Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) was developed and improved during the Great Depression with New Deal work relief funds and labor. The groundbreaking for Wayne County Airport occurred April 1929. On September 4, 1930, Wayne County Airport opens at… read more
The W.P.A. developed what is now known as Dexter Regional Airport, in Dexter, Maine. W.P.A. project info: “Construct municipal airport” Official Project Number: 165‐1‐11‐108 Total project cost: $676,000.00 Sponsor: Town of Dexter
The WPA approved funds for the construction of a municipal airport in East Hampton, NY in 1936. Work on the airport began Oct. 1936 and was completed by mid-1937. The project, as reported by Sayville’s Suffolk County News, “will employ… read more
Several projects at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (now Texas A&M University) were undertaken with New Deal funds. “The biggest project undertaken using funds from the federal government was the development of an airport, supported by partial grants… read more
“The potential for the U.S. being drawn into world war 2 was the catalyst that finally resulted in Eastport being selected for the site of an airport and a seaplane base. The CAA was funding construction of a series of… read more
Located between Montpelier and Barre, what is now Edward F. Knapp State Airport in the Town of Berlin, Vermont was developed as a New Deal project in conjunction with the Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.). Wikipedia: “Originally called the Barre-Montpelier Airport,… read more
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) built the El Paso International Airport in El Paso TX. The antecedent to the El Paso International Airport, built by the WPA, was the Municipal Airport, established by Standard Airlines. This original airport was established… read more
The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) developed what is now Elizabeth Field on Fishers Island, as part of what was then Fort H. G. Wright. The following projects were sponsored by the Commanding Officer, Fort H. G. Wright, U.S. Army. Description: Develop… read more
Originally known as “Port Erie Airport,” what is now Erie International Airport was developed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the 1930s. “Besides the privately-owned airport at Fairview, a modern airport, Port Erie, was completed in 1937 by the… read more
“Felts Field, Spokane’s historic airfield, is located on the south bank of the Spokane River east of Spokane proper. Aviation activities began there in 1913… During the 1930s, considerable improvement had been made at Felts Field with Civil Works Administration… read more
Between 1934 and 1938 the WPA funded extensive construction and improvement projects at Floyd Bennett Airport. “Work completed by the WPA significantly modernized the airport facilities. By 1938, federal funds spent on airfield construction far outweighed funds contributed by New… read more
Floyd Bennett Field received a New Deal mural, commissioned by the Public Works of Art Project (PWAP), in 1934, and possibly in subsequent years by the Federal Art Project. The location and status of these works is unknown to Living New… read more
Dating from WWI, Fort Dix [or, as it was known during the pre-WWII era, Camp Dix] provided training for soldiers enlisted in the U.S. Army. According to a Works Progress Administration (WPA) Information Division document, the WPA engaged in “Campwide improvement… read more
The Work Projects Administration (WPA) worked to develop and improve Fort Indiantown Gap in Pennsylvania. Work, approved in the fall of 1940, included “improvements to the landing field, construction and improvement of buildings and installation of sewer and electric lines.”
The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted millions of dollars (not even adjusted for inflation) of improvement and development work at Fort Monmouth in New Jersey. No aspects of the installation were left untouched: improvement and construction work involved developing “an… read more
One of the results of the 1936 Works Progress Administration (WPA) airport beautification project was the Four Winds fountain and bas-reliefs by sculptor Enrique Alférez. The airport, originally Shushan Airport, was renamed New Orleans Municipal Airport, and then Lakefront Airport… read more
The airport was initially constructed in the 1930s, probably the late 1930s, by the WPA with three turf runways. These are still being used, one is now concrete, one asphalt, the last is still turf.
Gibson County Airport was developed by the Works Progress Administration, a New Deal program. Tennessee Encyclopedia: “Some of Tennessee’s largest WPA projects reflected the arrival of the age of flight. WPA workers helped complete landing fields and airports at Jellico,… read more
The Works Progress Administration built an airport hangar in Gillette, Campbell County. The airport is still in service today under the name Gillette-Campbell County Airport.
