Education and Health Sites

"This high school in Union County accommodates the students of 7 communities which formerly had no high-school facilities within their boundaries. Its site has an area of 16 1/2 acres and has been graded and landscaped and provided with playing and athletic fields. The building is 2 stories and a part basement in height and contains in the basement a cafeteria, kitchen, print shop, general shop, and storage rooms. On the first floor is an auditorium, gymnasium, 13 classrooms, administration offices, and rooms for bookkeeping and typewriting. On the second floor are 7 classrooms, a library, teachers' rooms, locker rooms,...

All 17 schoolhouses in Framingham, Massachusetts were painted, remodeled, and/or repaired with federally funded labor during the Great Depression. At the former Jonathon Maynard School the Civil Works Administration (C.W.A.) graded the land behind the school and built a new playground (1933-4). The W.P.A. conducted work at the site as well, including the installation of new bathroom facilities in 1937.

Work was begun on the vocational building for the Jones County Agricultural High School and Junior College campus in February 1936. The building was a one story, 124 x 155 feet building constructed of concrete, glass, steel and wood, costing approximately $32,000, and employing 75 workers. Supervising architect was T. R. Hearon. The new building was dedicated at Homecoming, November 1936. The status of the building is unknown, but does not appear to be extant on maps.

The WPA cleared brush and debris, corrected a severe drainage problem, built a playground.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) undertook various improvements and constructed an athletic field at Jordan High School. The WPA spent another $4,900 improving the school grounds.

Jordan High School (formerly David Starr Jordan High School), established in 1925, was rebuilt with funding from the Public Works Administration (PWA). The work was completed in 1935. The PWA allocated $9,380,000 to the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) in January 1934 for the rehabilitation of schools damaged in the severe 1933 Long Beach earthquake. One hundred and thirty schools would benefit from the system-wide loan and grant, with 2,500 men to be employed in rehabilitation work over 21 months. Jordan High School's five original buildings, the Los Angeles Conservancy writes, were retrofitted and renovated "with a unifying PWA Moderne style....

The Public Works Administration (PWA) funded the construction of a girl's gymnasium at Jordan High School (formerly David Starr Jordan High School) in Los Angeles, CA. The gymnasium, completed in 1937, was one of two structures on Jordan High School's campus built by the PWA. The other was a loggia, built in 1935, connecting the Administration Building to the North Annex. Jordan High School's five original buildings, the Los Angeles Conservancy writes, were also retrofitted and renovated "with a unifying PWA Moderne style." The PWA allocated $9,380,000 to the Los Angeles Unified School District in January 1934 for the rehabilitation of schools damaged...

Joseph H. Brown Elementary School was constructed as a New Deal project in 1937. The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $269,100 grant for the project, whose total cost was $516,456. PWA Docket No. 1584. "The  project calls for construction of new elementary school building at 66th street and Chester avenue. It will be a three-story "L" shaped structure. The federal government contributed $269,100."

Oxford, Massachusetts's old Joslin School—since demolished—received assistance from numerous New Deal programs during the 1930s. In 1933 the Civil Works Administration (CWA) graded a playground at the rear of the school and built a sidewalk from the school to Main Street. The school grounds were further improved and graded during 1934 utilizing funds provided by the federal Emergency Relief Administration. Improvements were continued under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) with particular attention devoted to the "Joslin School Grove." The WPA constructed an athletic field for the school in 1936. Finally, the federal Public Works Administration provided a $21,000 grant for...

The Works Progress Administration built the Joy Gymnasium in Joy, about four miles south of Wynnewood OK. Contributor note: "Joy is a small rural community in Murray County, Oklahoma. It got its name from the name of the school that was established when three local towns consolidated their districts. It was named Joy when that name was chosen in a 1922 student contest. This gymnasium is located on State Highway 77 at County Road 1670 (Joy Road). The Joy Gymnasium was built in 1939 as a WPA project. It is located behind an earlier brick school which is no longer used. The school...

The newspapers of small, rural communities take us through the local debate behind New Deal projects. The Juab High gym and mechanical arts building was approved by the school board in Oct 1936 with three goals: 1) the old gym was "entirely inadequate" and would be turned over as a "ladies gym." The new one would be reserved for the men; 2) rural youth were graduating high school without skills for gainful employment, thus the mechanical arts classrooms; 3) it may be the "last opportunity to get P.W.A. funding." A series of "mass meetings" were held across the county in July...

A coed high school in Julian CA, a former gold rush mining town. Surviving New Deal projects are two rubble wall pillars with bronze plaques at the entrance to the campus, a long rubble wall facing the street, a rubble wall school sign base, a circular flagpole rubble wall base, an athletic field and concrete bleachers with small US WPA 1941 date stamps in them. The school building itself appears to be of recent construction.

The Civil Works Administration (C.W.A.) conducted improvement work at Maynard's former High School / Junior High School building (later Fowler Middle School), including painting the interior of the auditorium. The Work Projects Administration (W.P.A.) conducted further work in 1941. All school buildings in the town "on the exterior have been completely renovated by having the windows weather stripped, puttied and painted. The interior... are now being repaired with W.P.A. labor by installing new celotex ceilings where needed, replacing plaster ceilings that were beyond repairs, having the hallways, classrooms washed and painted. These repairs have added consiterabl to the appearance of our...

