Infrastructure and Utilities Sites

Municipalities across Puerto Rico asked for the PRRA’s help with improving existing water systems and building new ones. The municipality of Isabela benefited from this help—between 1937 and 1938, the PRRA improved and built waterworks and irrigation systems in the community. Geoff Burrows writes that, "From Adjuntas to Utuado, the PRRA repaired, modernized, and constructed drinking water systems, sewer systems, and storm drains across the island. By 1938, the PRRA had: repaired 15 municipal waterworks; built new water systems and filter plants in Comerio, Isabela, Patillas, and San Lorenzo; built eight water systems for rural housing and eight for vocational schools; and one...

A settling basin, filter beds, and caretaker's house by Big Goose Creek, located about 13 miles southwest of Sheridan, Wyoming, were components of "Section C," part of a large waterworks project enabled by the New Deal's Public Works Administration (PWA) in 1936-7. Many of the original components have since been demolished and replaced, though the caretaker's residence—which was last lived in in 1986—is still extant.

Two water reservoirs, located among fields off Hidden Hoot Trail—south of West 5th Street and west of Mydland Road—about two miles west of downtown in Sheridan, Wyoming, were constructed as part of a large waterworks project enabled by the New Deal's Public Works Administration (PWA) in 1936-7. The map provided shows the location of what are known as the Upper Reservoir and Lower Reservoir of the project's "North Section." The reservoirs have since been covered but are still in operation. Coordinates: North Section – Upper Reservoir: 44.801374, -106.996313 North Section – Lower Reservoir: 44.798229, -106.996966

A sizable 'pressure tank,' located on a hill east of downtown Sheridan, Wyoming, was constructed as part of a large waterworks project enabled by the New Deal's Public Works Administration (PWA) in 1936-7. The tank, part of the project's "Section H," appears to only be accessible via private driveway off of Kroe Lane. It is still in service.

Two water reservoirs, located on airport property just northeast of what is now Sheridan County Airport in Sheridan, Wyoming, were constructed as part of a large waterworks project enabled by the New Deal's Public Works Administration (PWA) in 1936-7. The map provided shows the location of what are known as the Upper Reservoir and Lower Reservoir of the project's "South Section." The reservoirs have since been covered but are still in operation. Coordinates: South Section – Upper Reservoir: 44.777661, -106.984698 South Section – Lower Reservoir: 44.781693, -106.980759

"From 1935 until 1941, young men at the Civilian Conservation Corps Camp SP44 in Watkins Glen State Park built park buildings, trails, stonework, bridges, and many other projects." The buildings of the CCC camp now serve as the Hidden Valley 4-H Camp.

"The Sentry Bridge dates back to the 1930s and was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The bridge is located at Watkins Glen State Park near the main entrance to the Gorge Trail ..."

"Watts Bar Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Tennessee River ... one of nine dams on the main Tennessee River channel operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority, which built the dam in the early 1940s to provide flood control and electricity and to help create a continuous navigable channel along the entire length of the river. The dam is the technical boundary between the ... Watts Bar Lake— which it impounds— and Chickamauga Lake ..." (Wikipedia)

In 1933-34, Civil Works Administration (CWA) relief workers did flood mitigation work on the Watts Branch of the Anacostia River,  “lowering the stream bed in some sections, straightening out bends and clearing away debris to increase the rapidity of the run off of water.” (Work 1936) Several years later, in 1940, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) returned to the site for additional improvements: “The District WPA has resumed work on the storm water flood elimination project at Watts Branch, near Minnesota Avenue and Hunt place northeast…" (Washington Post, May 10, 1940). Not all such channelization of the time was wise.  Work is...

"Many visible reminders of the  work are still in use. They include Fall River's Wattuppa Pond reservoir ..."

The federal Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) conducted drainage work along Waushakum Ave. in 1935.

Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) workers constructed a large storm sewer in Belmont, Massachusetts. From a W.P.A. Bulletin: Sixty inch pipe is being laid on the Belmont WPA Wellington Brook Sewer Project. This storm sewer will run 510 feet from Waverly Town Yard to Waverly Street.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) paved 34 streets in Hartford, Connecticut, including Wawarme Avenue, as part of a $2.5 million, two-year paving project begun in 1937. The federal government contributed $1 million.

A 3000' sod airfield that operated from 1925 to 1941 next to the golf course, After 1927 supplies were regularly flown in to supply the large hotel complex. A WPA project Oct. 10, 1935 mentions construction both at Mariposa and Wawona. WPA project 79697. The amount spent was $86,554.

