Civil Works Administration (CWA) Sites

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) developed a school skating pond in Superior, 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. ... Superior’s students got a skating pond courtesy of CWA workers."

Sloan College, a building on the University of South Carolina campus in Columbia, South Carolina, presently houses the school's Department of Art. The building was improved with New Deal funds. The school's building history page states: "In 1934 a Civil Works Administration grant paid for repairs to LeConte, Davis, Sloan, Rutledge, and DeSaussure colleges and other buildings." Sloan College is located northeast of Gibbes Green off Pickens St.

"Federal New Deal employment programs of the Great Depression further upgraded the airfield. In 1933, the Commerce Department’s Aeronautics Branch and the Civil Works Administration (CWA) began a nationwide program of airport development. The CWA funded 13,108 man-hours of labor on Baer Field in 1933 alone, including drainage, lighting, sodding, tree removal, improved heating systems, improved parking areas, and the creation of flowerbeds. By 1934, the airport had improved the concrete runways and aprons, and in 1935 and 1936, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) funded more concrete pavement, lighting upgrades, and radio communication equipment. Old Baer Field was one of...

Multiple school buildings in southeastern Vermont were improved with federal Civil Works Administration (C.W.A.) funds and labor. Athens/Jamaica town report, 1933-4: At present there are four different jobs under the C. W. A. either going on or finished. At South Wardsboro the school house has been shingled and a new chimney built. At West Wardsboro one side of the school building has been shingled. At Athens running water is being piped to the school. In South Newfane the school building has been moved farther back from the road and is being completely remodeled. The labor for all these projects is provided...

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) constructed the South Sioux City Public Library in South Sioux City, Nebraska. The location and status of the building is presently unknown to Living New Deal.

Multiple school buildings in southeastern Vermont were improved with federal Civil Works Administration (C.W.A.) funds and labor. Athens/Jamaica town report, 1933-4: At present there are four different jobs under the C. W. A. either going on or finished. At South Wardsboro the school house has been shingled and a new chimney built. At West Wardsboro one side of the school building has been shingled. At Athens running water is being piped to the school. In South Newfane the school building has been moved farther back from the road and is being completely remodeled. The labor for all these projects is provided...

This stage was built by the CWA as a memorial to a popular Sacramento supervisor.

The Spartanburg Municipal Airport opened in 1927. The Civil Works Administration graded the field, erected two runways and completed a new lighting system in 1933-1934. Work was noted to be started by 22 December 1933 and was to be completed by 15 February 1934. A Spartanburg Herald 1933 article noted that the city sought out an appropriation of $200,000 for the improvement program.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) and Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) constructed the first three miles of Spirit Mountain Road, west of Cody, Wyoming. Casper Star-Tribune: "Completion cf a three-mile road up the mountain that turns off the main highway about as many miles west of Cody will make this natural cavern easily accessible, and assurance is given that the work will be finished this year. Started and carried on first as a CWA project, it was continued last year under the ERA with good results, and when completed will stand an engineering achievement. Many difficulties were experienced on account of...

The New York City Parks Department website declares: "Despite the hardships endured by New Yorkers over the course of the World Wars and the Great Depression, the demand for golf courses increased steadily. Under the tenure of Parks Commissioner Robert Moses (1888-1981), New York City’s recreational facilities saw great changes. With federal funding provided by the Works Progress Administration, Moses created a variety of new public facilities and expanded others throughout the city. In 1936, the Pell Golf Course was refurbished, and renamed the Pelham Golf Course. That same year, the adjacent Split Rock Golf Course and clubhouse were built." The New...

The federal Civil Works Administration (CWA) worked to construct and improve public park lands along Spring Avenue in southeast Troy, New York, during the Great Depression. The Troy Times wrote: "Work was started today on the CWA project for the beautification of Barker Parkway, which includes strips of land along Spring Avenue. Approximately 40 workers will be engaged at first in grading and filling in the land and later three residences on the property will be removed and the property landscaped and improved. The land was acquired by the late Mrs. Stephen Barker and deeded to the city in 1919 for the purpose of...

