Civil Works Administration (CWA) Sites

The schools of Mansfield, Massachusetts received assistance throughout the New Deal. Early New Deal-sponsored improvements came from the Civil Works Administration and the Federal Emergency Relief Administration, saving the town's taxpayers money. The town's 1933 Annual Report states: "Late in November, the Civil Works Administration approved a request of the School Department for $1,558.20 for the employing of seven local men in a program of repairs to school buildings and equipment. ... Besides numerous small jobs of repair work ... several larger projects are planned. These are, a new chimney at the Main Street School; a new floor in a basement room...

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) conducted school improvement work in Manville, Wyoming. Cassity: "At Manville, the application for CWA funding noted how the school was run down, and desperately needed repairs, but “due to the financial condition of the district, it was impossible to do the work.”"

Per the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, the Civil Works Administration (CWA) supplied labor toward the following project in Nenana, Alaska in 1934: "The School House at Nenana has just enjoyed a spring cleaning, the interior of the building has been given a fresh coat of kalsomine and paint. Funds from the C.W.A. enabling the work to be done." Old Alma Mater got a coat of calsomine during the past weekend. The school board and the Principal had been trying for some time to get CWA funds with which to repair, paint and calsomine the schoolhouse. Their efforts were finally rewarded, in part...

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) conducted school improvement work in Opal, Wyoming.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) conducted school improvement work in Otto, Wyoming.

Cassity: "Rock Springs School District #4, in a standard approach applied to many other schools, used the CWA to conduct general repairs and overhauls of the buildings, treat the roofs, upgrade the plumbing, paint walls and varnish woodwork, and repair the windows and doors of the schools. Washington and Yellowstone schools were singled out for special treatment, but it appears that most of the schools in the district, and in the county, were included in this rehabilitation and repair work."

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) conducted school improvement work in Upton, Wyoming. "At Upton the CWA built equipment for the science laboratory, and perhaps even more noticeably, installed plumbing at the high school."

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) conducted school improvement work in Hilliard, Wyoming. Cassity: "t Washam, in Sweetwater County, ... the CWA dug a short tunnel into the hillside to tap into a spring in the mountain to provide water for the school."

The Independent Reporter often covered the ongoing work of the New Deal at providing relief for the unemployed on work in Skowhegan. In 1933-1934, the CWA and then FERA carried out extensive improvements to the local junior and senior high schools, including grading the schools' grounds and other landscaping, building roads, constructing a new athletic field and re-painting and cleaning the school interiors. The High School moved onto the island in 1869. In 1919, a new High School was constructed across the river from the island and the Junior High moved into the old High School. In the 1980's a new...

Delaware utilized substantial federal resources in developing and improving its road network during the Great Depression. Among the dozens of projects undertaken by the federal Civil Works Administration (C.W.A.) during 1934 was construction along School Lane in New Castle. An average of 1,410 were put to work each week during 1934 as a result of the CWA’s road, sidewalk, bridge, and other related infrastructure efforts in Delaware.  

According to Greenville's Record Argus the federal Civil Works Administration painted the interior of two schools in Titusville, Pennsylvania in 1934. More information is needed to verify the exact location of these projects.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) developed school playgrounds in Keeline, Wyoming in 1933/4. Cassity: "School life appears to have been significantly upgraded by the CWA workers at schools in the towns and countryside alike. Playground facilities, often taken for granted, came now where there were none previously. At Keeline, five schools added playground equipment like teeter-totters, merry-go-rounds, and swings."

A few New Deal projects helped relieve the effects of the Depression in this very small coastal town. Population 135 (1930 census) Pronunciation of Arrowsic is Ah-row-sick. 1933 Repair of Schoolhouse (CWA) : town share $50 School Superintendent report “The re-modeling of the entrance to the North School room has made a wonderful change in the appearance of the interior of the building. The additional floor space is much appreciated when community events are held in the schoolroom. We take this time to thank the Senior League members for their generous donation of $40.00 to help in the expense of the project. A...

A December 1933 newspaper article reported that: “The public schools in Bingham will close Friday for a vacation of four weeks. All school activities have been postponed until after the recess. In accordance with the Civil Works program extensive repairs are to be made during that time. At the High school a crew of local men will have four weeks of work in remodeling the entire interior plan of the building. The Junior High room will be made into a larger main room by the removal of the dressing rooms. The English rooms will be made larger and painting and redecorating will...

The Civil Works Administration of Jefferson County employed women in a school clean up project 37-C-348-2. Excerpts from the Report on Civil Works Administration of Alabama Jefferson County Division: "The clean-up of Birmingham Public Schools and Public Buildings enabled the employment of white and colored unskilled women, and constituted cleaning of walls, dusting of walls, polishing furniture and brass, washing windows and woodwork, and various duties the principals of the schools could outline in order to create cleaner, healthier and more attractive schools, not conflicting in any way with any of the work outlined for the janitor or maid, such as mopping...

