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.

Rehabilitated County Jail.--Healy, p. 72. General rehabilitation of building with additional rooms on roof. Completion of unfinished work by S.E.R.A.--Mooser, p. 85. This Hall of Justice was built in 1912 and rehabilitated by the WPA in the 1930s. However, the building was demolished in 1968 and replaced in 1971, along with the neighboring coroner's office, with what is now the Hilton San Francisco Financial District.

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted substantial improvement work at San Francisco Hospital during the Great Depression. The WPA: Repaired training nurses home, administration building, pathological, emergency and receiving buildings, general rehabilitation.--Healy, p. 71.

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

Phone: 415-488-8888 The San Geronimo Community Center is home to Maurice Del Mue's 1934 mural, "Rural Landscape," installed when the building was still Lagunitas School.

"Impressive celebrations were held throughout the State of Texas in 1936 to commemorate the centennial of its secession from the Republic of Mexico. One of the most important events leading to this act was the decisive Battle of San Jacinto fought on April 21, 1836, in which the Texans were completely victorious. It was therefore decided to erect a memorial on the battlefield honoring the heroes who fought so well. The monument rests on two terraces which rise 15 feet above the natural grade and consists of a base 36 feet high from which the shaft extends to a total height...

  "The building has an area of 50,000 square feet and consists of the auditorium which seats 3,500, a small theater seating 597, a meeting hall seating 499, 2 exhibition halls, 5 committee rooms, quarters for the chamber of commerce, and the necessary service rooms. The auditorium has a large and well-equipped stage. The project was completed in April 1936 at a construction cost of $422,628 and a project cost of $530,515." (Short and Stanley-Brown) "A building which might house anything from an opera to a circus, a basketball or tennis game to a great convention, or art exhibits and flower shows"...

Constructed by the WPA.

Bonding ($36,000) for a new San Juan courthouse was put a successful vote in February 1920 after citizens realized that their neighboring county (Grand) was building a large new courthouse. Construction in Monticello began soon thereafter, and the courthouse was nearly ready for occupancy in late 1920 lacking only steam heat, plumbing (including toilet facilities, jail lavoratories, and hot water), and finished cement. And then it sat, partially completed for nearly 17 years: only four rooms were useable, and those without heat or modern plumbing. In 1937, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) approved $8000 to complete the courthouse. The county's portion was...

In 1940, the San Luis Obispo County Courthouse was rebuilt by the New Deal on the site of the original county courthouse of 1851 and a Greek Revival courthouse of 1873.  The North Wing of the 1940 courthouse was in place before the older one was demolished to make way for the rest of the new structure (see historic photo, below).  The handsome building by local architects, Walker and Eisen, is a classic example of Civic Moderne, with fine detailing and bas-reliefs on the exterior (the condition of the interior is unknown to us).  It is a large edifice that almost...

The federal Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) conducted improvement work at San Marcos Cemetery.

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.

Sometimes mis-attributed to the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the auditorium / gymnasium addition to the Sandstone School constructed in 1936 was accomplished as a Public Works Administration (PWA) project. The PWA provided a grant of $24,966 for the project, whose total cost was $129,701. NRHP, re the addition: "It is a two story wing with a flat roof and constructed of a similar Kettle River Sandstone. The front entrance to this section is in the form of a semi-circular arch, complementary to the two entries to the original building. This addition houses an auditorium." "Throughout its history, the school served as both...

"As the county government's needs increased, local leaders applied in the 1930s for federal aid to expand their facility." With a grant from the federal Public Works Administration (PWA), "the courthouse was greatly expanded, leaving the original building as the northern wing of a three-part courthouse. This project resulted in the replacement of the original columns and the relocation of the cupola to one of the new wings, as well as the construction of new additions. Despite the gap of nearly a century between the construction of the original and additional portions of the buildings, the newer portions complement the...

Sandwich, Massachusetts's historic 1834 Town Hall was remodeled with the assistance of the WPA in a project completed in 1939. (The building was extensively remodeled, again, in 2009.) Provincetown's Advocate wrote that the project was a "complete modernization" that nonetheless respected the building's past. Some improvements were: "Solid maple floors have replaced the old boards in the Selectmen's office, and walls are ivory set off by stained woodwork. A library for the selectmen has been incorporated into the new suite and a new brick vault will hold town records. Other improvements include modern lighting, replacement of the wooden foundation piles by brick...

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.

WPA crews completed the Sanpete County courthouse in Manti in 1937.  

Old Santa Ana City Hall was constructed in 1935 at a cost of $126,000, funded by city bonds and a Public Works Administration (PWA) grant. There is a plaque in the lobby (which we are waiting to photograph). It was designed by prominent Southern California architect W. Horace Austin of Long Beach, who had designed the rather similar Masonic Temple at Sycamore and Fifth Streets a few years earlier. Austin’s credits also include the Bowers Museum and many Long Beach commissions, such as the 1904 Long Beach City Hall , several schools, the original Buffum’s Department Store , the Long Beach...

Two 25' x 8' oil on canvas lunettes by Samuel Vaughan were commissioned by the Federal Art Project: "Men at Work" and "US Army in Europe"

The U.S. Treasury Department built the Santa Clara post office in 1935.  The building style is Mission Revival, which was popular for houses and civic buildings during the interwar period. It is also the site of Michael von Meyer's 1937 wood carving, "Early Pioneers," available for view in the library.

