Auxiliary Civic Facilities Sites

The Assessor's Office, located in the San Francisco City Hall, holds a 20' x 50' oil on canvas "Map of San Francisco."

This photo montage mural by Benjamin Cunningham hangs in the City Treasurer's Office. It was funded by the WPA's Federal Art Project in 1938.

WPA description of project: Demolished old school building.--Healy, p. 69 Office Building for the Department of Public Welfare of the City and County of San Francisco. Construct two-story and basement reinforced concrete and frame building complete. Build pool concrete walks, and landscape Court Area. Construct parking space. Excavation and backfill. Wreck present building.--Mooser, p. 95

Two additions to the courthouse were built with WPA labor in 1939. Sadly, the annex was demolished in 2006 to make room for a renovated Courthouse Square.

The San Miguel County Courthouse was built with WPA funds in 1940.

Sanitation Department Section Station 144 in Whitestone, New York was constructed in 1937 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Interestingly, construction of the Cross Island Parkway made it necessary to plan to relocate the building the next year, to a site a few hundred feet north on 149th Street. The entire new building (as well as a neighboring fire station) was relocated to the new site, as opposed to being built from scratch, resulting in substantial savings to the city.

"The various departments of the city government are housed in the new city hall around a court on one floor. This project added space to the existing building for the water department, police department, office of the mayor, and council chamber. In the basement there is a rifle range for the police department, storage space, and the heating plant. The building is semifireproof with concrete exterior walls trimmed with local stone. It is designed to resist seismic disturbances. The roof is covered with shingle tile molded to resemble redwood shakes. It was completed in September 1937....

"Debated for its location, its usefulness and its cost, the auditorium plan stalled and nearly died. But low interest rates and money available from the New Deal -- 80 percent funding if it was built by legitimately unemployed workers and 45 percent funding if professional builders were used -- allowed construction to begin. The Civic Auditorium was dedicated in 1939 to much fanfare (although the city had to ask for more federal funds after the builder, trying to shave costs, narrowed the stage from 29 to 20 feet -- not even big enough for the Santa Cruz...

The historic former county courthouse in Santa Fe, New Mexico was constructed with the assistance of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The building, which was completed in 1939, "served until the 1970's when the judicial building was constructed just down the street. It now houses county administrative offices." (flickr)

Multiple New Deal organizations, particularly the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), worked to develop Scotts Bluff National Monument during the 1930s. From the National Park Service: For a short time, construction efforts came under the guidance of an agency known as the Civil Work Administration, which continued until April 28, 1934, when all construction came to a stop. At this time a complete survey was conducted to identify the bluff's historic and natural resources and to determine its future needs. During this survey, Dr. Harold J. Cook was named the monument's first ranger and on December 20, 1934, another federal agency, the Public...

"Constructed by the Works Progress Administration between 1938 and 1939, the courthouse represents federal New Deal relief programs at work in eastern Colorado during the Great Depression. The county commissioners took advantage of the WPA program to match county funds toward the construction of a new courthouse to replace a 1904 facility. The building is an excellent example of the WPA Art Deco style applied to a government building whose construction was constrained by the economic conditions of the Depression. Designed by Denver architects W. Gordon Jamieson and R. Ewing Stiffler, its Art Deco elements include the vertical emphasis with...

This Sedgwick county public building was partially constructed by the WPA in 1941: "The west portion was constructed by the WPA, a Federal New Deal work relief program, to house the county's engineering department. The east portion, a materials barns, was constructed prior to 1935. The Art Deco WPA addition underwent a renovation in 2003. ...A one-story brick building with barrel vaulted roof and parapet ends dates from at least 1935. In 1941, a two story building housing the engineering department for the county was constructed by the WPA at a cost of $42,000. The WPA portion utilized a simplified Moderne style,...

Originally built as a generic county office building, this structure has since become the Shafter City Hall. A plaque on the building reads: "Constructed by Federal Works Agency, Works Projects Administration and County of Kern - 1940" Plans for the building were announced publicly in 1939: "Supervisor Announces New Building for Shafter, Association Will Donate Lots for New Structure," Bakersfield Californian, 19 August 1939.

"Village Hall is the principal center of government for Shorewood, a municipality of 13,763 at the 2000 census. Constructed in 1908 as a four-room schoolhouse, the building was purchased in 1916 by the Village of East Milwaukee for use as a village hall. It was extensively remodeled in 1937 with funds provided through the Works Progress Administration and again in 1985. In 1984, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places."

