Schools Sites

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) built the Orogrande School in Orogrande NM. The structure served as a grade school from 1935-1958, a polling location from 1935 to 1985, and a community center from 1971 to present.

Osage Hills School was built in the Osage Hills area which was developed in the early 1900’s.  It was wet whereas adjacent Kirkwood was a dry city, with alcohol establishments thriving initially in Osage Hills.  The school was built on the location of the former Meramec Highlands dance pavilion. The school was built by the firm of Bonsack & Pearce with a combination of local funds and federal matching grant funds available as part of the New Deal. The specific New Deal agency could not be identified. It was used as a school until the late 1960’s.  After going through several owners...

Located northeast of Afton, Oklahoma, the former Oseuma school building was built by the WPA ca. 1936-7. Built of "cut random ashlar", the building measured 34' x 18'. A building fitting much of the description given in the linked historical survey can be found using satellite imagery, near given coordinates, on the west side of S 550 Rd. Imagery suggests that the building is abandoned and in a state of extreme disrepair, likely crumbling. Additional information is requested to confirm the identity of the building.

The WPA constructed 91 schools in North Carolina. The former (and now privately owned) elementary school in the southwest N.C. town of Otto was one such school; it opened in 1941.

The Works Progress Administration built additions and made improvements to the Rash Stadium in Owensboro. The current home side was built in 1940 as one of the WPA programs in Owensboro, KY. In 1940, the WPA appropriated $30,926 for the construction of additions to the Rash Stadium. An additional $10,016 was approved in July 1941 for additional improvements carried out by the WPA. The improvements consisted of, "a drainage system, a running track, repairing the seats in the old stadium, and a concrete wall round the football field." (Brown Heflin 1984)

In 1939, the PWA funded a $33,000 addition on the south side of the original Owensville Elementary School, seen to the left of the hexagonal structure. Presently this building is occupied by a Montessori school.

PWA Docket Mississippi # 1219 DS approved additions and alterations to the Oxford Grammar/Elementary School. The school has since been demolished.

"This new high school stands on a 25-acre site which is provided with an athletic field, bleachers, tennis courts, basketball field, and a practice field. The building replaced an old structure which was much smaller and in which a half-time program was necessary. The plan is somewhat irregular with over-all dimensions of approximately 489 by 303 feet. It contains 33 standard classrooms, 46 special rooms, a gymnasium, a cafeteria, auditorium, library, library classrooms, rooms for public speaking, general science rooms, a room for mechanical drawing, laboratories for biology, chemistry, and physics, and rooms for typewriting, bookkeeping, office, practice, commercial practice, art,...

P.J. Jacobs High School (now a junior high school) was built by Works Progress Administration (WPA) workers with Public Works Administration (PWA) money between 1936-1938. Until the 1970’s it was the city’s only Public Coed 4 year (grades 9 – 10 – 11 & 12) Senior High School. A large, handsome sandstone building constructed in late Art Deco style, the school boasts stained glass windows depicting famous literary and scientific figures over several of the doorways, wide halls, exquisite golden oak wood paneling, marble window ledges, ceramic tiles representing the technology of the times, terrazzo stairs, and chandeliers that hang...

The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided funding for the construction of Public School 107 in the Bronx, in 1935. Funding for this school was part of a larger PWA grant ($117,641) allotted for the building of 64 projects in all five boroughs of New York City.

The Brooklyn school now known as the Philip J Abinanti School opened in 1937. Construction was sponsored by the federal Public Works Administration (PWA).

Located in East Elmhurst, Public School (P.S.) 127 serves students from pre-kindergarten through grade 8. The PWA allocated $109,232 in grant money to the construction of the building, which was completed February 1937.

P.S. 136 in Cambria Heights was constructed in the late 1930s as a Public Works Administration (PWA) project.

P.S. 139 in Upper Manhattan, New York, received an addition in 1938-9 as a New Deal project. The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $209,250 grant for the school, whose total construction cost was $402,059. The former school now houses a senior citizens center operated by the New York City Housing Authority. PWA Docket No. NY 1715

The Queens school now known as the Henry Gradstein Elementary School was built during the 1930s. Construction was sponsored by the federal Public Works Administration (PWA).

The P.S. 149 school building in Jackson Heights was constructed between 1934 and 1936 as a Public Works Administration (PWA) project. "Modern construction in Public School 149, Queens, includes windows running to the ceiling to admit the maximum of light and air, gymnasiums and auditoriums ... Throughout the State and throughout the nation, men have been busy for months building this equipment. In the mines and forests of the West, workmen were recalled to their jobs to produce ore, stone and lumber. Then in the mills and factories of the Middle West more men were busied turning these into steel, cement...

P.S. 15, now called the Jackie Robinson School, in St. Albans, New York, was constructed in 1938-9 as a New Deal project. The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $256,500 grant for the school, whose total construction cost was $430,448. PWA Docket No. NY 1711

P.S. 159 in Brooklyn, New York, received an addition in 1938-9 as a New Deal project. The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $94,500 grant for the school, whose total construction cost was $179,930. PWA Docket No. NY 1724

Public School (P.S.) 162 in Flushing, Queens, was built with a grant from the PWA totaling $107,470.  The building was completed June 1937 and extended during the 1950s.

The Queens school now known as the Henry Gradstein Elementary School was built during the 1930s. Construction was sponsored by the federal Public Works Administration (PWA).