"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....

"In 1936 the Works Progress Administration provided funds for the construction of jail designed by Albert Roller at 705 Front Street, at a cost of $190,000 and built to hold 68 men and 8 women. As completion of construction neared the jail population was "dropping away so fast the sheriff and aides are fearful there will not be enough left to make a creditable showing by the time the building is accepted" causing the Sheriff to consider staging a round-up in the "jungles," private bingo parties, or drafting prominent citizens to stand in for prospective prisoners to make for a...

"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 WPA made "alterations and construct new addition to the Santa Cruz County Hospital and improve grounds" in 1942. Exact location and current status of this hospital unknown.

The building was retrofitted and remodeled in 2001, but most of the original structure and appearance was preserved.

Phone: (831)423-0109 Access Hours: M-F 5am-7 pm; Sat 5am-6 pm Constructed by the Works Progress Administration in 1936, this building is home to Henrietta Shore's murals depicting Santa Cruz industry: "Cabbage Farming," "Limestone Quarries," "Artichoke," and "Fishing."  

The building was the city administration building, which included city hall, jail, and the fire department. In 1987, the building was remodeled and the adjacent library was enlarged significantly. That is the present configuration. PWA Project no: N.M. 1035-D.

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)

The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) conducted numerous improvement and development projects at Santa Fe National Cemetery. "Improve cemetery" Official Project Numbers: 165‐2‐85‐143, 165‐2‐85‐144, 165‐2‐85‐72 Total project costs: $14,833.00, $16,588.00, $56,513.00 Sponsor: Commanding General, 8th Corps Area, U.S. Army "Construct and improve buildings, facilities, and grounds at cemetery" Official Project Number: 265‐3‐85‐71 Total project cost: $44,900.00 Sponsor: Commanding General, 8th Corps Area, U.S. Army "Grade, drain, and landscape grounds and improve buildings" Official Project Number: 265‐85‐8000 Total project cost: $6,972.00 Sponsor: Commanding Officer, Santa Fe National Cemetery, U.S. Army

Barnum Hall Theater was one of three new buildings constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) at Santa Monica High School between 1935 and 1938 as part of the largest reconstruction project undertaken by the Santa Monica City School District following the devastating 1933 Long Beach earthquake. "The high quality of design of the new auditorium building suggested not only the importance of this facility to the growing high school, but also the degree of civic pride associated with this new community amenity. Designed by noted Los Angeles architectural firm Marsh, Smith & Powell, it displays the smooth surfaces, curved...

On September 1, 1937, President Roosevelt signed the United States Housing Act of 1937. This created the United States Housing Authority (USHA) and provided $500 million for subsidies to be paid from the U.S. government to local public housing agencies (LHAs) to improve living conditions for low-income families. The Austin City Council established the Austin Housing Authority on December 27, 1937. The housing authority made an application to the USHA for $500,000 to build 186 units of public housing at three sites. Austin’s housing agency became the first in the country to receive funding and to start construction on its USHA...

This park commemorates the first major American victory of the Revolutionary War in 1777. "Establishment of a national park to commemorate the Saratoga battles, authorized by Congress in 1938,  came about largely due to the direction provided by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The National Park Service accepted 1,430 acres from New York  State, although the area remained under state  administration. A Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp was established at the park in 1939.  Although the program by then was past its peak and was terminated in 1942 due to U.S. participation in World War II, the CCC performed the first methodical...

Framingham's 1936 Town Report details work accomplished by the W.P.A. with respect to the Saxonville Fire Station (now also known as Framingham Fire Station 2): The work, started in 1936, of replacing existing wooden floor of the apparatus room with a reinforced concrete floor and installation of a new steam heating plant was completed. The entire interior of the station was painted and much of the electrical wiring was renewed. Also other work, such as repairs to roof, repointing outside brickwork, and reconditioning of the old police cell room, was carried out.

The Mobridge Auditorium, now known as the Scherr-Howe Event Center, was constructed as a federal Public Works Administration (PWA) project during the Great Depression. The building, which is sometimes mis-attributed to the Works Progress Administration (WPA), is also home to a stunning series of New Deal murals (see attached project). The PWA supplied a $45,000 grant for the project, whose total cost was $111,145. Construction took place between Jun. 1936 and Apr. 1937, and its dedication ceremony took place in early May 1937. PWA Docket No. 1080

A former school facility in Sedan, New Mexico was constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) following the destruction of a 1931 facility by fire on Jan. 26, 1938. The Sedan school operated until May 1969. More recently it served as a community center but is presently (as of 2024) abandoned. The structure is located on the south side of New Mexico State Road 421, on the east side of the community.

A school in Hawk Springs, Wyoming was constructed as a federal Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) project during the Great Depression. Construction was completed in 1939. School operations ceased in 1965, and the building has since been rehabilitated for community use. PWA Docket No. WY 1087

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed a stone perimeter wall around the former school grounds in Hayden, New Mexico. The remains of the rock wall extend around the majority of the north, east, and south sides of the site. The west side of the site is a conventional square mesh wire fence with wooden posts and barbed wire at the top with the exception of metal gate with surrounding concrete posts is on the south side. The age of this fence on the west side of the site is unknown. The north side of the site has the stone wall separating...

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed Rogers, North Dakota's historic school auditorium in 1938. There is no school in the community anymore; the exact location and current status of the facility is unknown to Living New Deal.