Works Progress Administration (WPA) Sites

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) built a community hall, 1938-40, for use by farm families relocated from the Dust Bowl to a Resettlement Community in Fruita and Loma, Colorado. It is a tall, single-story, wood frame building, with plank siding painted white.  The high-ceiling interior is fitted out with hardwood floors, a basketball court, a stage and riser seating. Two ticket windows flank the entrance.  The basement has a full kitchen, which was used by WPA service workers to make hot lunches for the nearby elementary school. We have no corroborating evidence that the elementary school was built by the WPA, despite...

“The Purcell Community Hall is a single story rectangular building (51’ X 104’) and is constructed of dark red native sandstone laid in a cob web pattern.  The masonry is splendid…On the front a limestone frieze and water table line provide decorative relief, as does the segmental arch entryway… Reminiscent of a National Guard Armory, it has a style unlike any other civic center constructed by the WPA in Oklahoma...That it was constructed early in the life of the WPA program, when the skills of workers still lacked refinement, makes the structure even more unique...The Community Hall is notable because it...

The WPA built this community hall in Sandpoint in 1936. From the Idaho Historical Society (via Waymarking.com): "The idea behind the Community Hall originated with the local Boy Scout organization early in 1935. It was difficult to find meeting places for the three Sandpoint troops, especially during the winter months, "and for that reason the council decided to build a log cabin for the use of the Boy Scouts and other local groups," reported E. E. Hunt, president of the Bonner County Boy Scout council. Other groups soon became involved and the project became community- wide in scope. Local support for the...

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) constructed a community center in Farson, Wyoming. The building then "burned in 1936 and was reconstructed with insurance proceeds and WPA labor." Living New Deal believes the community centers were located on what is now the site of the current Eden Valley Community Center, constructed in 2011. Google Street View imagery shows a building that reasonably fits the description of a mid-1930s community center.

The community house was constructed 1935-1936 with native pine logs in the rustic style. Superintendent of construction was David Felts, a building and contractor from Carrollton. Extensive restoration was completed in 2001.

The Works Progress Administration built a community house in Columbia, circa 1937. The exact location and condition of the structure is unknown to the Living New Deal.

Enterprise, Mississippi's rustic-style log community house was constructed c. 1935 by the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA). The building features a porch with shed roof and stone chimney.

The stone veneer facade, one-story stone and brick Community House was constructed with Work Progress Administration funding in 1938. One room of the Community House was designated for a library in 1966. The first known library in the county was established in the courthouse through the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression but was in existence only eight months.

Flowell, Utah's historic community house was constructed as part of a New Deal project undertaken by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The exact location and present status of the community house are presently unknown to Living New Deal. "30 Families Raise $5,159 For New Hall FLOWELL, Utah March 23-(AP)--The 30 families living here, seven miles west of Fillmore, have made a bigger cash sacrifice per family to obtain a WPA project than any other community in Utah. Darrell J. Greenwell, state administrator, said the residents raised $172 per family to provide matching funds to obtain a $20,830 community house erected by the WPA....

The Grenada Community House is a Tudor style "stone-veneered building with false-half-timbered gables, very similar to the community house in Pontotoc and Winona" and is part of the Grenada Downtown Historic District (Mississippi Department of Archives and History). "On February 9, 1934, with aid from the WPA Library Project, the official Grenada County Library opened in the upstairs room in a building next to the Grenada Bank. In 1936 the Community House was built on Line Street as a project through WPA. Part of the building became the new home of the library. In 1963 the city of Grenada gave the entire Community...

The rustic style log cabin with stone chimney was conjectured to have been built by the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) circa 1935, in the Teoc Community northwest of North Carrollton. WPA and other New Deal agencies built similar community houses in Mississippi in 1935. It was abandoned and collapsing in 1997, and in 2009, only the chimney remained.

One of 17 community houses constructed in Mississippi during the New Deal, the facility in Winona is still in use and maintained through regular repair, retaining "a high degree of integrity" (Gatlin, 2008). The building is faced with native rock in a Tudor style.. The public library was housed in the building initially, as were many of the libraries opened in Mississippi under the New Deal library projects. The first event held at completion was a "celebration of WPA Project Day, held 'for the purpose of acquainting the public with the accomplishments of the program during its first year' " (WPA...

In 1938, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) converted Ross Field, a World War balloon training school for more than 3,500 military personnel located in Arcadia, CA, into a public park. They constructed a golf course, swimming pool, and tennis courts. "Before opening day Oct. 12, 1938, the WPA crew christened each golf hole: The fifth is 'Railroad' because it paralleled the Pacific Electric tracks; the 11th is 'Wind' because the prevailing wind blows in players' faces, and the 16th is 'Clubhouse Turn' because it was the first turn on pioneer Lucky Baldwin's original racetrack site. A plaque paying tribute to the...

