Work Relief Programs Sites

As of January 1938, 60 women were employed at the Works Progress Administration (WPA) sewing room in Los Angeles, CA located at the Sawtelle barracks (today's West Los Angeles VA Medical Center). The precise location of the sewing room is unknown. When the state refused to continue providing materials in early 1938, Los Angeles County suspended WPA sewing projects and discharged 5,000 women.

As of January 1938, 94 women were employed at the Works Progress Administration (WPA) sewing room in Venice, CA. When the state refused to continue providing materials in early 1938, Los Angeles County suspended WPA sewing projects and discharged 5,000 women. It appears the structure that housed the sewing room is still extant, but confirmation is needed.

The Works Program Administration (WPA) operated one of the largest shoe repair shops in Los Angeles, CA in 1936. The shoes were repaired at an average cost of 34 cents with eighty-five men and women working in two shifts, repairing 150 to 350 shoes a day. The shop only repaired the shoes of those on public relief, so this project did not interfere with private industry. The Los Angeles Times reported that upwards of 13,000 pairs of shoes had already been repaired in the shop by February, 1936.

The Works Progress Administration built sidewalks on Baldwin Avenue in front of Komoda Store and Bakery.

The curb and gutter in front of the PWA former William Travis Elementary School still have a WPA concrete stamp.

A Works Progress Administration (WPA) allotment of $118,232 was approved in July 1939 for street improvements and additional sidewalks and gutter construction. A large sidewalk was constructed to access the Weatherford Municipal Power and Light plant, completed in 1940. The city had applied for PWA funding to construct the new electric plant, however, the plant was not approved due to lack of funds for a high number of projects submitted by Texas. The city constructed the new plant with revenue bond funds. The sidewalks leading to the building were stamped with Works Progress Administration. Both the sidewalks and the former...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed several sidewalks in Albany CA in 1939 and 1940, which can be identified by distinctive WPA 'sidewalk stamps'. Such markers were commonly impressed into wet concrete to show the name of sidewalk contractors in the first half of the 20th century.  One group of WPA stamps can be found along Santa Fe Avenue at 1301 Dartmouth St., 1054 Santa Fe Ave.(corner of Francis St.), and 1159 Santa Fe Ave.(corner of Pomona), south of Marin Street (see photos).  Another pair of WPA sidewalks stamps can be seen nearby at 1509 and 1511 Sonoma Ave. and at...

Sayville's Suffolk County News reported in 1936: "The men of the WPA are at work laying a cement sidewalk along the north side of Merrick road** between Sylvan and Snedecor avenues. This is a much needed improvement, several people have been hurt while walking in the street there." **The road in question, given the cross streets, is most likely what is now known as Middle Road.

A WPA press release from Dec. 1937 states: "a project scheduled to begin December 20 calls for construction of sidewalks and curbs along public thoroughfares throughout the city. A WPA allotment of $9,049 augmented by $5,952 in city funds will finance the work, sponsored by the City of Camas."

This WPA stamp in Broadmoor, a small region within Daly City, shows that the WPA worked on sidewalks in the area in 1940.

The WPA worked extensively on curbs, gutters and sidewalks in Davis. "SERA also denied (for being a piecemeal approach that wouldnt improve drainage) the citys application for installing widely-scattered curbs & gutters, although the WPA in 1937 approved $26,000 for the more-comprehensive version of the paving project. That concrete, it was assured, was to use local gravel from Putah Creek." - https://www.yolo.net/ychs/publications/newDeal.html Many sidewalks in Davis still bear WPA stamps: "Davis still bears the stamp of these WPA projectsliterally. Perhaps you've seen the "WPA" initials imprinted in a sidewalk while strolling through old North Davis. These sidewalks were laid in the late 1930's...

The concrete sidewalks that surround and lead up to the historic Denton County Courthouse are considered to be contributing structures in this historic district, and they were built by the Works Progress Administration between 1934 and 1935. The registration form for the Denton County Courthouse Square Historic District explains: "The source of funding is inscribed within the outer sidewalk at regular intervals. These sidewalks are a contributing structure within the district as they represent an important feature of the courthouse grounds and are representative of the type of federal projects utilized during the Depression in Denton." Some repairs have been done to...

