New Deal Projects – Page 183

Woodrow Wilson High School Mural – Long Beach CA

“Democratic Education” by Carlos Dyer was funded by the WPA. Medium: casein tempera on asbestos curtain Size: 22′ h x 44′ wide

Woodrow Wilson School (demolished) Repairs – Charleston WV

The Works Progress Administration completed improvements and repairs for the Woodrow Wilson School in Charleston. The work consisted of “painting and repairing.”

Woodrow Wilson School Improvements – Bayonne NJ

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted improvement work on all school buildings in the city of Bayonne ca. 1939. Work on the Woodrow Wilson School building included “painting, repairing, and general improvement work.”

Woods Falls Road Improvements – Mooers Forks NY

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) improved Woods Falls Road near the village of Mooers Forks, New York in 1936.

Woods Park Improvements – Newton TX

A historical marker erected in 2008 reads: “In 1937, the Southwestern Settlement and Development Company deeded land to Newton County. This property would become known as Woods Park, named for the company’s surveyor, C.A. Woods. County residents used the park… read more

Woods Road Bridge – Hartford AR

In 1940 the Work Projects Administration (W.P.A.) constructed the bridge carrying Woods Road, ENE of Hackett, Arkansas, across Hackett Creek.

Woods Road Improvements – Brushton NY

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) worked to improve South Woods Road (then Wood Road) in Brushton, New York, the primary thoroughfare between the town and what was then the main ‘turnpike’ in the area.

Woodside Park Subdivision Improvements – Silver Spring MD

According to the index of WPA projects at the National Archives, WPA crews both helped improve the water system and constructed sidewalks in the Woodside Park subdivision.

Woodward Park – Tulsa OK

The WPA did extensive work in creating both the park’s rock and rose gardens. According to the Oklahoma Landmarks Inventory Nomination, the “rock gardens in Woodward Park were laid initially by WPA laborers, although there is some evidence that the… read more

Work Relief – Candia NH

A 1939 Town report notes efforts at unemployment relief. REPORT OF OVERSEER OF THE POOR It is gratifying to us all, to know that unemployed men and women of Candia are put to work as soon as possible through the… read more

Work Relief – Charlestown NH

The 1936 Town report mentions Flood repair from the 1936 flood as a WPA project employing 8 men with $1,231.50 contributed and a WPA sewing project for the making of clothing for the poor as costing $246.70 and employing employing… read more

Work Relief – Chester NH

A 1937 municipal report describes the usefulness of WPA projects to the city: “We have had several employed on W.P.A. projects in nearby towns which has been much help to all. As we locally can not furnish from our relief… read more

Work Relief – Greenfield NH

Town reports from 1936, 1937, & 1938 mention minor W.P.A. work relief efforts in the small town of 400 people. A WPA Blister Rust control program employed 10 people in 1936 and 4 people in 1937. The WPA spent $41.00… read more

Work Relief – Hillsborough NH

From 1938 to 1940, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) operated a sewing project in Hillsborough, NH, to making clothing for the needy while providing work for the unemployed.

World War Memorial – Milford MA

The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) commissioned, constructed, and cut the historic World War Memorial at Draper Memorial Park in Milford, Mass. It was dedicated Nov. 11, 1939.

World War Memorial Building – Montgomery AL

The World War Memorial Building, which houses the Alabama Department of Archives and History, “was completed in 1940 with the aid of WPA funds”. The Greek Revival-style building, designed by Warren, Knight, and Davis of Birmingham, is still in service.

