Schools Sites

The schools of Mansfield, Massachusetts received assistance throughout the New Deal. Early New Deal-sponsored improvements came from the Civil Works Administration and the Federal Emergency Relief Administration, saving the town's taxpayers money. The town's 1933 Annual Report states: "Late in November, the Civil Works Administration approved a request of the School Department for $1,558.20 for the employing of seven local men in a program of repairs to school buildings and equipment. ... Besides numerous small jobs of repair work ... several larger projects are planned. These are, a new chimney at the Main Street School; a new floor in a basement room...

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) conducted school improvement work in Manville, Wyoming. Cassity: "At Manville, the application for CWA funding noted how the school was run down, and desperately needed repairs, but “due to the financial condition of the district, it was impossible to do the work.”"

An August 25, 1939 article in the Bartlett Tribune and News reported on the latest round of PWA funding: "The first project to get under construction in was at Monument, Colorado, on August 3, 1939. The project, calling for $1,300 worth of school improvements, was one of the nation's smallest and also the first of PWA projects to be completed in the United States."

Public Works Administration project 4592 was approved 2/21/1934 for a $22,500 loan and $7,719 grant for additions to the Moorhead consolidated school. Construction started 6/8/1934 and was completed 10/10/1934. The project included the construction of a six-room addition and other repairs. Three rooms were constructed on the east side and three on the west side of the existing building. The school opened in September 1934 following the completion of the new building, one of the first of new school buildings in Mississippi to be built under PWA. The school is no longer extant.

Public Works Administration project 4592 was approved 2/21/1934 for a $22,500 loan and $7,719 grant for additions to the Moorhead consolidated school. Construction started 6/8/1934 and was completed 10/10/1934. The project included the construction of a six-room addition and other repairs. Three rooms were constructed on the east side and three on the west side of the existing building. The school opened in September 1934 following the completion of the new building, one of the first of new school buildings in Mississippi to be built under PWA.

Per the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, the Civil Works Administration (CWA) supplied labor toward the following project in Nenana, Alaska in 1934: "The School House at Nenana has just enjoyed a spring cleaning, the interior of the building has been given a fresh coat of kalsomine and paint. Funds from the C.W.A. enabling the work to be done." Old Alma Mater got a coat of calsomine during the past weekend. The school board and the Principal had been trying for some time to get CWA funds with which to repair, paint and calsomine the schoolhouse. Their efforts were finally rewarded, in part...

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) conducted school improvement work in Opal, Wyoming.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) conducted school improvement work in Otto, Wyoming.

The WPA allocated $520 for "school improvements" in Paradise, Montana in August 1938. The exact location of this structure and its present status are unknown to Living New Deal.

A large allocation of WPA funds for school construction and improvement projects for the state of Montana was issued in late 1938. The allocation included funding for school building improvements in Philipsburg, Montana. The location and current status of the structure in question is unknown to Living New Deal. The allocation for the structure appears on Montana WPA Roll 25 under project number 665-91-2-53.

Project 5092 to install a heating system for the Pickens school was completed in 1934. The Pickens school, originally constructed 1916, was a 2-story building destroyed in 2003. PWA provided a grant of $307 for the heating system. It was approved 6/20/1934, construction initiated 9/18/1934, and completed 9/27/1934 for a total cost of $1121.

A large allocation of WPA funds for school construction and improvement projects for the state of Montana was issued in late 1938. The allocation included funding for school building improvements in Red Lodge, Montana. It is likely that the building in question makes up part of what is presently known as Roosevelt Junior High School. The allocation for the structure appears on Montana WPA Roll 25 under project number 665-91-2-49.

The Works Progress Administration conducted improvement work at the Rising Star School in Rising Star, Texas, in 1939. According to the Abilene Reporter-News, "Rising Star School Gets WPA Allotment RISING STAR, April 12.-- Announcement was received here today that $18,933 had been allotted by works progress administration to the Rising Star Independent school district. The allotment makes possible a project planned by school board members 18 months ago, the cost of which aggregates $25,000. Included In the project will be a new home economics building, a rock veneer for the gymnasium, a deep well for the school's, water supply, a rock fence for the...

Cassity: "Rock Springs School District #4, in a standard approach applied to many other schools, used the CWA to conduct general repairs and overhauls of the buildings, treat the roofs, upgrade the plumbing, paint walls and varnish woodwork, and repair the windows and doors of the schools. Washington and Yellowstone schools were singled out for special treatment, but it appears that most of the schools in the district, and in the county, were included in this rehabilitation and repair work."