"The New Mexico Veterans' Center (formerly Carrie Tingley Hospital) was partially funded with WPA funds in 1937. The buildings were left vacant in 1981 when the Hospital moved to Albuquerque. In 1983 the Veterans' Administration and the New Mexico Legislature provided funds for renovation of the buildings and the establishment of the New Mexico Veterans' Center. The Sierra County Court House and the Community Center are two other WPA buildings in T or C. " -Phyllis Eileen Banks

A $12,000 PWA grant allowed for the construction of a warehouse at the Sacramento Corporation Yard. It is unknown if the building exists after major reconstruction was done at the facility in 2009.

This building was built by the WPA circa 1938-1939, and was the high school for Princess Anne, Maryland, for many years. Today, the building still serves the public as the Somerset County Office Building.

The Sonora City Hall was built with a combination of PWA and bond funds and completed in 1939. According to a Works Progress Administration job card: WPA Project No. 165-3-8511 Approval amount $680 Approval date 10/2/36, Average employed 14, Total funds spent $975 "Demolish City Hall; salvage usable materials and do work incidental thereto in the City of Sonora, Tuolumne County. City owned property." WPA  Project No. 65-3-4664, Approval Amount $14,148, approval date 2-8-36 "Reinforced concrete Municipal Building & Fire Department."

The Stanislaus County Hall of Records in downtown Modesto, California, was constructed in 1938 with funding from the Public Works Administration (PWA).  It stands directly across from the old Modesto Post Office (now the El Viejo Building). The building has a central 5-story highrise section and one long, 3-story wing. The design is strikingly Modern, looking more like a structure built in the 1950s than the 1930s.  It remains in fine condition, serving its original purpose.

The Works Progress Administration built a garage for the State Armory of Mounted Commands in Providence. The location and status of this project is presently unknown to Living New Deal.

From History Colorado: "The Capitol Annex benefited from two Depression era Federal programs the Public Works Administration and the Works Progress Administration. The former program provided part of the funding for this two building complex. Colorado artists from the Fine Arts Project of the WPA adorned the building with works of art. The 1939-41 building is an important example of Art Deco architecture typical of Denver in the late 1930s. Prominent Denver architect G. Meredith Musick served as president of the Associated Architects for the State Capitol Annex, the collaboration responsible for the design of both buildings."

This castle-like building was constructed in the mid-nineteenth century and renovated with WPA help in 1938.

"The new Finance Department Building of the State capitol group at Harrisburg makes possible the gathering into one building of related units of the State government which were formerly widely scattered. The monumental character of the structure and the use of stone for the entire exterior was dictated by its position opposite the Education Building at the northeast end of the Capitol Plaza. It provides quarters for the departments of the auditor general, revenue, and State treasurer. It has a volume of approximately 6,800,000 cubic feet and its estimated cost is $4,736,270. It is expected to be completed toward the close of 1939."

Referring to projects accomplished by the Public Works Administration, The Indiana Gazette writes in 1937: "Five combination garage and office buildings at Allentown, Carlisle, New Castle, Bedford and Greensburg, have been built for the State Highway Department. These modern structures will house the road equipment used by the Highway Department and will provide adequate office space for its maintenance forces." This building, identified by Lehigh County assessment details as being constructed during the 1930s, is still being used by the Transportation Department (now PennDOT).

Referring to projects accomplished by the Public Works Administration, The Indiana Gazette writes in 1937: "Five combination garage and office buildings at Allentown, Carlisle, New Castle, Bedford and Greensburg, have been built for the State Highway Department. These modern structures will house the road equipment used by the Highway Department and will provide adequate office space for its maintenance forces." The PWA building is the the still-active PennDOT facility on Donohoe Road.

Referring to projects accomplished by the Public Works Administration, The Indiana Gazette writes in 1937: "Five combination garage and office buildings at Allentown, Carlisle, New Castle, Bedford and Greensburg, have been built for the State Highway Department. These modern structures will house the road equipment used by the Highway Department and will provide adequate office space for its maintenance forces." Pennsylvania Dept. of Transportation and the county highway department are housed at a facility at 1800 Wilmington Rd. This was the building constructed with PWA funds.

Referring to projects accomplished by the Public Works Administration, The Indiana Gazette writes in 1937: "Five combination garage and office buildings at Allentown, Carlisle, New Castle, Bedford and Greensburg, have been built for the State Highway Department. These modern structures will house the road equipment used by the Highway Department and will provide adequate office space for its maintenance forces." The Carlisle facility has since been replaced. The former building is presently in use by the school department.

