Cemeteries Sites

A state historical marker at Elmwood Cemetery notes that the native stone wall along the perimeter of the cemetery on Patterson and Nelson Streets was constructed by employees of the Civilian Conservation Corps between 1935 and 1937.

In 1937 the Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) completed construction of this three foot high L-shaped granite rock wall that runs for hundreds of miles along the north and east sides of the Elmwood Cemetery in Woodward, Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Historic Preservation Survey notes that construction of the Elmwood Cemetery entrance and fence "...created desperately-needed employment for jobless workers of this agricultural and railroad community during the Depression. Additionally, the project provided a much needed civic improvement to the community..." Finally, the Survey remarks that the architectural style of the wall is significant for its type, scale, workmanship as well as...

The Works Progress Administration worked to beautify Cleveland's Erie Street Cemetery during the Great Depression. The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History: "Complaints of neglect inspired WPA action, including erecting a fence fashioned from the demolished Superior Ave. viaduct's sandstone. In 1940 the refurbished cemetery of historic graves, including that of Sauk Chief , was rededicated."

Portland's "Evergreen Cemetery" was improved by the WPA: "In 1936, the Public Works and Park Departments received $86,875 in WPA funds for engineering, supervision, a portion of the wages of skilled labor, equipment hire, and some materials. The Park Department used workers for grading and improvements at athletic fields, the golf course, and the city cemetery, and for pruning and spraying of trees along city streets."   (Conforti) The 140-acre (57 ha) historical portion of the cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

New Deal work relief labor constructed the stunning stone wall on the west side of the Fairview Cemetery in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Per one source, in 1936, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) built the wall. A newspaper article from 1934 suggests the ivil Works Administration (CWA) paid laborers to develop the wall. The wall, which is approximately 1320 feet long, runs north to south along the east side of N. Harrison Avenue. The cemetery itself was established in 1897 and spans nearly 80 acres on the eastern side of the City of Shawnee. The Waymarking webpage for the cemetery wall describes it...

The WPA worked to improve the conditions at Finns Point National Cemetery near the former Fort Mott, southwest of Pennsville, New Jersey. Project description: "A non‐construction project to improve and rehabilitate buildings, install plumbing, heating, and electrical facilities, realign headstones, landscape, grade, and drain grounds including improvements to roads and walks at the Finns Point National Cemetery" Official Project Number: 713‐2‐202 Total project cost: $150,000.00 Sponsor: War Department

Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) labor developed Forest Hill Cemetery. WPA Bulletin, 1937: Eventual income of $450,000 to be derived from the sale of burial lots, will benefit this city when WPA work projects on Forest Hill and Laurel cemeteries are completed. Almost 200,000 square feet of waste land are being transformed into a fine cemetery by the work projects.

"FORREST CEMETERY CHAPEL, inside the main gate of Forrest Cemetery, W. side of 15th St. between Walnut and Chestnut Sts., was constructed as a WPA project. It was built by 20 workers who were unskilled at the beginning in this work but who completed it as trained stonemasons. Modeled after an English parish church of the twelfth century, the chapel has been appraised at $25,000, yet the total cost of materials was relatively small. Cement and windows were the only materials purchased; light fixtures, woodwork, and hardware came from WPA woodshops, and stone from a near-by quarry. The doors and...

The federal Works Progress Administration played a crucial role in the early development of Fort Bliss National Cemetery. NPS.gov: "Labor hired for the cemetery and through the WPA constructed the national cemetery.  The New Deal labor program, begun in 1935, primarily completed small-scale new construction, rehabilitation, and/or landscape improvement projects that could be completed in a year or less.  In addition to the initial cemetery appropriations in excess of  $44,000, the cemetery received a  second $25,000 WPA project,  of which approximately $22,000 paid for labor and $3,000 for  supplies. ... By October 1939, the request for appropriations resulted in another $75,000...

Dating from WWI, Fort Dix provided training for soldiers enlisted in the U.S. Army. According to a Works Progress Administration (WPA) Information Division document, the WPA engaged in “Campwide improvement to grounds, including grading, checking of soil erosion, improvements to drainage to eliminate mud, and clearing fire trails and brush; construction of target pits and machine gun range, landing field, one mile of railroad. Construction or repair of garage, motor repair shop, schools, tent floors, incinerator, sawmill, woodshop, quarters, storage buildings, mess hall, cold storage plant, hospital, airport buildings, disposal plant, improvements of water supply system, clearing of ditches...

The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) landscaped the Fort Mackinac Post Cemetery on Mackinac Island.

