Works Progress Administration (WPA) Sites

The historic armory in Perth Amboy, New Jersey was the recipient of WPA improvement efforts. As per project description: "Improve the National Guard Armory by painting, and perform work apparent thereto." The structure is now privately owned. WPA Official Project Number: 685‐22‐2‐20

The historic armory building in Plainfield, New Jersey was the recipient of WPA improvement efforts. As per project description: "Improve Armory." The facility presently houses the New Jersey Naval Militia Foundation. WPA Official Project Number: 65‐22‐6192

The former armory building in Red Bank, New Jersey was the recipient of WPA improvement efforts: "Improve, renovate, and make alterations at Armory." WPA Official Project Number: 65‐1‐22‐163 The former armory later served as an equestrian riding hall, and presently houses an ice rink.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted improvement work at the historic armory building in Somerville, Mass. WPA project details: "Rehabilitate, recondition, and alter Armory building" Official Project Number: 565‐14‐2‐1080 Total project cost: $34,605.00 Sponsor: Quartermaster's Department, Massachusetts National Guard

The former 1916 armory building in St. Johnsbury, Vermont was improved by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). WPA Project No. 65‐12‐934

W.P.A. improvements to the former Armory in Torrington, CT included the following projects, sponsored by the Quartermaster General's Department: Paint interior and exterior of building, patch plaster, and install electric outlets Official Project Number: 165‐15‐2011 Total project cost: $547.00 Paint ceiling of drill shed and repair building Official Project Number: 465‐15‐2‐62 Total project cost: $3,225.00 Paint interior and exterior of building, patch plaster, and install electric outlets Official Project Number: 65‐13‐1875 Total project cost: N/A

The historic 114th Infantry Armory building in Trenon, New Jersey was the recipient of WPA improvement efforts. A 1930 map identifies the armory's location as the northwest corner of what was then the intersection of E. Front St. and Armory Dr. The fate of the building was detailed in a 1975 New York Times article: "A raging fire sent flames more than 100 feet into the sky destroyed the Trenton Civic Center early today. The building, a converted National Guard Armory, housed city offices and records. City officials were looking for room to accommodate 300 city employees who normally work in the Civic Center." WPA...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted improvement work at the historic armory building in Wakefield, Mass. WPA project details: "Improve buildings" Official Project Number: 665‐14‐2‐1153 Total project cost: $16,012.00 Sponsor: Quartermaster's Department, Massachusetts National Guard

W.P.A. improvements to the historic former Armory building in Wallingford, CT, included: "Repair and improve state armory building" Official Project Number: 165‐15‐2102 Total project cost: $1,828.00 Sponsor: State of Connecticut Quartermaster General's Department "Paint and varnish interior and exterior of building" Official Project Number: 165‐15‐3014 Total project cost: $597.00 Sponsor: State of Connecticut Quartermaster General's Department The armory now houses Wallingford's police department.

W.P.A. improvements to the former Armory building in West Hartford, CT, included: "Paint armory, and patch and point plaster and brickwork". Official Project Number: 165‐15‐20X0 Total project cost: $1,554.00 Sponsor: State of Connecticut Quartermaster General Department

W.P.A. improvements to the former Armory building in Willimantic, CT, including: "Paint and varnish interior and exterior and repair building" Official Project Number: 65‐15‐1XXX Total project cost: N/A Sponsor: Quartermaster General's Department "Construct housing and training facilities" Official Project Number: 165‐1‐15‐146 Total project cost: $53,679.00 Sponsor: State of Connecticut, Department of Public Works "Paint and varnish interior and exterior and repair building" Official Project Number: 165‐15‐2045 Total project cost: $813.00 Sponsor: Quartermaster General's Department

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted improvement work at the historic armory building in Worcester, Mass. WPA project details: "Improve and rehabilitate armory building" Official Project Number: 65‐1‐14‐142 Total project cost: $17,362.00 Sponsor: State Quartermaster

Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) laborers conducted improvement and renovation work at what was then the Massachusetts National Guard armory in Lynn. W.P.A. project details: "Build offices, paint, and make general repairs" Official Project Number: 165‐14‐2001 Total project cost: $10,059.00 Sponsor: Adjutant General, Commonwealth of Massachusetts "Build offices, paint, and make general repairs" Official Project Number: 465‐14‐2‐115 Total project cost: $10,851.00 Sponsor: Adjutant General, Commonwealth of Massachusetts "Construct ramp" Official Project Number: 465‐14‐2‐449 Total project cost: $1,909.00 Sponsor: Military Department, Commonwealth of Massachusetts "Install machine shop equipment" Official Project Number: 65‐14‐9651

The armory building in Asbury Park, New Jersey was the recipient of WPA improvement efforts, including the modest projects: "Paint interior of drill shed at National Guard Armory Building," and "Painting of National Guard Armory Building."

