Originally built as the town’s high school, the elementary school in Basalt, Colorado was constructed during the Great Depression. Its construction was enabled by a $20,970 federal Public Works Administration (PWA) grant, which covered nearly half of the eventual $46,504… read more
This densely forested area in the 30’s was marginal land having been logged and overgrazed. This prompted the purchase of these marginal farms which were nearly bankrupt and the formation of the Baskett Wildlife Research and Education Center, a function… read more
Originally the Miami Beach Public Library & Art Center, this building was designed by Russell Pancoast in 1930. FERA later completed the interiors of the rooms on the ground floor.
The Public Works Administration funded the construction of the Bath V.A. Hospital in Bath NY. Created as the hospital for Bath V.A., replacing the 1870s facility at what had been the New York State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home. The oldest resident… read more
“This high school is planned so that when the need arises additions may be made. The present building is T-shaped in plan and two stories in height. It provides seven classrooms, teachers’ rooms, a principal’s office, a chemical laboratory, a… read more
Originally the United States Marine Hospital, what is now Richmond University Medical Center’s Bayley Seton Hospital was a PWA project. It is described by the Federal Writers’ Project: “United States Marine Hospital, Bay Street and Vanderbilt Avenue, a Federal hospital… read more
Bayside High School was constructed as a Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) project. The P.W.A. allocated $2,067,274 for the construction of the facility: $1,480,000 as a loan and $587,274 as a grant. The building bears a 1935 cornerstone and was completed… read more
The historic Baytown Historical Museum building was originally constructed in 1936 as the city’s post office and Federal Building. Construction was funded by the federal Treasury Department. The building houses an example of New Deal artwork.
The original Beach School was built in 1913 but declared an earthquake hazard and torn down in 1934. It was replaced in two phases: the main wing in 1936 and the rear classroom wing and auditorium in 1940 (PHS 2007)…. read more
In 1933/4 the federal Civil Works Administration (C.W.A.) furnished the labor for redecoration / painting full interior of the now-former Beach Park School in West Hartford, Connecticut. The building now houses the School for Young Children at the University of… read more
The PWA helped build Bear Lake Middle School (docket #1058-D), originally a high school. The school is still in use today.
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) completed the Historical Museum at the Trailside Museums and Zoo, Bear Mountain State Park, Bear Mountain, NY. The Trailside Museums and Zoo, built during the years 1932-35, expanded an earlier Trailside Museum in the park that… read more
The Public Works Administration funded the construction of the Bear River High School, in Tremonton, Box Elder County. Docket # 1018-R (Utah). The architect of record was J. Nelson. The condition of this structure is unknown to the Living New… read more
The National Youth Administration constructed a teacher’s home in the Waynesboro vicinity, Beat 4 as W. P. 5193. It was designed by the Mississippi School Building Service, who provided free plans to superintendents.
The Beaver Dam school in Bleckley County, Georgia, served African-American children and was rebuilt by the WPA between 1935 and 1936. (Current status and exact location within Bleckley County unknown to the Living New Deal)
On October 31, 1935, the City of Austin accepted a grant from the Public Works Administration not to exceed $286,363 to cover 45% of the costs of building new schools, and making additions and repairs to existing schools. The voters… read more
Originally constructed as a high school, what is now Bee Log Elementary School was built in 1938 with assistance from the Works Progress Administration (WPA); it was one of five schools built by the WPA in Yancey County, North Carolina.
Beeson Hall was one of multiple buildings constructed on the GCSU campus with the assistance of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. It was completed in 1937.
A WPA press release from Nov. 1937 reported: “More than 150 schools have been repaired and the grounds improved and landscaped [in Washington State], and five brand new schools in the state were erected entirely by WPA with a small… read more
The school was originally built in 1853. “In 1934, the WPA raised the building and added a basement, as well as an entryway.” The building is still standing, but is apparently no longer used as a school.
