• Ben Hur Road - Mariposa CA
    Sponsor: County of Mariposa WPA Proj. No. 165-3-1093, December 21, 1936, $7,997. "Widen, drain, and surface road; repair bridge and do other work incidental thereto on Ben Hur Road, Mariposa County, near Mariposa. Not in the Federal Aid Highway System. In addition to projects specifically approved. County owned property." Average Employed 26, months to complete 6, Total Federal and sponsor funds $12,181.
  • Bootjack CCC Camp Co. 1925 - Mariposa CA
    This camp operated out of the location of an abandoned hotel in the former mining town of Bootjack in the Mother Lode area of California. According to various articles written for the local newspaper by the camp members, tasks performed were road construction, water infrastructure, and fire fighting. In late 1936, the camp was transfered to Tehachapi. I haven't had the means of determining yet if they returned to the location, since that was hinted at in the newspaper articles by officials of the New Deal.
  • French Road - Mariposa CA
    AN IMPORTANT 3-C ROAD "A small road project which is going to mean a lot to Mariposa, is the proposed state fire road from the Pine Tree mine around the northwest end of Mt. Bullion, up to the mouth of Sherlock creek. It is generally understood that this project will be carried out this year under the plans of R. H. Browne, working crews from Bootjack CCC camp. In addition to the original purpose of serving as a fire break in a hazardous section of the country, such a road would lead through and open up one of the most promising and least...
  • Grammar School - Mariposa CA
    This Works Progress Administration grammar school building in Mariposa, CA still functions as the local elementary school. The stonework surrounding the school is classic WPA style, and there are still WPA stamps in the cement, marked 1940. WPA Proj. No. 65-3-2147, $10,644, Oct. 2, 1935, "Complete grammar school, improve grounds. ERA Spa. Mariposa School district." WPA Proj. No. 65-3-3148, $270, March 13, 1936, "Cook to prepare and serve hot lunches for undernourished children from families on relief. At the Mariposa Grammar School." WPA Proj. No. 650-3-3851, $536, December 14, 1936, "School Improvement"
  • Mariposa County High School - Mariposa CA
    Although initial applications for WPA help were rejected in 1935, this WPA project replaced the old Mariposa High School in 1937. A page from the 1937 yearbook described the new school: "Our move into the new school has been a great advantage to both the students and the faculty. It has made teaching a great deal easier." "Every room is supplied with the necessary conveniences that we did not have in the old school. Telephones connected with the office are in each room. There is plenty of closet space, blackboard space, and steam heist. A new system of ringing the bells also...
  • Mariposa Fairgrounds and Exhibition Center - Mariposa CA
    "Authorized by the California State Legislature in May 1939, the 35-A District Agricultural Association held its first annual county fair in Mariposa October 1939." A couple of years later the Work Projects Administration made major improvements. "WPA Project No. 165-1-08-292, Sponsor 35-A District Agricultural Association." "Description: Improve fairgrounds. Work includes constructing grandstand, exhibition buildings, barns, comfort station, concession hall, and office building; excavating; backfilling; roofing, painting; rehabilitating barns; installing water lines, tank, hydrants, plumbing, sewer and electric facilities; and performing carpentry, sheet metal, and incidental and appurtenant work. Publicly owned property." March 19, 1941, total Federal funds $72,092, average men employed 270, total...
  • Mariposa Street Improvements - Mariposa CA
    The April 7, 1940 "Fresno Bee Republican" reported: "Mariposa (Mariposa Co) April 6- Sections of Mariposa streets were paved with gold tonight. Paving gravel was scooped from the Mariposa Creek bed by WPA workers as part of a street improvement project. An analysis showed the gravel contained gold assaying 40 cents a yard."
  • Mariposa-Yosemite Airport - Mariposa CA
    This New Deal airport, originally known as Mt. Bullion Airfield, was constructed as relief work paid for by the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) c. 1934-35 (New York Times 1935). It was later improved by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) c 1938-39.  On August 4, 1938, the Fresno Bee reported: "Improvement of the Mt. Bullion Airport, completion of the forest service road from Acorn Inn to Darrah and work on the part of the route already existing is foreseen as a result of action taken by the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors. The work will be done with the assistance of the Works Progress...
  • Triangle Road - Mariposa CA
    The Bootjack CCC camp CO. 1912 in Bootjack CA was involved in the surveying and construction of this road, initially built as a fire road and then into a normal two lane county road. According to articles in the Mariposa Gazette, surveying by the CCC was begun Jan 21, 1936, right-of-way for the road was secured by the Mariposa Chamber of commerce in February 1936. An interruption occurred when Co. 1912 moved to Tehachepi CA for 5 months. Once back, a seven mile section was begun November 1936. A March 1937 article mentions the beginning construction of a $20,000 concrete bridge...
  • Usona Road - Mariposa CA
    An article in the January 3rd, 1935 issue of the Mariposa Gazette mentions road work completed by a local Civilian Conservation Corps company, the Bootjack Camp No. 1925. "IMPROVING ROAD -- Under Richard Browne, camp foreman at Camp Bootjack CCC camp, from 100 to 125 boys have been at work on the 12 - mile fire road leading southeast from Usona to Mist. The road leaves the main Mariposa- Wawona road at Crumb Ranch and connects with the Raymond Road at Mrs. Heaton's place. It opens up a fine agricultural fruit and stock country, and a mining and timber area. It...