Airports Sites

In 1935, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) allotted funds for a 3 runway airport in Charlotte. Charlotte's major airport was built between 1935 and 1937. The WPA also built the Douglas Airport Hangar is located at 4108 Airport Drive in Charlotte, N.C. According to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission, "This airport was the W.P.A.’s largest project, in allotment of funds, at the time in North Carolina."

Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport was developed in part 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 ... built major airports in Memphis, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Nashville, and at the Tri-Cities."

Before Midway Airport was called Midway it was known as the Municipal Airport. However, in the 1930s, under the watchful eye of the WPA (Works Progress Association), the airport went under construction to expand and add new runways for safer travel. It also during this time held the top spot for the most traveled airport in the world. To this day it is the third busiest airport and continues to use the ideas and expansions made from the New Deal. In the 1930s there many airports that were going under construction as part of the New Deal programs, such as the...

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) worked on the Chico airport in 1934 and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) improved and finished the work in 1935. The specifics of what they did are only partially known to the Living New Deal. WPA job cards at the Fresno Public Library describe some of the work completed by the WPA: "WPA Project No. 65-3-1920, Application date 9-25-35, $12,365 'Airport Improvements.' Presidential Letter #866 - 10-24-35 - Rescinded $12,365 Project Rescinded. O.P. 115-03-4508 Takes the place of the above project - See application folder for accepted G.A.O. Description" "WPA Project No. 65-3-1920, Application Date 11/5/35, $12,365, 'Continuation of...

The Chilton County Airport, also known as Gragg-Wade Field is a small public airport in Alabama: "Many people don’t realize just how significant a place in history the Chilton County Airport holds. It was constructed in 1937 as part of the New Deal’s Works Progress Administration. That opening weekend was quite a spectacle. Held over the July 4, 1937 weekend, the Chilton County Airport began its service with a bang... During the Second World War, the airport was utilized by the government to train people with an interest in aviation how to fly, with the understanding that they would be called upon if...

Now Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, what was then Cleveland Municipal Airport was dramatically developed as part of a massive federal Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) project.

Commissioned August 15, 1940, Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City was constructed with federal Treasury Department funds. It continues to serve and is presently the busiest such facility in the United States.

A former military facility, the Coast Guard Air Station at Floyd Bennett Field was constructed with federal Treasury Department funds. "The City of New York under the direction of Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, deeded a portion of New York City's only municipal airport at that time, Floyd Bennett Field, to the Coast Guard air arm on 9 July 1936.  The station was constructed at a cost of $399,800.00. Dedication ceremonies were set for 23 April 1938." CGAS Brooklyn was decommissioned May 1998.  

The Works Progress Administration carried out runway improvement work at the airport in the vicinity of Cochise, Douglas County. Project #309, completed circa 1936. The exact location and condition of this facility is unknown to the Living New Deal.

"Through federal aid, the Civil Conservation Corps and the support of the American Legion, the airport site was cleared off and leveled. It was officially dedicated as Ralph Airport on June 16, 1935, according to the Chispa, the quarterly magazine of the Tuolumne County Historical Society." According to a Works Progress Administration job card: WPA Project No. 65-3-1872, Amount approved $26,386, approval date 10-18-35 "Construction of Administration building and runway. Airport improvement." According to Wikipedia: "Columbia Airport covers an area of 356 acres (144 ha) which contains two runways: 17/35 is asphalt paved and measures 4,670 x 75 ft (1,423 x 23 m),...

The Columbia Municipal Airport was located on route 40, now Business Loop 70 West, when Highway 40 was one of the major east-west roads in the country. This hangar is now being used by the city of Columbia as a storage and repair facility for the Parks and Recreation Department. The original signage designating it as the Columbia Municipal Airport remains. The area to the north was the site of the airport and was improved as a PWA project. Currently the airport is part of the city parks department and includes a golf course, trails, picnic grounds and shelters, and...

The Works Progress Administration provided labor for the construction of Curtis Field between 1940 and 1941 under project number 165-1-66-325. The City of Brady and McCulloch County provided equipment for leveling and grading. In 1942, the facility was taken over by the United States Army Air Forces and was used during World War II as a pilot training airfield. The City of Brady currently owns the airport and operates it as a general aviation facility.

The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) conducted a large development / improvement program at Danbury Municipal Airport. Official Project Number: 165‐1‐15‐167 Total project cost: $1,202,620.00 Sponsor: Town of Danbury

"Originally constructed in 1937 with assistance from the WPA, the Madison Municipal Airport was renamed Truax Field during World War II to honor Tommy Truax, a local air cadet killed during a training accident." The airport is now also known as the Dane County Regional Airport.

Delano Municipal Airport was built during the New Deal with funds budgeted for the Development of Landing Areas for National Defense. It was built by the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) with the aid of the Works Progress Administration or WPA. Local sources say the airport opened in April 1940, but the WPA project was approved in early 1941. It could be that the project was accelerated ahead of schedule, as was often  the case with military projects by 1939-40. The airport covers 546 acres and has one paved runway measuring 5,651 by 75 feet.   In late 1943, the airport was turned over...

