's largest WPA projects reflected the arrival of the age of flight. WPA workers helped complete landing fields and airports at Jellico, Cookeville, Lebanon, Jackson, and Milan." The location of the facility, which has long closed, is difficult to discern, as the airport is not recorded on readily accessible topographic maps (the early ones predate the site and the 1954 topographic and 1951 aerials show development along the reported site). It appears the Jellico Aero Club was in existence by 1921 owned 60 acres of ideal field, with hangars and gas listed in the Flying Guide and Log...

Multiple New Deal agencies worked to develop a former municipal airport in Farmington, Maine. The Farmington airport was initially a FERA/MERA project as part of a state wide airport building program. It was built as a North/South 2000x100' graded runway, open about June 15, 1934. W.P.A. project info: "Construct municipal airport" Official Project Number: 165‐1‐11‐97 Total project cost: $622,000.00 Sponsor: Town of Farmington

The W.P.A. developed a former municipal airport in Van Buren, Maine. The location of this facility is unknown to Living New Deal.. W.P.A. project info: "Construct municipal airport" Official Project Number: 165‐1‐11‐103 Total project cost: $950,000.00 Sponsor: Town of Van Buren

The W.P.A. developed the former Fort Kent Municipal Airport. W.P.A. project info: "Construct Fort Kent Municipal Airport" Official Project Number: 165‐1‐11‐99 Total project cost: $486,000.00 Sponsor: Town of Fort Kent As of 2023, this airfield is in use. It was abandoned up until about 2019. While the field was abandoned, there were no facilities and only a dilapidated shed that had been used by a crop dusting company. The owners have started rebuilding the field and expect to have the field in good enough condition for the FAA to designate it as an emergency backup field.  The grass runway is now 2450’ x 85’ and is clear...

Town reports for Manchester, Vermont reveal that federal funds and labor went toward the development of a local airport in 1934. 25 men were put to work on the project. There is no longer an active airport in the community; the location of the former facility is unknown to Living New Deal.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) worked to construct / develop an airstrip at Shoshoni, Wyoming, created by "grubbing sagebrush and clearing field." A 1950s map shows an airport south of town, at the coordinates below.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) worked to construct / develop an airport for Chugwater, Wyoming. The location and status of the facility are unknown to Living New Deal.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) worked to construct / develop an airport for Farson, Wyoming. There was a landing strip south of the community at the coordinates below.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) worked to construct / develop an airport for Kaycee, Wyoming. The location and status of the facility are unknown to Living New Deal.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) worked to construct / develop an airstrip at Lysite, Wyoming, created by "grubbing sagebrush and clearing field." The location and status of the facility are unknown to Living New Deal.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) worked to improve what was then the airport for Rock Springs, Wyoming. Located about five miles north of Rock Springs, the airport is no longer extant; it was replaced in 1942 by what is now known as Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) worked to improve a municipal airport for Worcester, Mass. It is unclear whether this site is what is now Worcester Regional Airport, or a since-eliminated facility in North Grafton, Mass. Living New Deal suspects that it's the latter facility , given as Worcester Regional Airport construction is said to have not started until 1944; at that point in time the WPA had been liquidated. WPA project details: "Improve airport" Official Project Number: 165‐1‐14‐486 Total project cost: $262,563.00 Sponsor: Mayor, City of Worcester

The W.P.A. helped to develop what was then known as the Allentown–Bethlehem–Easton airport, now Lehigh Valley International Airport. Wikipedia: "The airport hangar served as the passenger terminal; the first terminal building at the airport was built in 1938 as a Works Projects Administration (WPA) project."

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) worked to construct / develop an airport for Big Piney, Wyoming.

The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) conducted a development / improvement program at what is now known Claremont Municipal Airport. "Develop and improve municipal airport" Official Project Number: 165‐1‐13‐18 Total project cost: $118,235.00 Sponsor: War Department "Improve airport" Official Project Number: 265‐1‐13‐13 Total project cost: $101,719.00 Sponsor: Town Board of Selectmen "Develop airport" Official Project Number: 265‐1‐13‐2 Total project cost: $93,979.00 Sponsor: Town Board of Selectmen

The Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) worked to develop the municipal airport in Cokeville, Wyoming.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) worked to construct / develop Dubois, Wyoming's municipal airport.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) worked to construct / develop an airport in Glendo, Wyoming. The location and status of the facility are unknown to Living New Deal.

The W.P.A. worked to develop what is now known as Helena Regional Airport, in Helena, Montana. W.P.A. project info: "Improve municipal airport" Official Project Number: 165‐1‐91‐168 Total project cost: $201,345.00 Sponsor: City of Helena "Improve municipal airport" Official Project Number: 165‐1‐91‐71 Total project cost: $169,951.00 Sponsor: City of Helena

The Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) worked to develop the municipal airport in Kemmerer, Wyoming.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) conducted work to develop Manchester, Iowa's municipal airport.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) worked to construct / develop an airport for Meeteetse, Wyoming. Work here and in other nearby cities "promised to open that region to air traffic." The location and status of the facility is unknown to Living New Deal.

The W.P.A. worked to develop what is now known as Missoula International Airport, in Montana. W.P.A. project info: "Develop and improve airport" Official Project Number: 165‐1‐91‐34 Total project cost: $928,324.00 Sponsor: Missoula County

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted work at what is now North Platte Regional Airport. "Project 996" involved "levelling land" at the airport.