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 "Springfield X Rds. to Fairmont." Fairmont is a place name located a few miles east and south of Georgetown. Springfield Road, east of Georgetown, is highlighted on the map here. 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.  

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 Spruce Street in Wilmington. According to Delaware's Annual Report of the Chief Engineer State Highway Department, 1934: The work was carried on throughout the State, and consisted largely of clearing and grubbing, ditching, grading, sodding, construction of sidewalks, building of masonry culverts and bridges and the re­ pairing of dikes along the banks of the Delaware and Christian Rivers. An average of 1,410 were put to work each week...

"After withdrawing an application to the PWA, St. Augustine's municipal officials initiated the St. Augustine Civic Center project through the CWA. ... In 1935, residents and administrators celebrated the completion of the building under the FERA banner." (NRHP Nomination) The St. Augustine Civic Center is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) constructed a "concrete stadium" in Ridgefield Park.

The State Narcotic Hospital Spadra was a once separate program within the grounds of what is known today as the Lanterman Developmental Center in Pomona, CA. No records exist since the unincorporated area known as Spadra was annexed into the City of Pomona. 3 different New Deal relief agencies were involved in reconstruction efforts at this mental health facility. WPA #1E B20 810, CWA SLF #61, & SERA#S1 B1 174. Records at the Pasadena Museum of History describe New Deal work at the site: "This (WPA) project was opened January 11, 1935 and was suspended May 2, 1935 at the request of...

The federal Civil Works Administration provided the labor for the construction of what is now South Carolina Route 41 north of Georgetown, South Carolina. "Civil Works Administration employees work on SC Rt 511 in a c.1933 photograph. ... SC Rt 511 was renumbered in the early 1950s and became SC Rt 41. " (Georgetown County Digital Library) A photo of the work is available at the source link below.

The federal Civil Works Administration provided the labor for the construction of what is now South Carolina Route 51 north of Georgetown, South Carolina. "Route #51, near Peter's Creek, C.W.A. Project #104". The Civil Works Administration was formed in early November 1933 and was formed to build bridges and buildings." (Georgetown County Digital Library) A photo of the work is available at the source links below.

As part of 7 initial CWA projects in Somerset County, was $7,000 for a portion of Maine State Route 43 from Farmington to Anson.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) and Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) provided labor for the renovation of Asheville's old Station 5 firehouse, in Biltmore Village. The building, which served as a fire station until 1975, is now privately owned. "Under project No. 11B-B4-24, the Biltmore fire station, just out of Asheville, Buncombe County, was completely renovated. The truck room has been enlarged to accommodate two trucks, the living quarters for the firemen have been replastered and redecorated, and the old and unsanitary plumbing has been brought up to date. These improvements were much needed to bring this fire station up to...

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) undertook a modest project to paint the since-demolished Charles Steele School in Northumberland, Pennsylvania. The school had been located at the western corner of Orange St. and 6th St.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) conducted a project involving gravelling "a road in the town of Stella, from County Trunk C toward Stella lake."

A waymarker in Oklahoma describes this municipal park, located within a block of the WPA built American Legion Hut and the WPA State Armory: "Stephenson Park contains several of the familiar WPA-constructed clues. Although I was unable to located any plaques or etchings in the concrete reading "WPA", the typical wall and bridge construction gave it away. The Edmond Historical Society website confirms that the park was a WPA Project. The park has a rolling landscape, with a small creek run-off which has two WPA-constructed pedestrian bridges. They are both arched across the waterway, with concrete platform and stone walls. At the...

From the Sterling Kansas Bulletin article 8 November 1934: "Another CWA project of which the city and community may well be proud is the new chapel that has just been completed in the northwest corner of the Sterling Community Cemetery. Built of stone and cement blocks, which were taken from around lot curbing, the Spanish style building makes a very substantial and attractive little chapel. The material, which had to be purchased for the building, was furnished by Sterling City and Sterling Township, and the work was all done as a Civil Works Administration (CWA) project. Marion Heter was the architect and...