NPS.gov: "A project funded by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) brought the “southern half” of Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery to near completion by March 1938.  The New Deal labor program, begun in 1935, primarily completed small-scale new construction, rehabilitation, and/or landscape improvement projects that could be completed in a year or less.  An allotment of $30,000 by the WPA funded the construction tasks of filling and grading, as well as the installation of roads, water, and a sprinkler system."

"When the first allotment of Works Progress Administration (WPA) funds became available in summer 1937, workers broke ground on the new cemetery. The New Deal labor program, begun in 1935, primarily completed small-scale new construction, rehabilitation, and/or landscape improvement projects that could be completed in a year or less. WPA laborers worked on the grading, filling and landscaping of the grounds while the construction of the buildings and main entrance was hired out under contract."

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed the walls and entry of the Fort Sumner Cemetery.

"In 1938 and 1939 a Works Progress Administration project made several improvements" to Des Moines's Glendale Cemetery, "which included improving curbing and the six miles of winding roads through the hilly property and making a two-acre lake which continues to attract ducks and geese."

The Federal Emergency Relief Administration (F.E.R.A.) and Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) played a substantial role in the development of Maynard's Glenwood Cemetery. Work commenced in 1934 and was completed in 1936. "During the 1930s construction of the new cemetery was undertaken by several Depression-era relief programs, most notably the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Improvements included building of a new iron fence along the Parker Street in front of the old cemetery; laying out the new cemetery and constructing a rubble entrance wall along Great Road; and dredging the swampy area at the corner of Parker Street and Great Road to transform...

"The Golden Cemetery was the site of the major community effort, in concert with the Civil Works Administration and Works Progress Administration, to beautify, modernize and reclaim the cemetery grounds. Its transformation via federal public works projects during the 1930s was part of an important pattern of events that made a significant contribution to the development of the Golden area community that has lasted to this day. While many American communities took advantage of the aid in improvements the federal public works agencies of the Great Depression had to offer, Golden was particularly aggressive in pursuing funding for numerous projects...The...

"The rock wall on the east and south sides of Gracelawn Cemetery on Danforth was completed in 1940 as a WPA project. Appearing to have been constructed out of leftovers from other projects (smile) it is extremely unique and fascinating."   (https://www.waymarking.com)

"Major improvements were initiated in 1933 and 1934 with W.P.A. workers planting many botanical specimens. F. Carroll Sargent, noted arborist, brought many varieties of trees and shrubs from all over North America, China, Japan, Europe, Manchuria, Siberia and Korea to plant at the cemetery. Notable speciments are the following trees: Amur Cork, Dawn Redwood, Osage Orange, Yellowwood, and Katsura Trees. In 1934 the Workers Progress Administration (WPA) workers planted hundreds of trees." Given the dates, it is more likely that the author meant to attribute the Civil Works Administration (CWA), not the WPA.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed this stone mausoleum in the Greenwood Cemetery in Bemidji, Minnesota, in 1939.

"This is a one-story rectangular, one-room chapel constructed in 1940 by the WPA. It is built of cut and coursed rusticated native stone and has a gabled roof, currently covered with metal siding. The building is currently used as a maintenance building for the cemetery. A large overhead door has been installed, and the two windows in front and three at the rear have been boarded up. The end walls are stepped and rise above the roof line. A concrete cross has been built into the stone side wall. The building is approximately 30 by 16 feet."   (www.waymarking.com)

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) built the Highland Cemetery Entrance in Lawton OK. Contributor note: Highland Cemetery, located on NW Fort Sill Blvd. in northeastern Lawton is a large cemetery with over 20,000 burials. The entrance faces west and consists of a randomly laid native stone arch. A granite plaque above the arch reads "HIGHLAND CEMETERY" and above that a small stone reads "WPA". At the top of each of the two stone pillars supporting the arch is the date: "19" and "36".

The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) constructed a wall around Highland Cemetery from 1935-6.

The WPA constructed a stone fence and pavilion of uncut native stone at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Weleetka in 1935. (It is also known as the Crestwood Cemetery). At the time of the 1985 Oklahoma Landmarks Inventory, part of the north side of the wall had collapsed, but as of 2005, the other three sides were still in good shape.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted improvement work at Huff Cemetery in German Township, Marshall County, northwest of Bremen, Indiana.

The Works Progress Administration excavated and constructed stone drives, straightened the monuments, improved the grounds, and constructed the entrance posts at Huron Cemetery in Huron, Indiana. $3022 was budgeted for project.

