Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works Sites

The Student Union Building was completed in 1939 on the campus of the University of Mississippi. It housed the bookstore, university post office, a grill, game room, barbershop, clothing store, and several meeting rooms (Sansing, 1999, p. 254). The Greek Revival style building was used as the student union building until 1973. It was renovated in 2004 and is currently used by the Computer Science Department and houses a student computer lab.

Carlson Hall, formerly located at the southwest corner of the University of Utah campus, served multiple roles over the years. Originally constructed as a women’s dorm, the building later housed a dining room, classrooms, and offices. The building was funded by the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works (see photo on plaque). It was demolished ca. 2013. The Quinney School of Law is located here now. The have a wonderful tribute to Carlson Hall inside the first floor front door (in a nook accross from the First Floor information desk). This includes the New Deal funding information, an original brick, a...

The Vignes Street bridge is a large concrete viaduct carrying railroad traffic to Los Angeles's Union Station.  It was funded by the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works, i.e., Public Works Administration (PWA), during the Great Depression and completed in 1938. The bridge is still in use today.

PWA project W1101 erected a two-story brick veneer vocational building and home economics building in 1935. Architect R. J. Moor designed the building and it was built by A. M. Allen of Moorhead at a cost of $8,230. A grant of $4,450 and loan of $5,500 were awarded Sep. 25, 1935. School bonds were issued following an election November 1935. Construction began Feb. 5, 1936 and was completed Oct. 15, 1936.

This historically black school housed a small high school room in the front and two school rooms at the back that could be separated by an accordion divider.  It was part of the submission to the Federal Government for funds for the Monroe City Elementary school.

Legislative permission was given to issue bonds for supplemental financing of the water distribution system in Skagway in 1934. Skagway was authorized to issue $40,000 bonds to supplement the Public Works Administration project 3961 in the amount of a $29,700 loan and $12,609 grant approved 12/28/1933. Construction began 5/1/1935 and was completed 10/1/1935.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted projects to extend the water system to places not previously served by said, in Boone, North Carolina.

Public Works Administration project 5487 was approved 4/4/1934 for water works project in Magnolia. The city received a loan of $10,500 and grant for $3,874 to improve the water works system constructed in 1905. Construction began 7/9/1934 and was completed12/22/1934 for a total of $14,381.

A water system was approved for Blue Mountain 07/21/1936 as PWA project W1005. A loan of $20,000 and grant of $16,363 was approved and bids advertised in September 1936. Contract was awarded 11/03/1936 to the Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel Company and A. H. Beard of St. Louis was the engineer in charge. Using natural springs east of Blue Mountain to supply the water, it marked the first time in the community that standard fireplugs were installed. Construction began November 20th and was completed March 20, 1937 for a total of $36,743.

Public Works Administration project 4251 was approved 12/28/1933 for a water works system in Sardis. A loan $14,257 and grant of $5,342 was announced in December 1933. Construction began 6/12/1934 and was completed 8/28/1934 for a total of $19,599.

PWA W1061 supported the construction of an artesian well, water main, and waterworks distribution system. A loan of $4,000 and a grant of $3,501 was approved 9/25/1935. Contracts were awarded 11/18/1935. Construction began 1/20/1936 and was completed 4/4/1936. Even though there was a rush for overtime in September to complete applications by the deadline, Mississippi halted work for an hour "out of respect to Mrs. Harold L. Ickes, wife of the national administrator, killed in an automobile accident in Texas Saturday night" (Workers pause, 1935, p. 10).

Public Works Administration project 1054 provided a $21,000 loan and $16,587 grant for the waterworks system in Maben. It was approved 11/17/1936, construction started 4/19/1937, and completed 8/27/1937 for a total cost of $36,983.

Public Works Administration funded project 9299 for Douglas for waterworks and sewer improvements. The project for a $39,000 loan and $ 31,909 grant was approved 7/9/1935. Construction began 10/10/1935 and was completed 8/19/1936.

PWA project W1164 for $34,545 was approved for Duck Hill January 17, 1936. A $19,000 loan was approved, with a grant of $15,545. Bids were advertised May 1936 for an "8 inch by 200 foot deep well and pump, 50,000 gallon elevated water storage tank, chlorinator, booster pump, water distribution system, septic tank and manholes and sewerage collection system" (Winona Times, May 29, 1936, p. 6). Construction began August 10, 1936 and was completed August 5, 1937.

Public Works Administration grant x1372 was approved 9/13/1938 for a loan of $2700 and grant of $2700. The construction started 12/30/1938 and was completed 8/15/1939 for a total cost of $5588.

Public Works Administration (PWA) project 7312 for Ripley’s waterworks system was approved June 20, 1934 for a loan of $51,500 and a grant of $17,135. Construction was started 11/15/1935 and completed 11/5/1937. Ripley proposed to issue revenue bonds in order to obtain the loan/grant to purchase a private system, with the town operating it as a municipal plant. However, it was challenged in a lawsuit, by a local taxpayer and only after reaching the Mississippi State Supreme Court was the validity of the town issuance of the bonds affirmed. The court case was resolved June 10, 1935, enabling the process...

The historic Liberty Grove school was constructed 1934 by architect James Manly Spain in a one-story Colonial Revival style. CWA funds provided $22,000 toward the $32,000 school building. The award for the construction contract was to be submitted by the CWA board. In 1939, the Liberty Grove school was part of PWA project W1183 to fund construction and improvements for five Hinds County schools. Liberty Grove school received funding to construct a gymnasium and four additional classrooms. A bond issue for $21,000 was set for October 18, 1938 and approved. PWA funds for all five schools was $151,986 loan toward...

The 1936 Wayne County Courthouse was completed with a Public Works Administration grant (W1041) of $45,000 towards the $100,000 building. E. L. Malvaney designed the 51 x 110 foot Art Deco style building constructed of gray brick with stone trim and steel sash. I. C. Garbor and Son were the construction company. The top floor of the 4-story building contained a "modern, escape-proof jail" ("New Wayne County Courthouse Awaits Dedication") and the interior was trimmed with red gum. Heating and plumbing was done by S. S. Richard Heating and Plumbing, and electric by Short Electric Company. The courtrooms contained 300...

This suburban Des Moines elementary school was constructed in 1939 under the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works. In 2018 it was adaptively reused as the Phenix School Apartments, which provides live-work space to artists.

Built at the same time as the Greenwood School and designed by the same firm, the Willard School in Kirksville shares architectural similarities with the former school. Willard was constructed in Northwest Kirksville and is now used for other purposes such as storage for an adjacent child care center.

Public Works Administration 1307 provided a loan of $400,000 and grant of $161,149 to complete gravel roads throughout the county. Bids were advertised in September 1934 for construction of grading, drainage structures and bridges and gravel surfacing on 5.533 miles of the Winterville-Priscilla Highway. George Vinzant was chief engineer of the Washington County Highway Commission. B. G. Coggins of Nettleton, MS was awarded the contract for construction. The project was approved 2/21/1934 and construction began 10/17/1934. All roads were completed by 8/31/1937.