The historic junior high school building on Hughitt St., between Stockbridge and Prospect Avenues in Iron Mountain, Michigan, was constructed as Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) project. The P.W.A. supplied an $89,860 grant for the project, whose total cost was $201,387. Construction occurred in 1937-8. PWA Docket No. MI 1407

The Art Deco-style, abandoned Junior High School building in Braddock, Pennsylvania was constructed as a New Deal project in 1938-9. The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $301,367 grant for the school, whose total cost was $664,090. PWA Docket No. PA 1692

A former junior high school building in Lander, Wyoming was constructed as a federal Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) project during the Great Depression. The PWA supplied a $52,291 grant for the project, whose total cost was $119,527. Construction occurred between June 1936 and Feb. 1938. Later known as the former Southside Elementary School, the exact location of the facility is unknown to Living New Deal. The building has since been destroyed. PWA Docket No. WY 1019-R

The Frank N. Drane school was erected in 1930, though it received an east wing addition built by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1938. A plaque in the front hallway says, "This school is dedicated to the enrichment of life, the spirit of youth measured by progress, activity, friendliness, co-operation, idealism, and character and good citizenship." This school is now known as "Sam Houston Elementary," although the engraved former name still resides above the entrance. Formal Approval of WPA Project Received here late Tuesday / A crew of forty workmen began early Wednesday morning removing fixtures from the old junior...

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) undertook a project to install a new floor and steps at what was then the junior high school in Northumberland, Pennsylvania. The location and status of this facility is unknown to Living New Deal, though we believe it to be no longer extant.

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted improvement work on all school buildings in the city of Bayonne ca. 1939. Work on the Junior High School building included "painting, repairing, and general improvement work."

According to a report prepared for the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii Research Center, four buildings at the Kalaheo School were built by the WPA (the report lists the construction year as 1934, so it was probably 1935 - since 1935 was the start of the WPA program). The buildings are described as “wood frame structures, with board-and-batten or tongue-and-groove wood siding.” The report includes a photograph of a WPA plaque on one of the buildings.

The Public Works Administration funded repair work for the 1904 Kamas Grade School in Kamas, Smith Summit School District; Docket # 1023-R (Utah). The architect of record was Ashton and Evans, and the contractor was Berntson and Kuhre.  

The Public Works Administration funded an expansion of the Kamas High School in Kamas, Smith Summit School District. Docket # 1023-R (Utah). The architect of record was Ashton and Evans, and the contractor was Berntson and Kuhre. "The Gym & Mech Arts building cost $104,000 and was done in conjunction with the Woodland El and Kamas El school alterations and repair for a total cost of $120,000."

The historic public library, now Kanab Heritage Museum, in Kanab, Utah was constructed by the federal Work Projects Administration (WPA) between 1939 and 1940. "The library is one of 226 buildings constructed in Utah under the WPA and is important in documenting the impact of New Deal programs in the state. ... Although the Kanab Library was founded in 1915, it was not at first housed in a permanent structure but was rather moved around to various temporary accommodations. In 1938, an $8,000 bond election was approved to build a permanent library, and plans drawn by the architect Carson F. Wells were...

The Public Works Administration funded the construction of improvements at the Kanab School in Kanab. Docket # 1013-R (Utah). The Public Works Administration funded several projects at Kanab School. In 1933 - 34, PWA funds allowed leveling and enlarging the school hill. In 1934, outside walls were rebuilt, a new roof was put on, and ceiling lights were added. In 1937 - 38, rock walls, a stadium, and locker rooms were added, steps were widened, and grounds landscaped. The architect of record for parts of these efforts was Ashton and Evans. Total WPA funds for these projects was $6000.  

Still an integral part of the Kansas School for the Deaf campus, this building, originally built as a dormitory, was constructed as a Public Works Administration (PWA) project. The core of the building is now known as the Stanley D. Roth Administration Building, and is flanked by residences on either side. Based on a 2023 visit, the building bears no cornerstone or PWA plaque. It is across the street from the Museum of Deaf History, Arts and Culture. Short and Stanley-Brown: This new dormitory for the State School for the Deaf replaces old buildings constructed more than 60 years ago which were...

The Works Progress Administration built Karnack High School between 1938 and 1940. In 2016, due to low enrollment, high school students began going to nearby Jefferson Independent School District, and the school board moved Kindergarten through 8th grade and the central administration offices to the high school building. The building was renamed George Washington Carver Elementary School.

The Works Progress Administration built a school in Katie OK. Contributor note: "The Katie School was built in 1939-1940 by the WPA. This is a 4-classroom school constructed of native sandstone. It has a hipped roof, with a small gable over the east-facing entrance. This entrance and the ones on the sides of the school are recessed under an arched opening. The school is symmetrical with the entrance at the center. Two six-window ribbon units flank the entrance. The units extend to the eaves, but the top half is covered with wood slats, leaving 6-over-6 double hung units. The school is located...