W.P.A. improvements to the historic Armory building in Branford, CT, included: "Patch, plaster, paint, and varnish Armory building". Official Project Number: 165‐15‐2081 Total project cost: $2,182.00 Sponsor: State of Connecticut Quartermaster General's Department "Painting and repairing of Armory" Official Project Number: 65‐15‐1945

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted a grounds improvement project at the armory facility in Georgetown, Delaware. Living New Deal believes the current Delaware Army National Guard building is this same facility, though further confirmation is needed of whether the building existed during the 1930s. WPA Project No. 165‐1‐24‐7. Cost: $4,917. Sponsor: Delaware National Guard

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted improvement work at the historic armory building in Hingham, Mass. WPA project details: "Improve State Armory" Official Project Number: 665‐14‐2‐525 Total project cost: $10,341.00 Sponsor: Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Military Department

The historic armory building in Lawrence Township (Lawrenceville by mailing address), New Jersey was the recipient of WPA improvement efforts. WPA project descriptions: "Improve 112th Field Artillery Armory" and "Rehabilitate buildings." Work was sponsored by the Quartermaster General's Department of New Jersey, and the War Department. WPA Official Project Numbers: 165‐1‐72‐340, 165‐1‐22‐340

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted a modernization project at the armory in Milford, Delaware. Living New Deal believes this facility to be what is now known as the Milford Armory Community Center, though further confirmation is needed as to whether the building existed during the 1930s. WPA Project No. 65-24-182.

W.P.A. improvements to the historic Armory building in Waterbury, CT, included: "Paint and varnish interior and exterior of building" Official Project Number: 165‐15‐2035 Total project cost: $2,092.00 Sponsor: State of Connecticut Quartermaster General's Department "General repairs at Armory" Official Project Number: 65‐15‐2105

W.P.A. improvements to the historic former Armory building in West Haven, CT, included: "Paint and varnish interior rooms". Official Project Number: 165‐15‐4007 Total project cost: $477.00 Sponsor: Quartermaster General's Department "Paint and varnish interior of Armory" Official Project Number: 65‐15‐1973

The historic armory building in Westfield, New Jersey was the recipient of WPA improvement efforts. As per project description: "Construct drill field, drives, drains, and landscape." WPA Official Project Numbers: 165‐22‐2076, 465‐22‐2‐548

The historic 114th Infantry Armory building in Woodbury, New Jersey was the recipient of WPA improvement efforts: "Improve 114th Infantry Armory and surrounding grounds at Broadway* and Red Bank Avenue." (* The location of the armory is Red Bank Ave. and Evergreen Ave.) WPA Official Project Number: 460‐22‐2‐579

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted improvement work at the historic armory building in Brockton, Mass.  WPA project details: "Reconstruct and improve Armory" Official Project Number: 865‐14‐2‐263 Total project cost: $12,358.00 Sponsor: State Quartermaster

Additions to this municipal park, which sits behind the armory, are noted in the Oklahoma Landmarks Database showing a Federal Works Progress Administration appropriation of $6,240. The additions include a performance stage, picnic tables and a fireplace.  

The Work Projects Administration (WPA) constructed Armory Road, which connects the armory in Sunbury, Pennsylvania to Mile High Road.

The Arneson River Theatre is a well known landmark along San Antonio's Riverwalk. Built with WPA funds between 1938 and 1940 it has hosted thousands of events. The stage is on the north bank of the river with seating on the south bank. It is most frequently used for summer plays, including the popular Fiesta Noche Del Rio. It is also a popular venue for weddings. It is a part of the La Villita Historic Arts Village.

"In 1938, the newly created State Park Commission (which had been formed in 1935) recommended that the State accept a gift of 100 acres of land near Presque Isle. This became Aroostook State Park, the first in the State Park system... On October 26, 1938, it was announced that WPA work on the State Park would begin within a few weeks; with Mr. C.P. Bradford as the engineer. $7,715 had been allotted and that the first work would be the building of a trail on the west side of the mountain, a ski and toboggan slide, a ski tow, skating rink...