"From April 1936 through the early 1940s, Depression-era government make-work programs brought improvements to the cemetery. Works Progress Administration (WPA) laborers were responsible for building 23,000’ of hard-surfaced roads and walks, 46,000’ concrete curbs, nearly 16,000’ of "asphalt macadam" roads, and resurfacing of the same. They also removed some of the original stone wall and constructed nearly 4,600’ of "common ashler (sic) stone wall, as well as miscellaneous grading. In 1946 a new stone boundary wall and entrance gate were erected. The WPA renovated the 1872 brick rostrum that measured 23’x 38’ in 1941."

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) conducted an improvement project at Knoxville National Cemetery, providing work for about 35 laborers.

Among the improvements hoped to be undertaken in the proposed NYA project include 316 feet of cement sidewalk 4 feet wide in front of the cemetery, 2 large columns at the double gate, with an arched entrance; 824 feet of cement curbing for driveway, 824 feet curbing for flower beds, pruning trees and white-washing them along driveway, graveling all grave mounds, fixing markers and clearing and beautifying entire cemetery. Saw evidence of a rock wall, a rock building, columns at the double gate with a steps at the left side, and an arched entrance with name.

"June, 1936, city water was taken to the cemetery, W.P.A. Labor laying the pipes, 8 3/4" freezeless hydrants were placed. Two rows of trees were planted from the highway to the cemetery gates ..."

Jayne M. D'Onofrio: "In 1939, Wakefield Selectmen voted to ask the Special Town Meeting to build a bath house on Spaulding Street at Lake Quannapowitt, as well as other recreation projects... The building would not be made of brick as in the previous plans and would not be heated for winter use. The bath house could accommodate 100 boys and 100 girls and would be a modern building with asphalt shingles. On March 23, 1939, Special Town Meeting voted to build the bath house at a cost of $5,261 by a close vote. The Spaulding Street bath house was completed in...

Lakeview Cemetery in Wayland, Mass. was improved by Civil Works Administration (C.W.A.) labor.

Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) labor developed Laurel Hill Cemetery. WPA Bulletin, 1937: Eventual income of $450,000 to be derived from the sale of burial lots, will benefit this city when WPA work projects on Forest Hill and Laurel cemeteries are completed. Almost 200,000 square feet of waste land are being transformed into a fine cemetery by the work projects.

The federal Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) played a crucial role in the development of Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York. NPS.gov: "By June 1939, the cemetery employed 480 men through WPA projects. A final narrative report of the WPA projects completed at the cemetery listed: construction of the shelter house and comfort station, including its sewer line and septic tank; clearing 76 acres of scrub trees and underbrush, and a 60’ fire break along boundary lines; construction of a rostrum; construction of 2,363’ of sidewalks, 5,472’ of curb and gutters; and completion of woven-wire and barbed-wire fences on the...

"The Los Angeles National Cemetery was dedicated on May 22, 1889, a few days after the first interment. The Works Progress Administration constructed the Spanish Revival style administration building-chapel and the indoor columbarium at the National Cemetery in the late 1930s and early 1940s."

"Luther Cemetery (also known as Valley View Cemetery), dates back to about 1910. This is a cemetery with 1470 burials. Surrounding the cemetery, on all four sides, is a wall constructed of uncut native stone, topped with concrete. The wall was constructed under a WPA project funded with $3022 in 1936. The cemetery is located about one-half mile north of Route 66 on Peebly Road. This WPA project is listed in the Oklahoma Landmark Inventory database."   (waymarking.com)

Between 1938 and 1940 the WPA and the War Department conducted a joint effort to improve the landscape design of the Marietta National Cemetery (c. 1866). Though an elaborate archway and speaking platform had been erected in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the cemetery by the 1930s had fallen into disrepair. In 1938, the War Department agreed to have 150 WPA workers improve the grounds. Work included expanding the boundaries of the cemetery on its western side, rehabilitating existing structures and buildings, replacing over 8000 headstones, paving the drive areas, and constructing a reticulated rock wall around the...

"WPA Stone Structures in Memorial Park and Calvary Cemetery, in Grand Forks, North Dakota, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010. It includes work by Ray F. Wyrick, "'a noted cemetery landscape engineer' from Des Moines, IA, who consulted as a WPA design advisor all over the country." The listing includes "two sets of stone entrance gateways, one relocated set of stone entry cairns, and a stone chapel building." It is believed that Wyrick made provided overall design of general cemetery layout and designed a reflecting pool for the cemetery, too. The nomination was described in a...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed a stone wall around this cemetery in 1939. The wall demonstrates a style typical for WPA work in this region.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) conducted an improvement project at Memphis National Cemetery, providing work for about 35 laborers.