The National Youth Administration completed improvements for the school building in Scott City, Kansas. Pictured is a postcard postmarked 1946, showing a sign in front of the building that reads "Kansas NYA Project."

A large allocation of WPA funds for school construction and improvement projects for the state of Montana was issued in late 1938. The allocation included funding for school building improvements in Three Forks, Montana. The location and current status of the structure in question is unknown to Living New Deal. The allocation for the structure appears on Montana WPA Roll 25 under project number 665-91-2-66.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) conducted school improvement work in Upton, Wyoming. "At Upton the CWA built equipment for the science laboratory, and perhaps even more noticeably, installed plumbing at the high school."

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) conducted school improvement work in Hilliard, Wyoming. Cassity: "t Washam, in Sweetwater County, ... the CWA dug a short tunnel into the hillside to tap into a spring in the mountain to provide water for the school."

According to the Sweetwater Reporter the PWA approved "a grant of $6,545 and a loan of $8,000 for improvements to the Winters school system."

The Independent Reporter often covered the ongoing work of the New Deal at providing relief for the unemployed on work in Skowhegan. In 1933-1934, the CWA and then FERA carried out extensive improvements to the local junior and senior high schools, including grading the schools' grounds and other landscaping, building roads, constructing a new athletic field and re-painting and cleaning the school interiors. The High School moved onto the island in 1869. In 1919, a new High School was constructed across the river from the island and the Junior High moved into the old High School. In the 1980's a new...

According to Greenville's Record Argus the federal Civil Works Administration painted the interior of two schools in Titusville, Pennsylvania in 1934. More information is needed to verify the exact location of these projects.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) developed school playgrounds in Keeline, Wyoming in 1933/4. Cassity: "School life appears to have been significantly upgraded by the CWA workers at schools in the towns and countryside alike. Playground facilities, often taken for granted, came now where there were none previously. At Keeline, five schools added playground equipment like teeter-totters, merry-go-rounds, and swings."

Youth employed by the National Youth Administration carried out rehabilitation work for Guayanilla's public schools. Through its student work program, the National Youth Administration provided work opportunities and helped Puerto Rican youth graduate high school and college. "By the spring of 1935 though, 20 percent of the nation’s twenty-two million youngsters remained out of school and either on relief or wandering the country looking for work. In 1937, the President stated: 'I have determined, that we shall do something for the nation’s unemployed Youth…' Beneficiaries would be all male and female youths aged 16 to 25 not regularly attending school." Excerpt from a...

Youth employed by the National Youth Administration carried out landscaping work for Ponce’s public schools. Through its student work program, the National Youth Administration provided work opportunities and helped Puerto Rican youth graduate high school and college. "By the spring of 1935 though, 20 percent of the nation’s twenty-two million youngsters remained out of school and either on relief or wandering the country looking for work. In 1937, the President stated: 'I have determined, that we shall do something for the nation’s unemployed Youth…' Beneficiaries would be all male and female youths aged 16 to 25 not regularly attending school." Excerpt from...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) renovated a school in Cameron, Texas, ca. 1935. A 1935 Austin American Statesman article mentions the school renovations: "Milam county: Cameron Renovate school buildings and grounds In school district Federal funds, $16,136; sponsor's contribution $4085." The structure in question was likely the school built in 1920 in memory of C. H. Yoe.  

A few New Deal projects helped relieve the effects of the Depression in this very small coastal town. Population 135 (1930 census) Pronunciation of Arrowsic is Ah-row-sick. 1933 Repair of Schoolhouse (CWA) : town share $50 School Superintendent report “The re-modeling of the entrance to the North School room has made a wonderful change in the appearance of the interior of the building. The additional floor space is much appreciated when community events are held in the schoolroom. We take this time to thank the Senior League members for their generous donation of $40.00 to help in the expense of the project. A...

A December 1933 newspaper article reported that: “The public schools in Bingham will close Friday for a vacation of four weeks. All school activities have been postponed until after the recess. In accordance with the Civil Works program extensive repairs are to be made during that time. At the High school a crew of local men will have four weeks of work in remodeling the entire interior plan of the building. The Junior High room will be made into a larger main room by the removal of the dressing rooms. The English rooms will be made larger and painting and redecorating will...