Construction of a Highway Department facility in Media was undertaken as part of a sizable a New Deal project; the then-Department of Highways and Public Works Administration (PWA) provided the funds for the building's construction in 1937-8, along with many similar structures in other parts of Pennsylvania. The location and status of this building is presently unknown to Living New Deal. The PWA provided a $59,400 grant for the project, whose total cost was $136,751. "Construction of 19 new garage and office buildings in as many counties has just been completed by the Department of Highways ... marking another forward step in the drive to...

Construction of a Highway Department facility in Scranton was undertaken as part of a sizable a New Deal project; the then-Department of Highways and Public Works Administration (PWA) provided the funds for the building’s construction in 1937, along with many similar structures in other parts of Pennsylvania. The location and status of this building is presently unknown to Living New Deal. The PWA provided a $54,642 grant for the project, whose total cost was $127,163. "Construction of 19 new garage and office buildings in as many counties has just been completed by the Department of Highways ... marking another forward step in the drive to develop...

Construction of a Highway Department facility in Washington, PA was undertaken as part of a sizable a New Deal project; the then-Department of Highways and Public Works Administration (PWA) provided the funds for the building’s construction in 1937, along with many similar structures in other parts of Pennsylvania. The location and status of this building is presently unknown to Living New Deal. The PWA provided a $85,950 grant for the project, whose total cost was $216,139. "Construction of 19 new garage and office buildings in as many counties has just been completed by the Department of Highways ... marking another forward step in the drive to...

Construction of a Highway Department facility in York was undertaken as part of a sizable a New Deal project; the then-Department of Highways and Public Works Administration (PWA) provided the funds for the building’s construction in 1937, along with many similar structures in other parts of Pennsylvania. The location and status of this building is presently unknown to Living New Deal. The PWA provided a $73,174 grant for the project, whose total cost was $167,694. "Construction of 19 new garage and office buildings in as many counties has just been completed by the Department of Highways ... marking another forward step in the drive to develop maximum...

The State Highway Division Region 1 Office, originally known as the State Highway Division Office and State Police Headquarters Building, was constructed in 1938 by Works Progress Administration (WPA) employees. The total cost of the building, landscaped grounds, and associated out-buildings was $118,287 with $78,541 provided by WPA funds and the remaining provided by the state. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) state office building sits adjacent to Pacific Highway 99E, Oregon’s first “superhighway.” This section of the roadway named McLoughlin Boulevard had only been operating for three years when the rustic style building opened its doors for use as the...

The WPA Guide to Alabama states: "The State Judicial Building ... was completed in 1926. It is a three-story building of reinforced concrete, brick, and Indiana limestone, originally designed in the modern mode with Edyptian Mosque motif. In 1932 the Temple was sold to the State, and in 1938 it was converted into a building to house the Supreme Court and Appellate Court of Alabama, the attorney general's office, and a law library. The remodeling work, under the direction of Warren, Knight and Davis, was carried out as a joint enterprise of the State and WPA. The oriental motif has been...

"This building to the west of the Capitol Building was built as Salem's Post Office at a cost of $310,000, and was dedicated on October 16, 1937. It was the only marble post office west of the Mississippi River beside Denver's. It served as Salem's post office until 1976, when a new building on 25th Street took its place (until 2012, when it was decided to cease operations at that location). Today it serves as the State of Oregon Executive Building."

The Wyoming State Supreme Court building is situated in central Cheyenne, the state capital. It is a restrained example of Art Deco architecture in the neo-classical mode, with elegant bas-relief decorations, inscriptions and brass (-plated?) doorways and surrounding decoration. It was built in 1937 with aid from the Public Works Administration (PWA) and is still in active use. "This structure is immediately opposite the present State Capitol Building and is an important unit of a well-developed plan for the State and municipal group, occupying a square which is landscaped and surrounded by streets.  The building is three stories in height and...

The Stockton Federal Building contains two 1936 murals funded by the Section of Fine Arts. This oil on canvas mural "Mail And Travel By Stage" by Jose Moya del Pino depicts stage coach travel in early California.

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.

"The building is of fireproof construction up to the roof. With the exception of the portico, the exterior walls are of red face brick. The floor slabs are concrete of bar-joist construction, and the roof is wood covered with slate. The cupola is wood. Offices and a garage for the police department are in the basement. The upper floors provide quarters for the town clerk, the tax assessors and collectors, the town manager, a courtroom, council chambers, and drafting rooms for the chief engineer. The dimensions of the building in plan are 99 by 143 feet. The...

"This long, narrow, rectangular brick building extends west from Pine Street and was built in four phases. Phase I, built 1934, was funded by the federal Public Works Administration (Project #2215). The original structure, as shown in Figure 1, consisted of  a one -story brick building with an office at the east end and seven large garage bays – three with doors and four without doors. "