Sayville's Suffolk County News reported that the construction of "approximately two miles of sidewalks at East Moriches," New York, was a town-sponsored WPA project. The Federal government was expected to contribute about $18,000 toward the project. The project included sidewalk construction along Montauk Highway.

The WPA allocated $14,707 toward a project begun in May 1938 to construct sidewalks and conduct a handful of other improvements along certain roads in East Patchogue, N.Y. The project was said to provide labor for 50 men. According to The Suffolk County News, sidewalks were to be built "on the east side of Dunton avenue" between South Country Road and Robinson Blvd. and "about a mile and a quarter along the north side of Robinson boulevard," roughly centered about Dunton Ave. "600 feet of curb and gutter where needed" were to be constructed on Robinson Blvd. as well. Note: It is probable...

"The still-vivid Works Progress Administration concrete stamps on the sidewalks around Fresno's second City Hall pay homage to the breadth of New Deal-era projects in Fresno, and the contribution the WPA made to improving city infrastructure."

In 1939 Suffolk County News reported multiple WPA sidewalk projects that were approved ‘by a vote of members of the Brookhaven Town Board.’ The projects were estimated to cost a total of $33,441, “of which the town’s share would be … $16,384.” The jobs were “aimed principally at the protection of children walking to and from local schools.” Medford's Mid-Island Mail described the scope of the project completed on October 30, 1939: "On Coates avenue the sidewalks extend from the Lutheran church to Lexington avenue, a distance of 300 feet, and on the hospital side of Coates avenue from Shelby avenue to Pauline...

In 1939 Sayville's Suffolk County News reported multiple WPA sidewalk projects that were approved ‘by a vote of members of the Brookhaven Town Board.’ The projects were estimated to cost a total of $33,441, “of which the town’s share would be … $16,384.” The jobs were “aimed principally at the protection of children walking to and from local schools.” “The Holtsville proposal calls for 1.6 miles of sidewalk extending along the east side of Waverly avenue from the north side of the railroad tracks northward to the farm-to-market road .” In October the newspaper reported the completion of the project.

The WPA allocated $19,445 for 'sidewalks and curbs' within Kalispell, Montana in August 1938.

The WPA allotted $8,483 in Oct. 1935 for the construction of sidewalks in Kings Park, NY.

The 1940 WPA stamp is located on the Northeast corner of the intersection.

These three Work Projects Administration stamps are set into the sidewalk along Central St. in Mansfield, Massachusetts.

A WPA press release from Dec. 1937 reported that "Two Poulsbo projects, one for sidewalks and the other for water system improvement," received $5,919 in WPA assistance.

This marker shows that the WPA paved sidewalks in Redlands in 1940. The exact location of this stamp is not known.

"Other notable WPA projects in Placer County include a sewage treatment plant in Auburn and sidewalks in Roseville. In fact, the WPA stamp still graces some sidewalks in Roseville. The WPA always left a marker or a stamp in fresh concrete to identify its projects. This wasnt done for pride of work alone, but was an effective marketing tool. People saw WPA as they moved through their daily lives and it assured them that the program had a measurable effect on their community."

The federal Work Projects Administration (WPA) constructed sidewalks along Elsie Ave. and Bancroft Ave. in San Leandro, California: "WPA 1939" is stamped into the sidewalk in several places along Elsie Avenue. "WPA 1940" is stamped along Bancroft Avenue. Elsie Avenue may have also been paved as a WPA project; the street appears unpaved on a 1938 city map.

A WPA project in Sandwich, Massachusetts approved in late 1938 involved the construction of sidewalks "in the thickly populated sections of the town."

The WPA constructed sidewalks along the west side of Candee Avenue in Sayville, N.Y., in 1940. Neighboring Greene Avenue was improved by a WPA "gutter project." The town's Suffolk County News reported: "Other projects include a walk on North Main street, from Foster extension west, and on Hamilton and Hiddink streets."

The WPA allotted $13,724 in Oct. 1935 for the construction of sidewalks in Smithtown, NY.

During 1935 WPA labor was responsible for the laying of sidewalks “on the west side of Cherry avenue from street, to the end of the present walks, north of Union street,” in in West Sayville, N.Y.  In 1936 the WPA undertook a similar project one block over, "on the west side of Tyler avenue, extending north from Union street to the alley connecting Tyler and Cherry avenues and also along the north side of this short alley."  Further WPA sidewalks were built one block west, on Division Avenue. ** Articles in this newspaper differ with respect to this detail, but...