The WPA worked on Wawona St. between 19th Ave. and 28th Ave.

Construction of the 1,950-foot earthen dam (embankment), gatehouse, spillway and outlet channel commenced in 1933 and was largely completed in 1935; the spillway gates were finished between 1937-1939. The concrete gatehouse was stamped with the year "1934" and "USIS" (Indian Irrigation Service). The purpose of the dam and reservoir is to impound much needed East Walker River water for agricultural use on the Walker River Indian Reservation. The dam project is a good example of the New Deal at work on Indian lands. Approximately $130,000 of the project was financed by the Public Works Administration (PWA). Weber Dam and Reservoir was...

The WPA allocated $409,637 to conduct repairs along Webster Avenue in the Bronx during the 1930s. WPA Official Project No. 65-97-439(?).

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) supplied labor toward the following project in Golovin, Alaska: "A road is being built to a well half a mile out of Golovin and the well is dug deeper and larger. It is hoped that this well will prove a better source of water than has even been here before." The location of this project is currently unknown to Living New Deal.

A previous iteration of the Wellington Bridge, which carried Fellsway across Mystic River between Somerville and Medford, was constructed as a New Deal-sponsored P.W.A. project. "The completion of the Wellington Bridge, constructed under the authorization of Chapter 365 of the Acts of 1933 as a Public Works Administration Project, is a fine example of a public improvement made possible through Federal aid." "National Industrial Recovery Project Mass. State D-1, P.W.A. Docket No. 4478. Furnishing and installing lighting standards, cables and other materials on the Wellington Bridge in Somerville and Medford"

Delaware utilized substantial federal resources in developing and improving its road network during the Great Depression. Among the dozens of projects undertaken by the federal Civil Works Administration (C.W.A.) during 1934 was construction along Welsh Tract Road in Newark. An average of 1,410 were put to work each week during 1934 as a result of the CWA’s road, sidewalk, bridge, and other related infrastructure efforts in Delaware.  

According to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, “Some of the park development and most of the road systems are attributed to Civilian Conservation Corps activities in the 1930s.”

"Financed by the Federal Emergency Relief Administration, work started May 24, 1935, on a project of grading Prospect Park, removing mud and silt from the Wepawaug River, and building riprap walls on the river bank. This work, completed October 31, 1935, stood the severe test imposed by the flood waters that rushed down the little river during the excessive rainfall which preceded the hurricane of September 21, 1938."

The Works Progress Administration extended and built additional facilities for the Wertz Airport in Charleston. The additions included an administration building. The airport serves today under the name Yeager Airport. In 1930 Wertz field was developed in Institute. Operated by West Virginia Airways, Inc the field was named after Charleston Mayor W.W. Wertz. Commercial flight began with American Airlines in 1933 from the same field. The field was a popular site for air shows. The WPA added improvements to the airport with “grading, ditch-digging and other work” by late 1936. Just after this West Virginia State College began the Civilian Pilot Training Program in...

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) worked to improve Wesleyan Drive outside Macon in Bibb County, Georgia ca. 1936.

The federal Work Projects Administration (WPA) put many men to work starting in 1935 with a Bronx street repair and maintenance project along roads throughout the borough. The streets, many of which in New York City were still unpaved, were surfaced with penetrated macadam. Roads improved included street and sidewalk repairs on West 231st Street from Corlear Avenue to Riverdale Avenue.

On October 27, 1938, the City of Austin accepted an aid package from the Public Works Administration for the construction of bridges and extensions of storm sewers not to exceed $132,300. One of the projects the city used the money for was to widen the bridge on West 24th Street over Shoal Creek. The original concrete bridge was built in 1928. By the mid-1930s, the narrow bridge was no longer adequate for the cars traveling between downtown and the new suburbs west of Shoal Creek. In order to widen the original bridge, the abutments and piers were extended to support new...

On October 27, 1938, the City of Austin accepted an aid package from the Public Works Administration for the construction of bridges and extensions of storm sewers not to exceed $132,300. One of the projects the city used the money for was to build a bridge on West 29th Street over Shoal Creek. On December 27, 1938, the city accepted a bid of $48,983.44 from Yarbrough Construction Company for the job. The job was accepted as completed on June 29, 1939. The city installed a brass plate on the bridge to acknowledge the contribution of the PWA, but the plaque...

On October 27, 1938, the City of Austin accepted an aid package from the Public Works Administration for the construction of bridges and extensions of storm sewers not to exceed $132,300. One of the projects the city used the money for was to build a bridge on West 34th Street over Shoal Creek. On December 22, 1938, the city accepted a bid of $19,411.63 from Rex D. Kitchens for the job. The city accepted the job as completed on April 20, 1939.