In 1939, a dead-end wall was constructed in Salina, Kansas in an area that now sits behind Salina Community Theater. The wall was built by youths who were employed by the National Youth Administration (NYA). The NYA was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) that focused on training, employing, and educating young people between the ages of 16 and 25. Chris Cotten, Parks and Recreation Director of the City of Salina, Kansas tells us that "n April 1939 the Salina Journal reported that 35 NYA youths, working part time and using rubble masonry, were hired to construct 'ten dead-end walls' on...

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) photo pictured here describes this project as "removal of island and building of dyke." The work took place in Como Lake Park in Lancaster, New York. The current status and exact location of the dike is unknown to the Living New Deal.

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) completed this rustic shelter house in the 1930s for Como Lake Park in Lancaster, New York. More information is needed to determine the present status of the shelter and its location within the park.  

The WPA constructed several structures at the Como Zoo in the 1930s. From the Como Zoo's website: “In 1897, the City of Saint Paul fenced-in a pasture in Como Park to hold three deer gifted to them, thus beginning Como Zoo. Thirty-some years later the first major construction project was federally funded through the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The 1930s’ WPA projects included the bear grotto, Monkey Island, the barn and the Main Zoo building.” The following quotes are from Larry Millet's Guide to the Twin Cities (2007). Gateposts: "These brick and stone gateposts originally stood at the front entrance of the...

From Missouri Armories: "This armory was built as a WPA project and incorporates many aspects of the WPA modern style inside and out, but the stylistic features are somewhat extreme and could not be considered typical of the are deco style. This is illustrated in the two pillars flanking the main entrance and the lack of geometric interpretation." Occupied 1939-ca. 2000.

The Works Progress Administration built the Company F, 140th Infantry Armory in Poplar Bluff MO. From "Missouri Armories": "By July 1940, forty-two men were employed on the armory project, building 6000 large blocks for the outside walls on the front lawn of the building site." Currently owned by the Poplar Bluff school district and used as a maintenance building.

The auditorium at Compton College (formerly Compton Junior College) in Compton, CA, was constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) after the campus suffered damage in the devastating 1933 Long Beach earthquake. Construction of the auditorium had begun under the California State Relief Administration (SRA); it was completed by the WPA at a federal cost of $8,345 and $24,578 total. It is possible the WPA was also responsible for building the College's main building and women's gym. It is unclear if these structures have survived ongoing construction at Compton College funded by the November 2002 passage of Measure CC—which authorized the issuance...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) completed a series of improvements and construction projects at Compton High School in Compton, CA. WPA laborers constructed the school auditorium; the women's gymnasium; and a 50' x 100' pool and bath house with showers, toilets, dressing rooms, etc. Compton High School was demolished in 2021 to allow for the construction of a modern campus, scheduled to open in 2025.

"Conchas Dam is the oldest and one of the largest water projects of the US Army Corps of Engineers in New Mexico. Begun under the New Deal's Emergency Relief Act of 1935, the construction of the dam and associated facilities provided employment for nearly 2400 people. The WPA supported school teachers for the children of the work crews and after the dam was completed, the work camp provided housing for CCC crews building onsite recreational facilities. Today the headquarters building is still in use, and five other units provide housing for staff." -Treasures on New Mexico Trails The following quotes are all...

The CCC-built administration building of the park contains two WPA murals "by Odon Hullenkremer, a Hungarian-bom artist who worked with the WPA Federal Art Project during the 1930s. The larger of the paintings, six feet by twelve feet, hangs on the north wall of the Visitor Center in the administration building and is called "Commencement of Main Dam Construction." The foreground of this painting depicts four surveyors with their instruments. The actual identities of the surveyors depicted have been verified by their descendents. In the background are depicted machines and men at work. The second Hullenkremer painting, "Conchas City, New...

The Concordia Parish Courthouse was undertaken in Vidalia, Louisiana during the Great Depression with the assistance of funds provided by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The "Greco-Deco" courthouse in Vidalia was erected due to the need to relocate the town for flood control of the Mississippi River. The WPA relocated businesses and houses, as well as constructed the new parish courthouse. Constructed for a cost of $109,950, the building remains in use as the parish library and records storage.

"The Coney Island and Brighton Beach boardwalks were rebuilt ."

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted a sewer construction project by Coney Island Creek at Shell Road in 1936.

One of the five restored Alice in Wonderland murals painted by Abram Champanier in 1938-40 is hung in the Cumberland Center at 100 N Portland Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205.  The mural was originally created for the Gouverneur Hospital children’s ward in lower Manhattan, but was neglected and then restored in the early 1990s. The mural is listed on the New York Health and Hospitals Corporation art collection website, dated 2006. The present status of the mural is unknown to us. A 1994 New York Times article on WPA murals in NYC notes it is in the E.R. of Coney Island Hospital.