"The City of Wishek benefited from several WPA projects. The city park, community swimming pool, Wishek Civic Center, and many of the sidewalks in town were all built by WPA workers." (ndstudies.gov)

This WPA stamp shows that the WPA paved sidewalks in the city.

"Memorial Park is located between Classen Blvd. and Western Avenue, just south of N.W. 36th Street. It was established in 1908 and is a beautiful, historic park. Winding through this area are numerous concrete walking paths, and every 10-15 ft. you will find etched in the concrete, the WPA shield with the inscription WPA 1941. The walkways are in surprisingly good condition after all these years. We have noticed many buildings in Oklahoma built by the WPA, but this was the first etched sidewalks we've come across. A pleasant surprise."   (https://www.waymarking.com)

"Besides the wonderful old WPA-constructed buildings throughout the country, WPA labor was used to construct parks, walls, bridges. parks and numerous other items. During our travels, we often come across sidewalks, even in residential parts of town, that are stamped with the WPA shield. In downtown Purcell, with our eyes focused on the Statue of Liberty sculpture in front of an old bank, we looked down in order to walk up the four concrete steps leading from the street level to the sidewalk...and lo and behold, we found that they were constructed in 1940 by the WPA."   (https://www.waymarking.com)

Referencing the WPA, an article in the Dec. 25, 1936 issue of Sayville’s Suffolk County News stated: “Various projects have been completed … and other projects, such as the storm sewer job on Greene avenue and Main street, Sayville, are now in progress.” Such previous work was completed "on Edwards street and Erwin street ... and in the vicinity of those streets," a project for which $24,765.12 was allocated.

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) enrollees from Camp Applegate built this community kitchen shelter in 1935-1936. The Wrangle Gap campground became a popular recreation spot on the newly opened Forest Road 20 that was completed by CCC Camp Applegate enrollees the same year. The Community Kitchen Shelter is the only remaining CCC constructed amenity at the campground. With its stonework and peeled log construction, the rustic shelter and kitchen facility is an excellent example of the design and craftmanship employed by CCC workers in the region's forests. The community kitchen shelter at nearby the McKee Bridge picnic area is another stop...

The Massachusetts Department of Forestry acquired "one thousand acres of land in Wrentham and Plainville" in 1934. CCC labor was utilized to "clean up the underbrush, make the woodroads into real roads, rebuild old dams which have been down for many years, stock the ponds with fish, and set out young pine trees."

Multiple New Deal agencies carried out improvement, development, and/or construction work at what was then Wrentham State School (now Wrentham Developmental Center). Annual Report: "Much valuable work has been done at the institution during the year through the use of funds provided by the C.W.A., F.E.R.A. and P.W.A. Nine out of many projects presented were approved at the beginning of the C.W.A. activities, and few were completed ..." "The projects sponsored by the government on the P.W.A. program, namely the addition to the laundry, which has been built but is not yet equipped, and the fourth nursery building which will be completed this summer, are progressing satisfactorily."

WPA Project No. 265-5-3000, App. Date 10/26/36, $8,295, Total Funds $10,733, Average Employed 56, Sponsor: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, (Forest Service), "Improve and repair public camp grounds, including the construction of a masonry dam at the outlet of Wrights Lake, building of fire places, cement bases for stoves, water and sanitation development, clearing of debris and general camp improvements. All in the El Dorado National Forest in El Dorado County. Federal owned property. Permission of proper Federal authority has been obtained. It is certified that the funds provided are sufficient for the completion of the projects. To take the place...

A flood in 1927 brought about plans to construct four flood control projects, made possible by the New Deal and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Wrightsville Dam is one of those. Construction began in August 1933  and was completed in October 1935. The dam is earthfill with stone slope protection. It is 1,525 feet long and 115 feet high. The dam and reservoir are located on the North Branch of the Winooski River, about  three miles north of Montpelier on Route 12.  Its main purpose is to protect Montpelier. According to the US Army Corps of Engineers: "Wrightsville Reservoir was one of four...

"The road network that would become North Attleboro's World War I Memorial Park was cut by CCC crews."