From the Annual Report of the Municipal Officers of the Town of Bristol Maine: "Improvements on school grounds The Selectmen very kindly approved two special school projects under the Civil Works Administration. Under this plan marked improvements were made on the school grounds at the high school building and also at the Round Pond school building. This was in addition to the repairs made on school grounds in other parts of the town under the special appropriation granted at the last town meeting. Grounds We were all very much pleased to see the alders disappear last fall thru the work of the CWA. If...

The only annual town report available, 1933 mentions federal help for the small town of 1,112 (1930 Census) in rural Washington Country. "The appropriation suggested for repairs is to enable the town to take advantage of a C. W. A. project, already approved. Under the terms of this project, six painters and two carpenters will be supplied two days a week until the work is finished or until the time for the project expires. It is hoped to have all buildings painted throughout, to build a toilet at the grammar school and to take care of all other necessary repairs...

The Civil Works Administration (C.W.A.) provided funds and labor to conduct repair and improvement work to multiple schools in Danville, Vermont. "Work has been done on the Stanton, Harvey, North Danville, West Danville, Hill and Village Schools. All labor was paid for by the United States Government and one-third of the cost of materials was paid by the State Government. ... It seemed to be too good an investment to be wasted; repairs and improvements have been made which would have cost many times the same amount later."

1934 Report of Superintendent of Schools: "At West Farmington, Farmington Falls, Fairbanks School and the Red School, grading was done, the labor for which was paid by the Federal Government, but the material was furnished by the School Department. This is responsible for most of the deficit in the Repair Account. In addition to grading the grounds at the Red School, a new fence was built and the roof of the schoolhouse was shingled." The Red School House survived and was moved to the county fair grounds in 2007.

Schools were one of the many work programs that helped reduce welfare rolls in the depths of the depression in this industrial city. Out of $239,193.23 distributed by the Civil Works Administration (CWA), "Nearly all of our public schools have been painted and varnished 12 rural schools are also to be painted." The 1934 town report, under Federal Emergency Relief Project From Dec 1933 up to Feb. 1935 specifies the schools. "5. Painting and varnishing the interior of City Schools. Martel, Pettingill, Coburn, Frye, Dingley, Wallace, Jordan, and Lewiston High School. Exterior and interior painting of the twelve suburban schools, with general repairs such...

In the November 1, 1934 issue of the Independent Reporter, the community notes mentions that the Kew brothers were engaged in painting the Lincoln School building with the help of a CWA grant, both interior and exterior getting much needed work. Marilyn Sterling-Gondek of the Old Canada Road Historical Society, who helped Living New Deal locate the building, mentions that it was rebuilt in 1906 and used until 1960.

The Civil Works Administration (C.W.A.) provided funds and labor to conduct repair and improvement work to multiple schools in Peacham, Vermont. "Work has been done on the Ewell's, South Peacham, East Hill and Penny Street Schools. All labor was paid for by the United States Government and one-third of the cost of materials was paid by the State Government. It seemed to be too good an investment to be wasted; repairs and improvements have been made which would have cost many times the same amount later."

Much work was accomplished in the resort community of Rangeley (1930 pop. 1,472) by the New Deal in the improvement of education facilities and child support. 1933 FEDERAL AID FOR THE SCHOOLS Nursery School Project The Federal Government is paying the salary of the Nursery School teacher and is also paying for the dinners for these children. 15 children are now in attendance at this school. This school is provided for the children of those families who are on relief or eligible to relief. The Federal Relief Administrator has also loaned the Nursery School some blankets. Milk Project for Underweight Children The town is now...

According to town reports, needed repairs were conducted on the former school system of Searsport by CWA, FERA, & WPA. Of the school houses mentioned, only one on Mt. Ephraim St. survives as an apartment building. 1933 "There were three projects of grading school grounds entered under the C. W. A. which the Selectmen have engineered. This work will certainly improve the looks of the buildings and also make it possible for the children to play on the school grounds, instead of in the street. Much credit is due the Selectmen for the interest that they have shown in these projects. The...

According to local resident Sidney Winslow who was a worker on CWA/MERA projects on this small island community (population 1,843 1930), some work was accomplished on the school system. "1934 July 1. This new ERA project on the schoolhouses calls for new gutters on the Washington Building and two coats of paint. Two coats of paint on the White Schoolhouse and also two coats on the Granite Island School building also, general repairs on inside and out of the latter building. Repairs are being made on the ball ground and the school ground of Washington building. Fine followed by cloudy Sunday,...