The Civil Works Administration of Jefferson County employed women in a school clean up project 37-C-348-2. Excerpts from the Report on Civil Works Administration of Alabama Jefferson County Division: "The clean-up of Birmingham Public Schools and Public Buildings enabled the employment of white and colored unskilled women, and constituted cleaning of walls, dusting of walls, polishing furniture and brass, washing windows and woodwork, and various duties the principals of the schools could outline in order to create cleaner, healthier and more attractive schools, not conflicting in any way with any of the work outlined for the janitor or maid, such as mopping...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted a school repair project in Blue Rapids, Kansas in 1935. The project provided employment for 109 men.

From the Annual Report of the Municipal Officers of the Town of Bristol Maine: "Improvements on school grounds The Selectmen very kindly approved two special school projects under the Civil Works Administration. Under this plan marked improvements were made on the school grounds at the high school building and also at the Round Pond school building. This was in addition to the repairs made on school grounds in other parts of the town under the special appropriation granted at the last town meeting. Grounds We were all very much pleased to see the alders disappear last fall thru the work of the CWA. If...

In the 1935 municipal Town Report, the School Superintendent reports on WPA assistance: "It seemed right that if we were to have music again in the schools we should have a special room and equipment; the W.P. A. offer was too valuable to refuse; and we placed extra coal in the schools this year to be prepared... "Late in the fall W. P. A. projects were begun at the Village Schools. Mr. Fred Huntley supervised the work and Mr. Fred Hutchins had charge of the paint work. The inside of the Primary building including the music room has been painted three coats,...

The only annual town report available, 1933 mentions federal help for the small town of 1,112 (1930 Census) in rural Washington Country. "The appropriation suggested for repairs is to enable the town to take advantage of a C. W. A. project, already approved. Under the terms of this project, six painters and two carpenters will be supplied two days a week until the work is finished or until the time for the project expires. It is hoped to have all buildings painted throughout, to build a toilet at the grammar school and to take care of all other necessary repairs...

Among the Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects identified as completed in a Abilene Daily Reporter article from June 14, 1936 was "repairs on a ward school building" in Cisco, Texas. "Building repairs, including a new concrete foundation, painting and refinishing inside and outside, cost $12,299. Forty-five men were employed for five months." The location of this project is presently unknown to Living New Deal.

The 1934 - 1935 town report mentions Federal help in this island community of 349 (1930 population): "All school buildings have been cleaned and, under the F. E. R. A. project, both buildings have been shingled, and the outside trimmings at the Islesford school have been painted. It was hoped that under another project the interior of our schools could be painted and other necessary improvements made. It is possible that this may materialize later. In closing, I wish to heartily thank the superintending school committee and citizens for their support during the year." The town share was $606

The Civil Works Administration (C.W.A.) provided funds and labor to conduct repair and improvement work to multiple schools in Danville, Vermont. "Work has been done on the Stanton, Harvey, North Danville, West Danville, Hill and Village Schools. All labor was paid for by the United States Government and one-third of the cost of materials was paid by the State Government. ... It seemed to be too good an investment to be wasted; repairs and improvements have been made which would have cost many times the same amount later."

1934 Report of Superintendent of Schools: "At West Farmington, Farmington Falls, Fairbanks School and the Red School, grading was done, the labor for which was paid by the Federal Government, but the material was furnished by the School Department. This is responsible for most of the deficit in the Repair Account. In addition to grading the grounds at the Red School, a new fence was built and the roof of the schoolhouse was shingled." The Red School House survived and was moved to the county fair grounds in 2007.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted a school repair project in Frankfort, Kansas in 1935. The project provided employment for 20 men.

The WPA allocated $2,390 for Harrison, Montana school building repairs in 1938.

The Works Progress Administration completed improvements and repairs for the Highlawn School in Highlawn. The work consisted of “painting and repairing school building, grading and cindering yard and construction of new porch.” The exact location and condition of this facility are unknown to the Living New Deal.

Schools were one of the many work programs that helped reduce welfare rolls in the depths of the depression in this industrial city. Out of $239,193.23 distributed by the Civil Works Administration (CWA), "Nearly all of our public schools have been painted and varnished 12 rural schools are also to be painted." The 1934 town report, under Federal Emergency Relief Project From Dec 1933 up to Feb. 1935 specifies the schools. "5. Painting and varnishing the interior of City Schools. Martel, Pettingill, Coburn, Frye, Dingley, Wallace, Jordan, and Lewiston High School. Exterior and interior painting of the twelve suburban schools, with general repairs such...