Electricity Sites

The National Youth Administration (NYA) contributed work teams to the construction of a new power plant for the municipal power system of Murray, Utah (the NYA was a part of the Works Progress Administration of the New Deal). A team of 85 NYA workers also helped in the conversion of an old theater in town into offices for the Municipal power system. The town of Murray municipalized its local electric power system in 1912, along with its water and sewage systems.  The power plant has been modified, but is still in use as part of the city power system.  

"A utility cooperative is a type of cooperative that is tasked with the delivery of a public utility such as electricity, water or telecommunications to its members. Profits are either reinvested for infrastructure or distributed to members in the form of "patronage" or "capital credits", which are essentially dividends paid on a member's investment into the cooperative. Each customer is a member and owner of the business with an equal say as every other member of the cooperative, unlike investor-owned utilities where the amount of say is governed by the number of shares held. Many such cooperatives exist in the rural United...

The heart of today's Greenbelt, Maryland – popularly known as "Old Greenbelt" – is a large, planned community laid out and constructed during the New Deal. It features community facilities such as a school, theater and community center, a large number and variety of housing, basic infrastructure of roads, water and sewers, and extensive landscaping and an attached forest.  Almost all of the original facilities are still intact. Greenbelt was one of four greenbelt towns initiated by Rex Tugwell, head of the Resettlement Administration (RA). Greendale, Wisconsin, near Milwaukee, and Greenhills, Ohio, near Cincinnati, are other surviving greenbelt towns; a fourth,...

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was present in Death Valley National Monument  from 1933 to 1942.  The main CCC camp was at Cow Creek, just north of the park headquarters and visitors center at Furnace Creek.  CCC 'boys' built the basic infrastructure of the new monument, such as grading roads, erecting buildings for park staff and operations, and building campgrounds – activities so large that they are treated on separate pages.  In addition, the CCC worked to develop wells and springs, install water pipes, and string electric and telephone lines to make the park habitable.  Other improvements were an airplane landing strip and...

Parker Dam is diversion dam to channel water from the Colorado River into the Colorado Aqueduct traveling across the Mojave Desert to greater Los Angeles and San Diego. The later are served by a huge wholesale water agency, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD).  MWD contracts for the water from the Bureau of Reclamation and resells it to a multitude of cities and local water districts.  Parker Dam was built by the Bureau of Reclamation from 1934 to 1938, at the same time as it was finishing Hoover (Boulder) Dam and constructing Imperial Dam on the lower Colorado River. "The metropolitan water district...

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted millions of dollars (not even adjusted for inflation) of improvement and development work at the Picatinny Arsenal and a sub-installation, the Lake Denmark Naval Ammunition Depot, in New Jersey. Work involved the construction and improvement of storage facilities and various utilities. One WPA project description: Repair and rehabilitate buildings, utilities, equipment, water supply, and purification, water and sewer lines, transportation facilities, and airport, improve plumbing, heating, and electrical installations, landscape, grade, and drain grounds, also includes the construction of storage buildings officers quarters extension to storage buildings, officers quarters, extension to carpenter shop, change houses,...

"Pickwick Landing Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Tennessee River in Hardin County, in the U.S. state of Tennessee. The dam is one of nine dams on the river owned and operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority, which built the dam in the 1930s as part of a New Deal-era initiative to create a continuous navigation channel between the river's mouth and Knoxville, and bring economic development to the area. The dam impounds the 43,100-acre (17,400 ha) Pickwick Lake and its tailwaters are part of Kentucky Lake." (Wikipedia)

Ranchers in northern California were still in the dark when the federal Rural Electrification Administration (REA) came into being in 1936. A provision in the New Deal allowed Investor Owned Utilities to borrow money and extend lines to rural areas. A group of ranchers and farmers in the area interested in receiving power went to Sierra Pacific Power and Pacific Gas and Electric to try and interest them in taking advantage of the new government loans. When they couldn’t get the IOUs to bring power to the valley, they began knocking on neighbors’ doors, in an effort to form their...