Multiple New Deal agencies contributed to the development of what is now Great Falls International Airport. According to the Big Timber Pioneer newspaper, the PWA supplied a loan and grant toward a $304,000 project at what is now Great Falls… read more
The federal Works Progress Administration worked during the late 1930s to double the size and runway length of what was then known as Rochester Municipal Airport.
The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) conducted a massive development / improvement program at what is now known as Groton – New London Airport. “Develop landing area at airport” Official Project Number: 165‐1‐15‐123 Total project cost: $49,684.00 Sponsor: State of Connecticut, Department of… read more
Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport is a Hancock county owned, public use airport located in Trenton, Maine. During the summer months activity at the airport is the busiest in the State of Maine. From 1927 until 1934 there were discussions and… read more
The Works Progress Administration constructed a hangar at the Carbon County Airport in Price, Utah. The quonset hut hangar (photograph above) appears to be the hangar in question: quonset hut style buildings were common at airports in the 1930s and 40s,… read more
Local businessman Harrison Green established Lewistown’s first airport at this location in 1928, intending to sell it to the city or operate it as a private enterprise. The city, however, established its own airport in 1933 just across the road from… read more
This PWA building was constructed in 1937-38 and demolished in 2013. A two-story Art Deco building intended to house both hangar and terminal facilities. The architects were Jackson, Robertson & Adams. The building was torn down as a safety measure… read more
The Works Progress Administration (WPA), in conjunction with the War Department, developed what is now known as Hanscom Air Force Base / Field in Massachusetts. WPA project details: “Improvements to municipal airport” Official Project Number: 165‐1‐14‐490 Total project cost: $195,895.00 Sponsor:… read more
“The prominence of soaring in Elmira was established with the first thirteen national soaring contests, held here from 1930 to 1946. This was made possible through an alliance of the Soaring Society of America (SSA), the Harris Hill Soaring Corporation… read more
“Hartford-Brainard Airport, located in the city of Hartford, has historically been one of the busiest general aviation airports in the state. In 1921, a 350-acre cow pasture became the chosen site for what has been called the country’s first municipal… read more
The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) worked to develop the precursor to what is now Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, then known as Atlanta Municipal Airport or Candler Field, during the 1930s.
The terminal building was constructed in 1936 for the Jackson Municipal Airport (then called Davis Field). The airport continued to expand with new runways and other amenities funded by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) until 1941, including use of the… read more
Hensley Field is a military base and former Naval Air Station located in Grand Prairie, Texas that was established in 1928. Originally created as an Army Aviation Center, the base became home to all military service’s aviators. In 1936, Hensley… read more
“Hill Air Force Base (HAFB), originally known as Hill Field, was the site for the Ogden Air Depot, whose name underwent several changes until it became the Ogden Air Materiel Area. The depot’s original mission was to repair and maintain… read more
Between 1935 and 1941, the WPA contributed nearly $300,000 to the expansion and improvement of the Hilo Airport, then known as General Lyman Field (e.g., significant lengthening of runways). Today, the airport serves well over 1 million passengers per year… read more
The Holman Field Administration Building at St. Paul Downtown Airport in St. Paul, Minnesota was constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: “The Holman Field Administration Building is significant under criterion C as… read more
Between 1935 and 1937, the WPA contributed $38,000 to extending the runways of John Rodgers Airport (now Honolulu International Airport). Today, the airport serves well over 18 million passengers per year and provides a landing area for 370,000 tons of… read more
The W.P.A. developed what is now known as Houlton International Airport, in Houlton, Maine. W.P.A. project info: “Construct municipal airport” Official Project Number: 165‐1‐11‐102 Total project cost: $669,295.00 Sponsor: Town of Houlton “Improvements to municipal airport” Official Project Number: 65‐1‐11‐2213 Total… read more
NPS.gov: “The Idaho Falls Airport Historic District was constructed by the Works Project Administration (WPA). The WPA in Idaho, and across the country, placed a high priority on airport and airway projects, both to support the new and booming air… read more