According to the 1933 and 1934 town reports, a significant amount of work in the city of Belfast was accomplished by the New Deal, particularly improvements, addictions and new construction for the town schools. 1933: Superintendent of Schools Under the C. W. A. the brick walls in the High School have been scraped and repainted with a sealer and two coats of paint. We are also maintaining a school for illiterates in the City under the Emergency Relief in Education. Milk is also being provided from the Federal Fund. 1934 Under the newly formed School District construction was started December 3rd, of a new...

The schoolhouse in Kim, sited in the Comanche National Grassland, was constructed between 1933 and 1941 by the Civil Works Administration (CWA), the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA), and the Works Progress Administration (WPA). It consists of three buildings: an elementary school, gymnasium, and high school. The buildings are made of local sandstone and materials salvaged from the historic Fort Lyon.

The New Deal was involved in improvements to the school system in the small mill town of Brownville and Brownville Junction. According to the 1933 town report, the town paid its share of $1,064.32 for materials for a Civil Works Administration (CWA) school project. The school superintendent reported that the  CWA requested a school project and school officials asked for an enlargement of the Brownville Junction High gymnasium. The CWA paid for all labor and $626.00 for materials. May 1934 was the planned completion date when the CWA was liquidated. Its reported that under Federal Emergency Relief, 65 pupils were receiving...

This large island park in Omro, Wisconsin was established in the early 20th century and improved by the federal Civil Works Administration (CWA) and Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the 1930s: "In 1933, an adult swimming pool and a children's wading pool were built using a mix of local money and federal C.W.A. funds, which was followed by the construction of a bathhouse and dock in 1939 using village and W.P.A. funds."  (www.omro-wi.com)

Multiple New Deal organizations, particularly the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), worked to develop Scotts Bluff National Monument during the 1930s. From the National Park Service: For a short time, construction efforts came under the guidance of an agency known as the Civil Work Administration, which continued until April 28, 1934, when all construction came to a stop. At this time a complete survey was conducted to identify the bluff's historic and natural resources and to determine its future needs. During this survey, Dr. Harold J. Cook was named the monument's first ranger and on December 20, 1934, another federal agency, the Public...

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) provided labor to construct the Sea Scout Base at Riverside Park in Greenville, Pennsylvania between 1933 and 1934. The exact location and current status of the facility is unknown to Living New Deal.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) completed a project "painting the second ward school building," in Mauch Chunk (now Jim Thorpe), Pennsylvania in Jan. 1934. The second ward of the city was known as Upper Mauch Chunk. The location and status of the school is unknown to Living New Deal.

In 1933/4 the federal Civil Works Administration (C.W.A.) furnished the labor toward the development of an athletic area / playground at Sedgwick Middle School in West Hartford—specifically the planting of elm trees at the northern and western sides of the grounds.

Civil Works Administration projects in Wyoming included construction of what Living New Deal believes to be Seminoe Road: "In Carbon County one project required more than three thousand pounds of dynamite, but the road was essential, and in this case it was a new road; it was the road into the Seminoe district, the only road leading to the PWA worksite of the dam under construction." Living New Deal believes this to be the road known as Seminoe Road.

Serpent Mound is the largest effigy mound in North America. The site is a National Historic Landmark and, with eight other Native American earthworks in Ohio, is on the US Tentative List of sites submitted to UNESCO as a proposed World Heritage Site. Several New Deal agencies contributed to the memorial site: CWA (1933-34) – Funded surveys and topographic map of the mound and park, renovated historic-era buildings, planned and possibly initiated construction of two restroom buildings next to the parking lot. Restroom buildings used brick from the 1823 Second Baptist Church in Clarksville, OH (about 47 miles WNW of Serpent...

The Civil Works Administration (WPA) constructed a log cabin at Seward Park in 1934.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) built sewers on Johansen, Oakley, and Sherwood Streets in Portland, ME, in 1934. A photo courtesy of the Maine Memory Network depicts the sewer construction by CWA crews in 1934.

A storm sewer development project in Hutchinson, Kansas was undertaken during the Great Depression with the aid of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The PWA provided a grant of $29,093 toward the $99,675 total cost of the project. Construction occurred between July and October 1934. (PWA Docket No. KS 1902) Furthermore, the Civil Works Administration (CWA) conducted the following sewer / water disposal-related work in Hutchinson in 1933-4: Storm sewer on Adams, from 17th to 18th St. Storm sewer on Adams, from Ave. E to F, and into river Clean drainage ditches in Grandview Drag and clean several miles of storm...

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) extended the sewer system in Medicine Bow, Wyoming, the winter of 1933-34. We have no further details as to the what, when and where of the project.

The federal Civil Works Administration (CWA) undertook two sewer improvement projects in Ashland, Kentucky: Boyd Co 11–25: Uncover and Repair Sanitary Sewer on Keys Creek in Ashland Boyd Co 11–3: Uncover and Repair Sewers Leading to Sewage Disposal Plant in Ashland