PWA project x1333 for improvements to Canton Municipal Utilities was approved Sep. 16, 1938. A $31,500 grant and a loan for the same amount was awarded. Construction began Dec. 19, 1938 and was completed Jul. 28, 1939.

Lock Haven University's former power plant building was one of several facilities constructed during the late 1930s with the aid of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. It has since been demolished.

A 1939 PWA project involved a significant extension of the Perry power plant designed to double the city's electricity output. Pre-work estimates put the cost of the project at $75,000, with $45,000 to be provided by the federal government. Exact location and status unknown.

Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration work relief division efforts included the modernization of the municipal power plant on Vieques, ca. 1937.

Completed by the Public Works Administration in 1937 to serve the City Hospital complex, the Power Building is a tall 3-story building with high ceilings on all floors. It is rectangular and covered with red brick. There is a tall brick smokestack. The building has been repurposed and currently houses a climbing gym, an elegant restaurant, and other businesses.

A power system-improvement construction project in Bryant, South Dakota was undertaken during the Great Depression with the aid of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The PWA supplied a $19,890 grant for the project, whose total cost was $50,891. Work occurred between December 1938 and June 1939. (PWA Docket No. SD 1046)

A construction project that improved the electricity infrastructure in Meeker, Colorado was undertaken during the Great Depression with the assistance of a federal Public Works Administration (PWA) grant, which covered nearly half the cost of the project. Construction occurred between 1938 and 1939. PWA Docket No. CO 1306

A power system-improvement construction project in Tyndall, South Dakota was undertaken during the Great Depression with the aid of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The PWA supplied a $16,875 grant for the project, whose total cost was $35,870. Work occurred between November 1938 and June 1939. (PWA Docket No. SD 1222-1)

The federal Public Works Administration provided a hefty loan and grant enabling the construction of a power line that would bring electricity from the then-newly completed Hoover Dam to the eastern Nevada town of Pioche. Nevadaculture.org: " directed the government’s assistance to Nevada for the construction of the first line delivering electrical power from the newly completed dam.  That line, to Pioche, Nevada served as a kind of model for the succeeding ones, and it cost $ 900,000 to complete.  The PWA under Felt’s direction provided about a third of that money as an outright gift and another third as a long-term...

Sanitary sewer, municipal waterworks, and power grid construction projects were all undertaken in Middletown, Delaware during the Great Depression, enabled by federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. Work began in 1937. (PWA Docket No. DE W1021, X1031)

Public Works Administration project W1026 funded improvements to the Ketchikan waterworks ($7,307), phone system ($4,411), and electric plant ($4,140). Waterworks and phone system improvements were approved 6/22/1938 and the electric plant was approved 7/7/1938. Construction began during August 1938 and was completed between January 1939 and July 1939 on all 3 sites.

The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided funds for the completion of the Rayville Light & Water Plant in Rayville, Louisiana during the Great Depression. The plant had been under construction for many years prior to the PWA appropriations, with plans for electrification dating back to 1913. The waterworks/sewerage were completed in 1939 at a cost of $26,921. The light plant was completed in 1940 at a cost of $77,464.

In 1916, the Pecos Valley of Texas Water Users Association (which consisted of the Porterville, Farmers Independent, Cedarvale/Imperial, Barstow, Big Valley-Grandfalls, Imperial and Zimmerman irrigation districts) filed a petition with the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to request that a dam be constructed across the Pecos River to provide irrigation for farmlands from Red Bluff to the town of Grandfalls. The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $2,206,000 loan and $722,000 grant for the project, whose total cost was $2,982,895. The project was identified as a power and water project in a PWA report. TAMU: "In 1934, construction of the Red Bluff...

Electric power plant built with the support of the Rural Electrification Administration (REA). Today, the structure serves as a county historical society museum.

The farmland around the town of Fruita in western Colorado was the site of a Resettlement Administration (RA) project that relocated poor farmers driven out by the Dust Bowl. Some 34 families had been relocated to Fruita by 1937. The official name was the Grand Valley Resettlement Project (also known as the Western Farms Association). (Fruita Community History page) It appears that another 32 families were relocated to neighboring Loma CO, probably as part of the same Resettlement Project (Wikipedia).  A Community Hall was built in Loma for the new settlers in the area by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in...