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) constructed a stockyards building and enclosed a lot for sales, on North Cumberland Street in Morristown, Tennessee. The project included a "modern horse and mule shed," and enabled farmers to sell their stock in a location other than on the streets. The location and status of the project is presently unknown to Living New Deal.

Multiple New Deal agencies worked to develop Ashland, Massachusetts's Stone Park. The Civil Works Administration (C.W.A.) constructed toilet facilities and bleachers in 1934. The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) continued work in 1935. Federally funded labor also improved the park's drainage and conducted other repairs.

The federal Civil Works Administration constructed numerous storm sewers in Greenville, Pennsylvania between 1933 and 1934. According to Greenville's Record-Argus, these "projects include the Bentley avenue, Short street, Brockway, Lever-Morgan, Shady, Rooney, Main, Canal and Bessemer street storm sewers."

The CWA paved Strand Street between 1933 and 1934. "First coat of asphalt poured in block Fisher and Queen Street, block Queen and Hill ready for first coat of asphalt, large stones ready for rolling block Hill and King.”

The federal Civil Works Administration (CWA) undertook the "Re-Flooring of Bridge, Resurfacing of Streets" in Salyersville, Magoffin County, Kentucky:

The Civil Works Administration conducted a street and drain improvement project in Irondale, Alabama. CWA Project No. 37-C-160: 80% completed as of Mar. 31, 1934; "streets & drains". Work began Nov. 22, 1933.

The Civil Works Administration conducted a street and drain improvement project in Lipscomb, Alabama. CWA Project No. 37-C-52: completed; "streets & drains". Work began Nov. 27, 1933.

The federal Civil Works Administration (CWA) undertook the following project in Jackson County, Kentucky: "Const. of Sidewalks, Grading, Draining, and Surfacing Of All Streets In McKee, 1 Mile Of Streets, 1 Bridge, 4 Sidewalks, 200 Lin. Ft. Stonewall"

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) planted around 400 street trees in the city of Martinez in the winter of 1933-34. The plantings consisted of walnuts and sycamores.  (Henderson 2014) Susana Park had just been deeded to the city by the Masonic Lodge, which stands nearby.  Many of the trees in the park are probably planted by the CWA.  Rock work at the entrances to the park may well be CWA, but that cannot be confirmed (benches connected to the low rock walls were removed in a recent renovation of the park). A special ceremony was held at Susana Park to plant trees...

The federal Civil Works Administration constructed and improved roads in the vicinity of Andrews, South Carolina ca. 1933-4. A photo of the work is available at the source link below.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) conducted street improvement work in Belleville, Kansas. The Belleville Telescope, Dec. 28, 1933: "Many of the city's dirt streets have been improved the past two weeks by men working on the city CWA project. Cleaning of ditches and regrading is the nature of the work that is giving employment to ten men."

The Civil Works Administration (CWA), Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA), and Works Progress Administration (WPA) each conducted road repair / improvement projects in Boone, North Carolina. As of June 1939 three miles of streets and sidewalks has been "finished in Boone" by the WPA. The News and Observer quoted Boone's mayor, W. H. Gragg: "We decided to start a project to improve the streets in the residential section, which were in very bad condition. Many of them could not be traveled in winter-time and all very dusty. The project included surfacing one and one-fourth miles, building culverts, grading and building other streets....

The Civil Works Administration conducted a street improvement project in Cardiff, Alabama. CWA Project No. 37-C-162: completed. Work began Nov. 23, 1933.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) conducted street improvement work in Chapman, Nebraska, including "cleaning the streets as well as other street work as filling chuck holes, etc."

The federal Civil Works Administration worked to improve ("ash" and grade) numerous roads in Greenville, Pennsylvania in 1934. The work employed dozens of men.

Emporia Gazette: "Cottonwood Falls, June 1,—Two CWA projects in Chase county which were started earlier in the year have been completed. ... The other was the street work in Strong City which was finished earlier in the month. There are several other projects soon to be completed."