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 the corner of Middlebelt Road and Wick Road in Romulus, Michigan. The Detroit City Airport improvement project began under the Civil Works Administration (CWA). "With a total appropriation of $160,000.00 the entire interior of the huge hangar was painted; underground gasoline tanks were removed to less hazardous locations; obstructions bordering on the field were repainted to conform with Bureau of Aeronautics...

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 more than a hundred men seven months." Three runways were built as part of the project. The airport is still in use today.

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 from the WPA. In 1940, the government bequeathed the WPA $25 million for the construction of airports. The WPA provided approximately $154,970 towards such a project on the campus of the Agricultural and Mechanical College to Texas. The airport was completed in 1941 and another $75,000 was given by the WPA to light the finished runways. The Agricultural and Mechanical College...

"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 airfields, built to basic military specifications, across Maine and across the nation for national defense. Bangor, Houlton and Presque Isle would later become commissioned as military airfields. Sometime in 1939 or 1940, the CAA began acquiring land by eminent domain for the airport, and some test holes were dug by WPA labor in 1940. On April 23, 1941, Works Progress...

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, the airport opened on April 5, 1929. At the time of its construction, the airport was a primitive field with a grass surface. Depending on the wind, planes could take off in any direction. For its earlier years, this worked well, but as larger planes started to use the airport, longer paved runways became a necessity. In October 1935, the field...

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 close to the east side of the Franklin Mountains. More than 1000 men worked on landscaping, groundwork, as well as airplane and airport improvements. This original site then became a cement batching plant, and later on it became a US Army training base during WWII. It is important to consider the precedent of the original airport because it gives important historical...

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 airport facilities Official Project Number: 165‐2‐15‐138 Total project cost: $145,765.00 Description: Develop airport Official Project Number: 165‐3‐15‐151 Total project cost: $250,423.00

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 Works Progress Administration and the city. Air mail service was inaugurated on May 19, 1938." (WPA Guide) "On January 15, 1936 the mayor, Charles R. Barber announced that the City of Erie planned to sponsor under the Work Projects Administration, ... In March of 1936 it was announced that engineers of the Federal Government were to make a survey of the field...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted development work at the former Fairfax Municipal Airport / Fairfax Field in Kansas City, Kansas. The project, sponsored by the Commanding Officer of Fairfax Airport, U.S. Army, cost $29,310. Description: "Construct garages, storage systems and facilities." WPA Project No. 865‐82‐2‐9

"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 funds and Works Progress Administration labor... Beginning early in World War II, Felts Field was used as a training site for the Civilian Pilot Training Program while continuing to serve as the municipal airport... The Washington Air National Guard moved from Felts Field to Geiger when called to active duty during World War II. After the war, all passenger service was located at...

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 York City. During the four years the WPA worked on projects at Floyd Bennett Airport, the federal program spent approximately $4.7 million. During the same period, the city of New York contributed just over $339,000." (Cody) WPA projects in New York included "the laying of concrete runways and the erection of a machine shop at Floyd Bennett airport." Floyd Bennett Field...

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 Deal.

Dating from WWI, Fort 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 to grounds, including grading, checking of soil erosion, improvements to drainage to eliminate mud, and clearing fire trails and brush; construction of target pits and machine gun range, landing field, one mile of railroad. Construction or repair of garage, motor repair shop, schools, tent floors, incinerator, sawmill, woodshop, quarters, storage buildings, mess hall, cold storage plant, hospital, airport buildings, disposal plant, improvements of water supply system, clearing of ditches...

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 auxiliary flying field," roads, sidewalks, electrical, heading, plumbing and sewer systems, and erosion control. All manners of facilities were built, refurbished, improved, or expanded. A captioned image in "The Dawn," a WPA publication, states that conducted "extensive repair work" at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey ca. 1936. Here is one typical project description, Official Project #765‐22‐2‐14: Improve buildings, including general overhauling of plumbing, heating, and...

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 after the new airport was constructed. The airport was restored in a 4-year project following Hurricane Katrina damage, at which time Alférez' bas-reliefs and murals by Xavier Gonzalez were uncovered. Alférez served as the director of the sculpture program for New Orleans WPA artists.

The airfield opened in 1942.

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, Cookeville, Lebanon, Jackson, and Milan."

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 International Airport. The project "includes the erection of a hangar with a door 200 feet wide by 36 feet high ... an administration building and lighting of the field." P.W.A. Docket No.: Mont. 1189 Grant: $148,185 W.P.A. project information: “Develop airport site” Official Project Number: 165‐1‐91‐110 Total project cost: $167,281.00 Sponsor: City of Great Falls

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 Public Works "Develop landing area at airport" Official Project Number: 165‐1‐15‐123 Total project cost: $161,141.00 Sponsor: State of Connecticut, Department of Public Works "Construct landing strips at airport" Official Project Number: 165‐15‐1057 Total project cost: $23,247.00 Sponsor: Department of Aeronautics, State of Connecticut "Make improvements at airport" Official Project Number: 265‐2‐14‐71 Total project cost: $7,894.00 Sponsor: U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers, District Engineer, Providence

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 investigations for a suitable location by the Bar Harbor chamber of commerce of the need of an airport to service the Bar Harbor region. "The Bar Harbor special town meeting was held on February 13, 1934, at 2 p.m. Julian Emery, the Moderator, read Article 2 to the meeting and then assured the voters that "the Jordan River mentioned was the one...