The approximately $5 million Bellevue Hospital was constructed with federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds during the 1930s. The present status of the New Deal structures within hospital complex, which has been extensively renovated, is unknown to Living New Deal.
"The Bellingham High School is one of the largest and finest structures of this type erected recently in northwest Washington. It is 3 stories in height with sufficient basement to take care of the heating system. It provides 20 standard… read more
Belvin Hall was the first student residence constructed on the campus of Sam Houston State University, then called Sam Houston State Teachers College. With an occupancy of 92, the building has remained a women-only residence since it opened. The Public… read more
The Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed the former Ben Franklin School in Shawnee, Oklahoma during the late 1930s. The Living New Deal suspects that, like Washington School, another New Deal construction Project in Shawnee, the New Deal building replaced… read more
Benjamin Allen Hall is named after an early 20th Century Lincoln University president and was built as a dormitory by the PWA in 1936. It served as housing for black legislators who could not find rooms at hotels in Jefferson… read more
The school contains two WPA architectural sculptures “Girls Physical Education” and “Sower and Reaper.”
Originally constructed as a high school, what is now Norwalk’s Benjamin Franklin Middle School was constructed with federal Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) funds. The P.W.A. contributed a $407,676 grant for the project, whose total cost was $909,689. Primary construction occurred… read more
The Federal Emergency Relief Administration and the Civil Works Administration carried out “repairs and renewals” work at the Benjamin Franklin School (renamed Guy Benjamin School) on St. John.
This large 3 story brick building overlooks the east side of the Lincoln University campus and was “named in honor of Private Logan Bennett of the 65th U.S. Colored Infantry, who contributed money for Lincoln’s founding.” It was built in… read more
The WPA constructed Benton High School in 1937. It was used as a high school until 1957, and then as an elementary school until 1970, after which it was put to community uses before being closed. It is a long,… read more
The historic former Benton School Gymnasium was constructed, in part, as a WPA project. The building now houses a religious organization. WisconsinHistory.org: “A brick gymnasium structure that has a round arched roof. Round recessed arched areas that unite the two… read more
The Civil Works Administration (CWA) provided labor for the improvement of Bergen Pines, the Bergen County Hospital, in Paramus, N.J. The CWA converted swampland into a “fifteen-acre recreation haven” for the grounds.
It served as the Berkeley County Library from 1938 to 1970. The building was moved from Library Street around the corner to 221 First Street in 1969 and continued to serve customers until the grand opening of the new library… read more
Art Deco-style building with reinforced concrete, finished in stucco. The Community Theater was started with PWA funds, but not finished until after WWII.
The shop and science buildings were New Deal additions to Berkeley High School. They were most likely paid for by the Public Works Administration (PWA), but this needs to be confirmed. “These buildings are fine examples of the Art Deco… read more
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) completed rehabilitation work at the Berkeley Springs Sanitarium. The work was done following the 1936 spring floods that had damaged the facilities. The high water left behind mold and debris in the Sanitarium building. The… read more
Like West Portal Library, under construction.–Healy, p. 69. Reinforced concrete building and landscaping.
The federal Civil Works Administration (CWA) constructed a gymnasium at the old high school for the Berryhill school district in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina (now within the city limits of Charlotte). The structure, whose exact location is unknown to Living… read more
The single story stone building was designed in a “Plain Traditional” style with “minimal Craftsman influences” and included a stone chimney on the western elevation (Story, 1992). The building was constructed by 50 local laborers employed by the WPA.
This WPA-constructed school was built in 1937 when the town was called Berwyn. Contributor note: “The Old Berwyn School at 45-47 Prairie Street was built by the WPA in 1937-1938. It is a one-story beige brick building with a flat… read more
Check out our latest map and guide to the work of the New Deal in Washington, D.C. It includes 500 New Deal sites in the District alone, highlighting 34 notable sites, and includes an inset map of the area around the National Mall which can be used for self-guided walking tours.
Take a look at our previous guides, equally comprehensive, covering key New Deal sites in San Francisco and New York City.