P.S. 194, located on W 144th Street in upper Manhattan, New York, was completed in 1940 as a New Deal project. The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a grant of $474,300, 45% of the estimated project cost.

The original part of the current P.S. 2 school building on 21st Avenue in East Elmhurst, Queens, was constructed during the mid-1930s as a Public Works Administration (PWA) project. The building bears a 1935 cornerstone, and a plaque cites the construction dates as 1935-6. Funding for the school was part of a larger PWA grant allotted for the building of three schools and a hospital wing in Queens and the Bronx. PWA Docket No. NY 7582.

P.S. 213, on Hegeman Ave. between Vermont St. and New Jersey Ave., was constructed in 1938-9 as a New Deal project. The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $256,725 grant for the school, whose total construction cost was $440,538. PWA Docket No. NY 1446

P.S. 221, located on Empire Boulevard in Brooklyn, New York, was completed in 1940 as a New Deal project. The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a grant of $431,100, 45% of the estimated project cost.

An addition to the P.S. 225 school building in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn was constructed during the mid-1930s as a Public Works Administration (PWA) project.

P.S. 247 in Brooklyn was constructed during the mid-1930s as a Public Works Administration (PWA) project.

The original P.S. 48 school building, at the eastern corner of 108th Ave. and 155th St. was constructed during the mid-1930s as a Public Works Administration (PWA) project. The building bears a 1935 cornerstone.

The former P.S. 60 south of 163rd St. in the Bronx received an addition constructed in 1938-9 as a New Deal project. The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $191,250 grant for the school, whose total construction cost was $339,052. PWA Docket No. NY 1450

Ozone Park, New York's Public School 64 (P.S. 64), now the Joseph P. Addabbo school, was constructed by the federal Work Projects Administration. The school is located north of 101st Avenue between 82nd and 83rd Streets. The WPA described the project in 1940: "Completed in March, 1940. Replaces an antiquated building of a capacity inadequate to the increased population of the district. Twenty-two class rooms, with a normal seating capacity of 905 pupils, include completely equipped science room, a woodworking shop and cooking room. The cost was $595,438, of which the city's contribution was $309,600." The school has since been enlarged.

The P.S. 80 school in the Bronx was built in 1935-36 as a Public Works Administration (PWA) project. The plans for the school were approved by the Board of Education in 1935.

The Public Works Administration (PWA) project W1067 was "to build, equip school addition" (PWA Projects, 1935, p. 10), an Art Deco gymnasium for the Pace Consolidated School. The project received a $20,000 loan and a $16,515 grant and was approved on September 9, 1935. Construction began on April 6, 1936 and was completed on November 7, 1936 for a total of $37,860. Architects N. W. Overstreet and A. H. Town designed the building, constructed by Salley and Ellis.

Pacific Boulevard Elementary School was rebuilt with funding from the Public Works Administration (PWA) between 1934 and 1935. The school appears to have been rebuilt yet again in the early 2000s, although the PWA building(s) seem to have survived—confirmation is needed. In January 1934, the PWA allocated $9,380,000 to the Los Angeles Unified School District 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. Upon receiving news of the PWA allocation, Board of...

The WPA constructed a school building at 14th St. and Pacific Ave. in Manhattan Beach.

Pacoima Charter Elementary School, which opened in 1915, was rebuilt with funding from the Public Works Administration (PWA) between 1934 and 1935. In January 1934, the PWA allocated $9,380,000 to the Los Angeles Unified School District 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. Upon receiving news of the PWA allocation, Board of Education member Arthur Eckman told the Los Angeles Times, “I am sure that every member of the board agrees...

"A number of other APS buildings were built, remodeled, or had additions built as the result of this source of this source of funding. Likewise adjacent school playgrounds, ball fields, etc. were also created. The schools include Armijo, Coronado, Duranes, Five Points School, La Mesa, Lincoln, Los Candelarias, Pajarito, San Jose, Santa Barbara, and Stronghurst. For specific information on each of these refer to the Albuquerque Museum Monograph written by Charles Biebel." -Treasures on New Mexico Trails

The high school was originally built by the PWA in 1938. A PWA plaque still marks the school. In addition to the 12 original classroom buildings of Spanish mission design, many other buildings of varying styles have been added since. "This project consisted of two buildings at Palm Springs and one building at Banning. The illustrations show the south wing at Palm Springs, the other buildings being similar in character. They are all constructed of reinforced concrete designed to resist earthquake shocks. The project was completed during 1938 at a construction cost of $303,282 for all three and a project cost...

"Palmer High School is located at 301 North Nevada Avenue in Colorado Springs. The present building was built by the Works Progress Administration under Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1940. Originally named Colorado Springs High School, Palmer High School was re-named in 1959 after the city's founder, General William Jackson Palmer."

Palms Elementary School, which opened in 1915, was rebuilt with funding from the Public Works Administration (PWA) between 1934 and 1935. In January 1934, the PWA allocated $9,380,000 to the Los Angeles Unified School District 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. Upon receiving news of the PWA allocation, Board of Education member Arthur Eckman told the Los Angeles Times, “I am sure that every member of the board agrees with...

The length of this building faces to the east and has a new central building that is flanked by the PWA projects to the north and south.  To the south is the gymnasium and auditorium. To the north is the building labeled Grade School. The new central part of this complex replaced an older part of the public school that predated 1939. The PWA buildings have been well-maintained and are in excellent condition. All have a brick façade above a cut-rock base.

Construction of a one-story frame and stucco shop and classroom building, improving the roof of the main building, and general grading and ground improvements.