The PRRA built rural schools across the Island through its Program of School Construction. Between 1937 and 1938, “The Federal government authorized the expenditure of $3,000,000 by the Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration for school buildings. Of the original grant, $1,000,000… read more
Between 1936-1937, the Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration (PRRA) built the Carite hydroelectric plant no. 3, located North of Guayama.
“Located between the low hills and marshy bay shore of Guaynabo,” what was known as the Cataño cement plant by government sources was constructed with federal funds administered through the Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration (PRRA), a New Deal agency. Completed… read more
Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration (PRRA) work relief division efforts included “an athletic field and recreation park [built] to mark the site where Columbus landed in 1493” in Aguadilla, ca. 1937. Known as Colón Park, the area lies just inside Municipio… read more
Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration (PRRA) work relief division efforts included the reconstruction of an 1893 monument commemorating the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s landing, at the site where he landed in 1493. The PRRA made improvements to what is now… read more
Dos Bocas Dam, a hydroelectric generation facility, was constructed as part of a large rural electrification plan undertaken by the Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration, a New Deal agency. Construction began in 1937 and was completed in 1942. The plant is located… read more
The Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration (PRRA) built El Falansterio, a new public housing development located in Puerta de Tierra, San Juan, between 1936-1937. PuertaDeTierra.info: In Puerta de Tierra a neighborhood house would be built between Matías Ledesma streets, San Juan… read more
Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration work relief division efforts included “the remodeling of the old ‘Manicomio’” in San Juan, in 1937, “to render it available for the motorized transport of the Sixty-Fifth United States Infantry.” The facility now houses Escuela de… read more
In October 1936 — two years after the First Lady visited Puerto Rico to assess social and economic conditions — it was announced that the New Deal’s Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration (PRRA) was taking bids for the construction of the… read more
Garzas Dam, a hydroelectric generation facility, was constructed as part of a large rural electrification plan undertaken by the Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration, a New Deal agency. Construction began in 1935 and it included “the reservoir, hydroelectric plant, and three minor river… read more
Grants from the Federal Government helped build healthcare facilities across the island. “The outstanding achievement in the field of public-health this year was the extension, after twelve years of endeavor, of health services to every municipality in the Island. Twenty-four new… read more
The PRRA carried out slum clearance work and built hurricane-proof housing developments in Arecibo and Ponce. “The PRRA located nine parcels of land available to purchase in Ponce, and two in Ponce Playa, and began construction on 4,290 concrete houses… read more
The PRRA built housing across the Island, as described in the 1938 Annual Report of the Department of the Interior: “The development of that part of the urban housing program of the P. R. R. A. originally aimed for the elimination of unsafe… read more
Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration forestry division efforts included reforestation work on Isla de Mona during the 1930s. Dept. of the Interior report: Mona Island—lying in the Mona passage separating Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic—some 25 square miles in extent,… read more
The work relief division of the Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration (PRRA) conducted “extensive repairs to the patio” of La Fortaleza, the 16th Century governor’s mansion in San Juan, capitol of the territory of Puerto Rico, ca. 1937. In 1940-1 the… read more
Lago Dos Bocas was created upon completion of the Dos Bocas Dam, a Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration project, in 1942. It primarily serves as a reservoir.
Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration work relief division efforts included the modernization of the municipal power plant on Vieques, ca. 1937.
Part of the Program of School Construction, this one-room school building in Camuy was built by the PRRA. The program focused on increasing enrollment, literacy, and expanding school facilities across the Island. “During the school year 1937-38, 275 buildings were added to the… read more
This school dining room was built by the PRRA in Guayanilla. The Program of School Construction focused on creating school facilities in rural areas. “During the school year 1937-38, 275 buildings were added to the number available last year, an… read more
This school dining room was built by the PRRA in Luquillo. The Program of School Construction focused on creating school facilities in rural areas. “During the school year 1937-38, 275 buildings were added to the number available last year, an… read more
This rural school was built by the PRRA in Fajardo. The Program of School Construction focused on creating school facilities in rural areas. “During the school year 1937-38, 275 buildings were added to the number available last year, an increase… read more
The PRRA established the Program of School Construction to create facilities in rural areas. “During the school year 1937-38, 275 buildings were added to the number available last year, an increase of 479 rooms. The Federal Government authorized the expenditure of $3.000.000… read more
Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration work relief division efforts included “reconstruction of the ancient Santo Domingo barracks, one of the island’s historic edifices dating from the early sixteenth century” in San Juan, in 1937. Also known as Convent of the Dominicans,… read more
Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration work relief division efforts included “a concrete landing pier … at Sein[e] Bay, Culebra, where naval vessels and marines assemble for winter maneuvers.” The exact location and status of the project are unknown to Living New… read more
Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration work relief division efforts included construction of “more than a mile of storm sewers” in Mayagüez, ca. 1937.
The Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration (PRRA) enlarged the Toro Negro hydroelectric plant, located north of Villalba. The work consisted of “new turbines, penstock pipes, canals, transformers, switches, and other control equipment.”
Between 1936-1937, the Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration (PRRA) built the Toro Negro hydroelectric plant no. 2, located at the headwaters of the Toro Negro River.
The expansion and development of Puerto Rico’s education system was central to the Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration’s (PRRA) agenda. The agency earmarked $2,062,954.40 for the development of the University of Puerto Rico, which remains the most important higher-education institution on… read more
The main campus of the University of Puerto Rico was founded in 1903 in Río Piedras. Part of the campus, including the athletic field, was built with the help of the PRRA. “In 1924 the Chicago firm of urbanists Bennett, Parsons and… read more
Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration work relief division efforts included “repairs, reconstruction, and additions [to] various municipal water systems and filtration plants, including the laying of several miles of piping” in Mayagüez, ca. 1937.
Municipalities across Puerto Rico asked for the PRRA’s help with improving existing water systems and building new ones. The municipality of Isabela benefited from this help—between 1937 and 1938, the PRRA improved and built waterworks and irrigation systems in the community. Geoff Burrows… read more