The Western Construction News notes REA work in this small town of 903 (1930 census). "The REA has alloted $82,000 to the Big Horn Rural Electric Company, Basin WY, for construction of 85 miles of transmission lines in Big Horn County, Wyoming."

The Western Construction News reports of REA work in rural Washington state. "The REA has alloted $45,000 to the Benton Rural Electrification Association, Benton City Washington, for construction of 43 miles of transmission lines in Benton County Washington." "The Benton Rural Electric Association was incorporated on April 19, 1937, to serve the rural areas of Benton and adjacent counties. Armed with a $45,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture loan through the Rural Electrification Association for planning and construction, the Association completed 43 miles of line. Benton REA first flipped the switch in May of 1938, lighting 89 rural farms in Benton and Yakima...

The Western Construction News of June 1937 notes REA work in rural South West Oregon. " The REA has alloted $108,000 to the Blachly-Lane County Cooperative Electric Association, Blachly Oregon, for construction of 87 miles of transmission lines in Lane County Oregon." Lane county in 1930 was very sparsely populated with only 54,493 people. "In 1934, one of the first people's utility districts in Oregon was formed, Lake Creek Public Utility District. But before the state and federal governments acted on the application, the Rural Electrification Act was passed and members of the Lake Creek PUD voted to go with the Rural...

The June 1937 issue of Western Construction Magazine notes that "The R.E.A. has alloted $250,000 to the Morgan County Rural Electric Association, Fort Morgan Colorado, for construction of 248 miles of transmission lines in MORGAN and WELLS COUNTIES." "Morgan County Rural Electric Association was organized on April 27, 1937. Morgan County was the third REA to be organized in Colorado. The Charter Board of Directors included: H. W. Bigler, C. C. Daily, J. R. Henderson, O. E. Kinnaman, Ernest Rosener, W. F. Tormohlen, G. E. Trewet, N. C. Wagers and George T. White. The first official meeting of the Board of...

The Western Construction News notes electric projects in Wyoming and Idaho by the REA. "The REA has alloted $145,000 to the Lower Valley Power & Light, Inc., Freedom Wyoming for construction of 90 miles of transmission lines and a generating plant in Lincoln County Wyoming and Bonneville and Caribou Counties, Idaho. Estimated cost of generating plant is $42,000." "Lower Valley Energy began in 1937 as Lower Valley Power & Light, Inc. with just 10 members signed up for this new cooperative. In 1999 when the name changed to Lower Valley Energy there were over 13,000 members. As a result of diligent efforts of...

The Western Construction News reported of REA work in Washington State. "The REA has alloted $88,000 to the Cowlitz County Public Utility District No. 1, Kalama Wash., to finance construction of 81 miles of electric transmission lines." " Cowlitz County Public Utility District, a Depression era institution that provides electric utility services to 47,400 customers (including 42,400 residential customers and 5,200 commercial clients) in its service territory. The municipal utility also serves more than 3,800 Longview-Kelso area water utility customers. Like 27 other PUDs in Washington state, Cowlitz County Public Utility District has the authority to offer electric, water, wastewater, and wholesale...

The June 1937 issue of Western Construction News reported "The REA has alloted $164,000 to the Central Valley Rural Cooperative Electric Company, Lake Arthur New Mexico, for constructing a generating plant estimated $60,000 and to construct 84 miles of transmission lines, estimated cost $104,000 in Eddy and Chaves Counties New Mexico." The company exists today "Central Valley Electric was incorporated June 23, 1937. CVE received its first loan from the Rural Electrification Administration for $90,000. From this modest beginning CVE has expanded its plant to $86.2 million dollars, providing service to more than 4,000 members who require in excess of 15,000...

The June 1937 issue of Western Construction News notes REA work in Idaho. "The REA has alloted $75,000 to the Clearwater Valley Light and Power Association, Lewiston Idaho, for construction of a generating plant of 800 KW capacity." "The REA has alloted $400,000 to the Clearwater Valley Light & Power Association, Lewiston Idaho, for construction of 300 miles of transmission lines in Idaho and Washington." "In 1936, Kenneth Summers was manager at a farmer's co-op, the Lenore Grain and Seed Grower's Company. The machines, needed to process the grain seed, needed electricity but the nearest power line was many miles away. Despite repeated...