The Conference House (also known as the Billopp House) is located on the southernmost tip of Staten Island in the Tottenville neighborhood. "The Conference House, a grand stone manor house built in 1680, is named for the unsuccessful Revolutionary War peace conference that was held here on September 11, 1776 between the Americans and the English. Despite their negotiations to end the fighting, no agreement was reached and the Revolutionary War continued for another seven years" (www.nycgovparks.org). The house is now a historic landmark and a museum. The restoration of the house began in 1926 and continued through the 1930s....

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed a jetty near North Platte, Nebraska: "Project 997" was described as follows: "River protection work at the junction of the North and South Platte rivers east of North Platte. Workmen are constructing a 1,500 foot jetty to a towhead in the middle of the river. The object of this work is to backfill some land and reclaim it for the North Platte airport." The project provided work for seven men.

A Boston Public Works Department report cited Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) labor as conducting repair work on the "Eastern Avenue bridge," a.k.a. Congress Street bridge.

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) worked to improve what was then known as Ham Street (since renamed Conley Street) in College Park, Georgia ca. 1936.

WPA Bulletin, 1937: "Springfield- Years of petitioning by residents of Connecticut Avenue for a good road have brought results. The city has started a WPA project to resurface the road."

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) made improvements to a roughly four mile segment of Connecticut Avenue NW from Calvert Street to Chevy Chase Circle, in 1935-36. “The repaving of the roadway in Connecticut Avenue NW, from Calvert Street to District of Columbia line (Chevy Chase Circle), was started last year and is now completed. The street-railway tracks were removed in advance of street paving and the space thus abandoned was paved with standard asphalt pavement. Traffic headers were installed on both sides of the old railway area. The entire project was 17,500 feet long.” This work was part of the $949,496 WPA allotment...

The federal Work Projects Administration worked to improve the Connecticut Hill State Game Management Area (then the Connecticut Hill State Game Refuge) in Newfield, New York during the 1930s. One project was described by the WPA in its project rolls: "learing, cutting boundary fire lanes, planting, constructing, and reconstructing roads" and performing related work.

Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) laborers conducted the following work: South Hadley has the largest project in operation — the construction of a large sea-wall along the east bank of the Connecticut River below the Holyoke dam. Majority of projects involve rip-rap work along the river bank, the building of dikes and retaining walls. The status of this project is unknown to Living New Deal

Also known as the 174th Regiment Armory, the Connecticut Street Armory was 'overhauled' by federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) labor.

A 1985 Oklahoma Landmarks Survey of WPA buildings documents a 1936 Administration Building built for Connors State College. The structure is faced with Oklahoma red sandstone as are many Oklahoma WPA projects. The survey describes the structure: "The Connor's State College Administrative Building is a single story, rectangular (45' x 116') structure constructed of cut and rusticated native sand stone randomly laid. The roof is hipped, with an intersecting central gable that is supported by an extended portion of the front facade. In this facade the principal single door entry is recessed behind an archway. There are other recessed entries at either...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed the Conservation Club House at Magnetic Park in Plymouth, Indiana. City website: "This facility is located on 16 beautiful acres bordering the Yellow River on Plymouth's north side. It has been declared a historic landmark. The WPA built structure offers a large main floor with two stone fireplaces, hardwood floors and wicker furniture, which gives it a real rustic charm. On the lower level you will find a full kitchen that includes a stove, refrigerator and a triple sink. The lower level also has a large dining area that seats approximately 100 people."

The Cape Vincent Eagle reported that the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) improved 11 roads in the town of Cape Vincent, New York. "All school bus, milk, and rural mail routes, the roads form an important part of the town's highway system." The project encompassed eight miles of road, and called for "grading, draining, placing base, trimming shoulders and ditches, surfacing and incidental appurtenant work." Roads improved included "Constance, leading from Hell street northwesterly to Clayton-Cape Vincent state highway, five-tenths of a mile."

In 1933, the Washington Post announced the approval of several road surfacing projects funded by the Public Works Administration (PWA) : "Among projects approved here are paving of Sixteenth street, Constitution Avenue, Michigan Avenue, Columbia Road, Foxhall Road, Good Hope Road, New Hampshire Avenue, Benning Road and Conduit Road, widening of E Street back of the White House and widening of Thirteenth Street" (October 9, 1933). Records at the National Archives indicate that the Works Progress Administration (WPA) had approved the widening and paving of Constitution Avenue from Virginia Avenue to the Arlington Bridge approach. New Deal workers were also to...