Fullerton Sites

In 1940, the Work Projects Administration (WPA) was involved in concrete channelization along the lower portion of Brea Creek in Fullerton, CA. As with most of the rivers in Southern California, development came under the Flood Control Act of 1936 following massive destruction from intense flooding in the early 20th Century. Fullerton had a history of flooding with large floods in both 1900 and 1916. These prompted the development of the Orange County Flood Control District in 1927. Then in 1938, a large flood refocused attention on creating additional flood control measures. In the area, “2.90 inches of rain accumulated in...

The Commonwealth Post Office in Fullerton, California was funded by the Department of the Treasury and constructed in 1939 in only 7 months. This New Deal project provided work for 40 men.  At the time, it was the City of Fullerton’s first and only post office until 1962. It was also the first building in the city that was federally owned.  The post office was designed by the Office of the Supervising Architecture. It is a beautiful Spanish Colonial Revival building. The Post Office still exists today and still houses a mural called “Orange Pickers” by Paul Julian.  The Commonwealth Post Office is...

The oil-on-canvas mural Orange Pickers by Paul Julian is the only Works Progress Administration (WPA) post office mural in Orange County. It was painted in 1941 or 1942 at the Federal Arts Studio in Los Angeles and then installed in the lobby of the post office in 1942.  The 6 foot by 13 foot mural depicts images of Fullerton industries including citrus, oil and aviation. The style of the mural is known as regionalism which was very popular during this time period. This mural was Julian’s last public arts project. Julian then went on to have a successful career in the...

The Civil Works Administration (CWA), the Public Works Administration (PWA), and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) funded pre-construction work, buildings, and landscaping as part of the Fullerton Junior College project.  Fullerton Junior College was founded in 1913 and originally shared a campus with Fullerton Union High School. The junior college provided high school graduates with a two-year program. In 1934, the CWA funded the clearing of a lot just east of the high school to prepare for a new campus for the junior college.  The campus was designed by architect Harry K. Vaughn in a Spanish Revival style. The plan was to...

In 1941, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) built a Public Library for the City of Fullerton, California. This replaced the existing Carnegie Library which was demolished to make way for the new building. The Public Library was built on the Carnegie Library site and on an additional plot of land just north of the original library. The library was designed by prominent architect, Harry Vaughn. It structure contains two wings and two courtyards. He designed the building with a mix of style influences including: Moorish, Aztec, and Spanish Revival. Vaughn designed another WPA project in the area - the original Fullerton...

The Old Fullerton City Hall (now the Fullerton Police Department) was built by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1939. It was completed over a 3 year span and cost over $130,000.  The building was built in a Spanish Colonial Revival architectural style. Key characteristics include its central 3-story tower and cupola. Decoratively, it has beautiful terra cotta and ceramic tile work throughout the building and extensive iron wrought elements. It’s a stunning example of New Deal architecture. Additionally, the former Fullerton City Hall houses a large 3-wall mural named the “History of Southern California” by Helen Lundeberg.  A new city hall was...

In 1941, the Federal Arts Project (FAP) commissioned prominent artist, Helen Lundeberg, to paint a 3-wall mural that covers 900 sq. ft. at the Old Fullerton City Hall in Fullerton, California. In addition to working on several New Deal art projects, she helped to found the Post-Surrealist art movement.  The mural she painted in the Old Fullerton City Hall is named The History of Southern California. It depicts California's history from the landing of Juan Cabrillo in the 1500s through the development of the movie industry in the Twentieth Century. Similar to many other murals painted in this era it was...

The Public Works Administration (PWA) funded the construction of a trades building- a two story reinforced concrete structure- meant to be used for instruction of various technical trades such as aeronautics, navigation, diesel engines, electrical work and radio. In 1934, State Emergency Relief Administration (SERA) and the PWA also funded new bleachers and locker rooms for Fullerton Union High School. Fullerton Union High School was originally founded in 1893. It served as the main secondary school for the area.  Fullerton Union High School’s Louis E. Plummer Auditorium houses a well-known Public Works of Art Project funded mural called Pastoral California by...

Charles Kassler painted Pastoral California at Fullerton Union High School in 1934. He received funding from the Public Works of Art Project (PWAP). Located in the Louis Plummer Auditorium (built in 1930), the mural is 75′ x 15′. It was the first of three public artworks funded by the New Deal in Fullerton, California. Pastoral California is one of the largest frescoes created during the New Deal. Kassler first drafted the mural design on paper and then transferred this draft, one 36 inch square, at a time onto the wall to be traced. The mural was then painted in true fresco...

Hillcrest Park in Fullerton, California was originally built in 1920 and then from 1931-1940, relief funds from the Civil Works Administration (CWA), State Emergency Relief Administration (SERA), Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC), and the Work Projects Administration (WPA) helped shape the landscaping of Hillcrest Park. No buildings at Hillcrest Park were created or funded by New Deal Programs.  Hillcrest Park sits on 35.6 acres and is considered the most historically significant park in Fullerton, CA. In 1920, the City of Fullerton purchased the land for $67,300. Johann George Seupelt, a horticulturist and landscape architect, was the park's first superintendent and designed the...

In 1934, the Public Works Administration (PWA) partially funded the reconstruction of Wilshire Junior High School. The original junior high school was originally built in 1921 and then was damaged by the Long Beach earthquake of 1933. This school and several others in the Orange County area were given New Deal funds to repair or rebuild from damage caused by the natural disaster.  The building is made of poured concrete and was built in a Greco Deco architectural style. The aesthetic of the architecture is simple with clean lines. Out of all the buildings, the auditorium is of special note because...