BridgeHunter.com attributes the 3rd Street Bridge in Cleveland, Ohio as having been constructed with the aid of federal Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) funds.

Delaware utilized substantial federal resources in developing and improving its road network during the Great Depression. Among the dozens of projects undertaken by the federal Civil Works Administration (C.W.A.) during 1934 was construction along West Avenue in Holloway Terrace, northeast of New Castle. According to Delaware's Annual Report of the Chief Engineer State Highway Department, 1934: The work was carried on throughout the State, and consisted largely of clearing and grubbing, ditching, grading, sodding, construction of sidewalks, building of masonry culverts and bridges and the re­ pairing of dikes along the banks of the Delaware and Christian Rivers. An average of 1,410...

The West Buxton bridge is a 607 foot Metal Continuous Rivet-Connected Polygonal Warren Through Truss with fixed and Approach Spans: Metal Stringer (Multi-Beam) that carries the West Buxton Road (Moderation Street) over the Saco River. This was one of 26 bridges that were badly damaged or destroyed by a 500 year flood in March 1936. A 1936 report by the state highway commission notes that the reconstruction of these bridges were U.S. Works Program Flood Relief projects and were handled under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Public Roads, U.S. Department of Agriculture. This bridge is one of only three...

Fort Lee, New Jersey received a modern sewer system during the Great Depression with the assistance of federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) labor. Fort Lee's Palisadian newspaper wrote: For many years has been without the benefit of a sewer system. Often the overflowing of cesspools has created a condition that was not only very unpleasant but to health. The officials have been cognizant of the bad condition for a number of years but because of Fort Lee's sorry financial plight were unable to provide a remedy. A majority of the property owners effected were in no position to shoulder an...

The elimination of railroad track grade crossings in Allendale, New Jersey, became a matter of public safety during the 1930s. The Public Works Administration provided funds for two crossings in Allendale, including that at West Crescent Ave. “The new crossings at West Crescent Avenue and West Orchard Street were achieved by making excavation cuts, regrading the roadbeds and building overpasses for the railroad tracks. The work was done under supervision of the Erie Railroad, the , and and public utility commissioners.”

The Work Projects Administration (W.P.A.) constructed at least four small bridges in 1940 along West Harmony Road, southwest of Hartford, Arkansas, to carry the thoroughfare across several unnamed ditches.

From the General Services Administration Web site: The West Heating Plant is a six-story, near monolithic structure realized in a vestigial Art Deco style. The solidity of the brick exterior is relieved by rhythmic, linear fenestration - the whole depending upon the play of voids against solids for architectural effect. The coal house and ash house, sited in close proximity to the main heating plant building, echoes the plant's architectural composition - both in terms of massing and material. The West Plant was to supply heat to existing and future government buildings in downtown, thereby providing relief to the overburdened Central Heating...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) installed an eight-inch water main along "upper West Main street" in Middletown, New York.

In 1936, 550 Works Progress Administration (WPA) workers helped lay 25,000 feet of water pipe around 34th and Adeline Streets in West Oakland, under the auspices of the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD).  In 1937-38, 400 WPA workers helped the EBMUD lay 15,000 feet of 36" and 30" water main "between 22d and Adeline Streets and Fourth Avenue and East 11th Street", according to a report in the Oakland Tribune.  Since those are both intersections, the implication is that the lines ran from West Oakland across downtown to inner East Oakland; but that needs to be verified. In any case, the newspaper...

The elimination of railroad track grade crossings in Allendale, New Jersey, became a matter of public safety during the 1930s. The Public Works Administration provided funds for two crossings in Allendale, including that at West Orchard St. “The new crossings at West Crescent Avenue and West Orchard Street were achieved by making excavation cuts, regrading the roadbeds and building overpasses for the railroad tracks. The work was done under supervision of the Erie Railroad, the , and and public utility commissioners.”

"A Seattle sewer project, at West Prospect and Van Buren was allotted $1,140" in WPA funds in late 1937.

W.P.A. project description: "West Roxbury Parkway; all the rough work involved in the construction of a road and parking space at the top of Bellevue Hill has been completed. The finished surfacing (bituminous) will be done in the spring of 1938." "Veterans of Foreign Wars, West Roxbury, and Turtle Pond Parkways; the roadsides of these parkways were beautified for their entire lengths by grubbing, grading and seeding. Ten miles, or 176,000 square yards of property was reclaimed."