World War Memorial Stadium – Newburyport MA

By the time Franklin Delano Roosevelt was inaugurated president in 1933, the United States was suffering the worst economic collapse in its history. In order to stimulate the economy and lessen unemployment, Roosevelt started the Public Works Administration (PWA) and,… read more

World’s Fair Parking Lot (no longer extant) – Flushing NY

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed a “seventy-five-acre parking field … for the city north of the World’s Fair grounds.” 1,950 men worked on the parking lot project, which occupied land north of Roosevelt Ave. The site was on what is now the parking lot… read more

World’s Fair Playground – Queens NY

On June 19, 1939, the Department of Parks announced the opening of two playgrounds in Flushing Meadows Park, one along the Grand Central Parkway, just south of Horace Harding Boulevard. This is most likely what is now known as the… read more

Wortham Gymnasium – Oak Grove AR

One of two buildings constructed by the WPA in the African American community of Oak Grove, the gymnasium is “…an example of a simple but handsomely balanced design which reveals the skill of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) workers” (Story,… read more

WPA Art Collection – Gallup NM

This collection of WPA art is now housed in the Octavia Fellin Public Library in Gallup, New Mexico The collection consists of 29 listed items including furniture, oil paintings, watercolors, pastels, etchings and sculpture. All items were obtained from the… read more

WPA Bathing Beach – Browns Mills NJ

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) operated a “bathing beach,” including swimming instruction classes, at the southeast corner of Mirror Lake in Browns Mills, New Jersey.

WPA Bridge – Garber OK

WPA bridge in rural Oklahoma. “This bridge represents hundreds of similar bridges throughout Oklahoma, spanning the many creeks that meander throughout the countryside. This bridge is 5 miles south of Garber in Garfield County. It is just north of County… read more

WPA Bridge – Guthrie OK

“This is one of the non-descript WPA-constructed bridges throughout Oklahoma that are a surprise to find. Driving north on Broadway from Edmond, you cross Waterloo Road which is the boundary between Oklahoma and Logan Counties… On the southeast side of… read more

WPA Bridge – Middlesboro KY

The Works Progress Administration was a Federal program during the Great Depression designed to provide jobs and make public improvements. A concrete bridge south of Ashbury St between the Middlesboro Intermediate School and 17th Street has the inscription “W.P.A. 1938.”

WPA Center – Carrollton GA

Carrollton, Georgie’s historic City Gym building, now known as WPA Center, is a stone building located at the corner of North Cliff and Chandler Streets, overlooking Park (US 27). The building was constructed with Works Progress Administration (WPA) labor in… read more

WPA Concrete Marker – Alma AR

This prominently displayed 1940 WPA marker stands in the grass at the edge of a small park in Alma, and most likely refers to WPA construction of the park itself. It does also border the town’s high school, and could… read more

WPA District Offices (demolished) – Tallahassee FL

The building was originally constructed as the Works Progress Administration (WPA) District Offices In Tallahassee, the WPA or PWA funded numerous civic projects, including the Leon County Jail, Leon High School, the Leon County Health Unit, the Leon County Armory,… read more

WPA Emergency Housing (former) – Bandon OR

The last of the WPA Emergency Hous built in Bandon after the 1936 fire, Bandon OR

The Bandon Fire, which burned the majority of the town on September 26, 1936, displaced a number of the city’s residents from their destroyed houses. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) promptly responded to a request for emergency housing by using… read more

WPA Historic Markers – Mackinac Island MI

“On Mackinac Island, several WPA engravers created incredibly detailed, two-sided oak signs showing scenes of the island’s heritage.” Hand-carved, many were created for placement outside the island’s historic buildings. After decades of decay, Carpenter Dale Gensman rescued seven signs from disposal… read more

WPA Malaria Prevention Efforts – Southington CT

“The WPA worked at malaria prevention … [A] swampy mosquito breeding area near the center of Southington, Connecticut … was converted to a free-flowing canal by the WPA.”

WPA Outhouse – Rio Medina TX

Behind the Rio Medina Store in Rio Medina, Texas is a wooden Works Progress Administration (WPA) outhouse. The base of the structure is marked.

WPA Outhouse (Jackson County History Center) – Brownstown IN

This Works Progress Administration outhouse was relocated to the county historical society property. It was built in a shop, moved to the original site, and installed by WPA. WPA programs like the Indiana Community Sanitation Program directly affected an astounding… read more