WPA workers were active in the park from 1934 to 1937 and built several structures during that time, including a triple arch stone bridge, a look-out shelter, an open picnic shelter, and a grave shelter.

The Arroyo de la Laguna Bridge across Alameda Creek in Sunol was built with the aid of the New Deal in 1939. The bridge is located on Highway 84 (Niles Canyon Road) just east of the Main Street turnoff into the town of Sunol, which is best known as the site of a "Water Temple" where the Hetch Hetchy aqueduct enters the Bay Area and the eastern station for the rebuilt Niles Canyon tourist railroad. Arroyo de la Laguna bridge is a plain concrete span of about 100 feet, with the balustrades typical of the interwar period, and it has the...

The WPA was extensively involved in flood control construction in Arroyo Seco during the 1930s. Excerpts of WPA involvement in that history follow: 1934-35: Trapezoidal channel is constructed in the Central Arroyo from Devils Gate Dam through the Rose Bowl area to Holly Street with a soft bottom as part of a CWA, SERA, WPA project. 1935: The Works Progress Administration takes over the gravel operation in LA, designating it as a flood control project sponsored by the city of Los Angeles. Trapezoidal cross-section construction chosen since it minimized steel and lumber and maximized hand labor, satisfying requirements of relief funding. 1935-40: The...

Both the WPA and the PWA along with a number of local agencies were involved in the construction of the Arroyo Seco Parkway which was mostly completed by 1940. It is 8.2 miles long with 18 bridges. "The Arroyo Seco Parkway (Pasadena Freeway) was the first divided-lane, high-speed, limited-access road in the urban western United States and the first stretch of road for what would become the extensive Los Angeles freeway network. The approximately six-mile initial stage of the 8.2-mile roadway, completed in 1940, was envisioned as both a scenic road traversing the Arroyo and a vital traffic conduit linking the...

This narrow concrete sidewalk and stairway connecting Solano Avenue and Academy Road was built by the WPA in 1941. Located along the Arroyo Seco Parkway near the Solano Ave. Elementary School.

Arroyo Viejo Recreation Center/Park was developed between 1936 and 1939 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), working with the Oakland Recreation Department.  The WPA funded the project for around $60,000 in 1935 (Chronicle 1935). The 16 acre site on Arroyo Viejo Creek was purchased by the city in pieces, starting in 1935.  The entire purchase cost about $36,000 (Post-Enquirer 1935). The property had belonged to the Japanese Domoto family, who operated a nursery there.  (An interesting sidelight is that Kenji Domoto went on to be a famous landscape architect) The work of creating a new park began with tearing down acres of...

"The Artesia Improvement Company donated the land for a city park in 1906. In 1937, the corner pillars and stone walkways to the center of the park were added as a WPA project. Artesia Main Street, a local downtown revitalization organization, has plans for a complete renovation of the park. Central Park continues to be used as a popular location for many downtown events and family outings." -Artesia Walking Tour

"Artesia is home to several WPA construction projects including the Municipal Hospital, the Old City Hall, the gym on the Artesia Schools campus and the wall around Morris Field. The Hospital is in private hands. The Old City Hall is also a private office, but looks much the same as when it was built. The gym is still the gym and Morris Field is still in use, also on the school campus. Much of the construction uses beautiful local stone, which can be seen throughout Artesia, including the once private residence that is now the Artesia Historical Museum & Art...

"Originally called Artesia Memorial Hospital when built in 1939 by WPA/PWA funds, it is still in use today. Additions were made in the early 1940's and the most recent renovations and additions finalized in the mid 1960's." -Treasures on New Mexico Trails

The historic Arthur Avenue Retail Market, located in the heart of the Bronx's Little Italy, was constructed with the assistance of the federal Work Projects Administration (WPA). The market, one of eight similar projects in the city, opened October 29, 1940.

"Sarah Brock wished the Arthur Brock mansion demolished and in 1937 this work was completed under a work order from the WPA." The mansion was located in what is now known as Coleman Memorial Park; its exact location within the park is unknown to Living New Deal.

In 1936, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed an auditorium for Central School in Baldwin Park, CA. With over 600 seats, the auditorium was used for both school and civic activities. The Moderne (Art Deco) structure is simple and unadorned, its concrete facade suggestive of early Brutalism. The auditorium served as an auxiliary meeting space after Central School was converted into Baldwin Park's first city hall in 1958, and as a storage facility after city hall was relocated in 1978. Since 2007, the renovated auditorium structure has served as Baldwin Park's Arts and Recreation Center (ARC). In addition to a dance studio, arts...