The Public Works Administration (PWA) funded new construction or improvement work for the school in Pahala, on the Big Island. The PWA grant amounted to $15,930, and the work was carried out in 1938. The project, listed as Docket No. TH-1070-F, was part of the PWA’s non-federal projects expenditure for the Territory of Hawaii for 1938-1939. Located in a rural plantation town, the Kau High and Pahala Elementary School consists of several classroom buildings with large lanai and corrugated metal roofs.

The Public Works Administration (PWA) funded new construction or improvement work for the Kawailoa Training School for Girls (also known as Girls’ Industrial School) in Kailua on the North Shore of Oahu. The PWA grant amounted to $27,632. The work was carried out in 1938. The project, listed as Docket No. TH-1034-F, was part of the PWA’s non-federal projects expenditures for the Territory of Hawaii for 1938-1939. The school's gymnasium was built in 1938, while the rest of the structures were built between 1927 and 1929. Today the facility serves as the Olomana Youth Center, part of the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility​ in Kailua. A...

"The lava rock terracing at Kawananakoa School (1934), as well as the fountain featuring bas reliefs by Margarite Blasingame, resulted from the continuation of a number of the CWA's projects by FERA." Blasingame was an American sculptor born in Honolulu in 1906. She did a number of projects under federal support during the Great Depression, including this "Hawaiian Decagonal Fountain" at the Kawananakoa School.

In June 1934, the PWA presented a grant to the Kearney School Board for a $7,000.00 addition to the existing high school. Architect John P. Helleberg was hired to prepare specifications for the project, which would include rearranging the building to provide additional classroom space and a more convenient plan on the second floor. One valuable change to the high school was a new chemistry laboratory that could accommodate thirty students at one time. The existing large assembly hall was repurposed as a library and study hall. New bathrooms and lockers were also provided. The project cost approximately $24,000.00, with...

The school addition from 1939 has been completely surrounded by subsequent additions and the top of walls and the roof are the only parts that can be seen from the outside, immediately behind the original building with present use as Kearney Middle School.

In November 1937, the State Board of Control decided to proceed with construction of a new men’s hospital building at the State Tuberculosis Hospital in Kearney. The building was estimated to cost $125,000.00, the bulk of which would be funded out of the unicameral’s “building fund” for state institutions. Officials were hopeful that they building could be completed by the fall of 1938. John Latenser and Sons, Omaha architects, were selected to prepare the plans for the building. The Latensers had experience in designing hospitals, including the University Hospital, the Douglas County Hospital, Clarkson Hospital, Lord Lister Hospital, Clearview Home...

The Atlas of Historic New Mexico Maps, produced with assistance from the New Mexico Humanities Council and the New Mexico Chapter of the National New Deal Preservation Association, lists a number of New Deal schools in Raton Kearny Elementary, Longfellow Elementary, Columbian School, and Raton Junior-Senior High School are all listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Keene Central School was originally built in 1935-7 as a New Deal project. Its construction was enabled by the federal Public Works Administration (PWA), which provided a $134,000 loan and $63,053 grant, effectively covering the total $253,966 project cost. The building has since been expanded into a larger educational complex. PWA Docket No. NY 3744

The Keller Recreation Center, also referred to as the Rock Gym, was constructed in 1933-34 by the Civil Works Administration. The structure is made of native sandstone and petrified wood, and cost $16,000. It included meeting rooms, locker rooms, two basketball courts, a stage and a fireplace for heat. The building was given a new purpose when bond issues in 1992 and 1995 included $3.2 million for renovations for the gym and adjoining Keller Elementary School. The campus became the Keller Independent School District Education Center. The building still hosts a variety of district and community events.

The University of Michigan's Kellogg Institute was constructed during the Great Depression with the aid of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. "The Kellogg Foundation, in co-operation with the School of Dentistry, formulated a plan to erect a building specially designed for that purpose. In August, 1938, President Ruthven presented to the Board of Regents a proposal of the W. K. Kellogg Foundation offering to give 55 per cent of the cost of an addition to the School of Dentistry, on condition that the Public Works Administration provide 45 per cent of a total cost of $400,000. Ultimately, the W. K. Kellogg...

In 1939, the WPA built a school and gymnasium in Kellyville, OK. A 1985 Oklahoma Landmarks Inventory surveyed the site and gave the following description of the school: "This large school of ten rooms or more is a single-story, rectangular (94' x 223') building constructed of uncut and beaded native stone of auburn and buff colors. The masonry of the building is random rubble. The roof is flat with parapets... Pilaster strips along the walls and at the corners of the school give it an art deco flavor. There is a beautiful stone fence with a spectacular entrance in front of...

Among a set of 26 WPA projects for Allegheny County, Pennsylvania approved in Sept. 1935 was the "grading and draining Kelton school playground." The Federal government allocated $10,360 to the project while local sponsors contributed $2,422. The school in question is no longer in operation; its exact location and current status are presently unknown to Living New Deal.

The Kendall Home for Children was constructed by FERA in 1935. The home was later run by the Catholic Church and then by Dade County. Residents have since reported a history of child abuse at the site. By 2007, the buildings were demolished or in ruins.