The Western Construction News of June 1937 reported on REA work in Wyoming. "The REA has alloted $50,000 to the Garland Power & Light Company for constructing 50 miles of transmission lines in Park County Wyoming." The company still exists to serve a small area of Northwest Wyoming as part of the The Wyoming Rural Electric Association.

The Western Construction News reported on REA work in Wyoming. "The REA has alloted $50,000 to the Washakie Rural Electric Company, Worland Wyoming, for construction of 50 miles of transmission lines in Washakie and Big Horn Counties, Wyoming." "High Plains Power, Inc. is a member owned electric cooperative serving just over 13,000 meters in central Wyoming. High Plains has over 4,800 miles of powerline covering 12,500 square miles in parts of Fremont, Hot Springs, Washakie, Natrona, Carbon, Big Horn, Johnson and Park counties. High Plains Power was formed in 1998 when the memberships of the former Riverton Valley Electric Association and Hot Springs...

Along Maple Street, Carrollton is the site of the first Rural Electrification Administration substation in Carroll County, Georgia.

The Salt River Project is the source of energy for most of this area, providing affordable electricity, and electricity in general for large geographical areas. "1935-1938: In an effort to supplement its workforce during the Depression, SRP contracted with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) to conduct maintenance and construction work on the canal system. The CCC crews typically completed projects including: building fences, creating trails for trucks, constructing levees or dykes, clearing laterals, lining and piping waterways, or upgrading water control structures with stone masonry or rubble lining. In less than three years, men from the CCC worked with SRP and...

The colossal Santee Cooper Project in South Carolina was enabled by a $31 million grant-loan by the Public Works Administration (PWA), "the most expensive PWA project on the East Coast." A state law enabling the project was passed years before work was able to begin thanks to court challenges. The dams, lakes, and electricity created by the project have had immense positive long-term impacts on the state. The project entailed the clearing of 160,000 acres of land using manual labor, mostly utilizing Work Projects Administration (WPA) labor; constructing a dam to impound Lake Marion; constructing a power station and a dam...

"Scenic State Park CCC/Rustic Style historic resources are located in two historic districts that include a public use area and service yard. The park contains ten contributing buildings and structures built among stands of virgin Norway and white pine on the shores of Coon and Sandwick Lakes. Architects for the park buildings were from the National Park Service... Scenic State Park was the first in the state to provide a complete range of recreational facilities developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The park’s Rustic Style buildings represent a remarkable collection of log structures that received considerable acclaim from the National Park...

Shasta Dam is the keystone of the Central Valley Project, a complex of several dams, reservoirs and canals across Northern California.  It is a high-arch concrete dam over 600 feet high and almost 3,500 feet wide at the top, situated in the former Iron Canyon. At the time it was built, it was the second largest dam in the world, after Grand Coulee on the Columbia River (another New Deal project), and it is still the 8th highest in the United States.  It impounds the largest reservoir in California, with a capacity of 4.5 million acre-feet. Shasta Dam had been originally conceived...

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) worked on a land reclamation and shore beautification project on the south shore of Perth Amboy, New Jersey. The project involved "the laying of electric cables for electric standards to provide a lighting system; also the laying of hundreds of feet of pipe to carry storm water from abutting streets ninety feet out into the water so that the parkway will not be flooded."

The May 31, 1934 issue of the Illustrated Daily News reports on New Deal help with installing street lights in Madison, Maine. Powerful Street Lights Mounted on 31 Ornamental Poles Illuminate Madison New Street Light System Recently Installed Under Direction of E. W. Adams Extends From Hunnewell Corner to M.C.R.R. Crossing -- Real Credit To Town   An important epoch in the history of Madison Improvement was brought to completion of Monday evening May 21st with the turning on for the first time of the new ornamental street lights which have been in the process of installation since last November, the powerful lights giving...