Sidewalks and Stairs Sites

Indian Mounds Regional Park sits on limestone and sandstone bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River and downtown St. Paul. It features six Native American burial mounds created roughly 1,500-2,000 years ago. The WPA constructed limestone walls throughout the park.

"In Attleboro, crews labored to install curbings, dig trenches for sewer and water lines and drained a wet area near the current Willett School ..."

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted miles of street improvement work as well as constructing and improving curbs and sidewalks in Grant and Elsie, Nebraska. The WPA also installed new water mains and sewers in the communities.

A street improvement project in Grant, Nebraska was undertaken with the assistance of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The PWA provided a grant of $17,775 for the project, whose total cost was $68,151. PWA Docket No. 1044 The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted miles of street improvement work as well as constructing and improving curbs and sidewalks in Grant and Elsie, Nebraska. The WPA also installed new water mains and sewers in the communities.

The Public Works Administration contributed approximately $220,000 toward the construction of sewers, paving, sidewalks, and school additions between 1939 and 1940 in Fairbanks, Alaska.

The CCC conducted substantial development work at J. W. Wells State Park in Michigan's Upper Peninsula: they constructed roads, signs, kiosks, a pump house, a comfort station, a laundry facility, a bath house, Bay Stone Lodge (was staff residence), cabins, and trail shelters.

"From April 1936 through the early 1940s, Depression-era government make-work programs brought improvements to the cemetery. Works Progress Administration (WPA) laborers were responsible for building 23,000’ of hard-surfaced roads and walks, 46,000’ concrete curbs, nearly 16,000’ of "asphalt macadam" roads, and resurfacing of the same. They also removed some of the original stone wall and constructed nearly 4,600’ of "common ashler (sic) stone wall, as well as miscellaneous grading. In 1946 a new stone boundary wall and entrance gate were erected. The WPA renovated the 1872 brick rostrum that measured 23’x 38’ in 1941."

Retaining walls constructed along Union St., Junction St., and Martin Luther King Jr., were constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA).

The Works Progress Administration built sidewalks on several streets in Kingwood. Work on Kingwood Avenue started in 1936.

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed crushed-stone footpaths around what was the Klockner School in Hamilton Township, New Jersey in 1936. The project was undertaken to advance the safety of children attending the school.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) conducted extensive development work at Grand Canyon Village, c 1933-37, including paths, bridges and stairways.  As they rebuilt the Rim Trail and its rock wall, they also created the stone stairway down to the Kolb Studio at the west end of the trail. The National Park Service's CCC Walking Tour notes that: "Crew members from the Civilian Conservation Corps completed the stairs leading up from Kolb Studio in 1936."

Now known as the National WWI Museum and Memorial, what was then the Liberty Memorial was the recipient of efforts on the part of multiple New Deal agencies. National Register of Historic Places nomination form: Numerous small-scale features are located throughout the site. While each feature alone may see insignificant, together they enhance the character of Liberty Memorial and contribute to the significance of the overall site. These features include stone steps, walks, and retaining walls; a brick and concrete swale; iron gates with stone walls; improvements at the Dedication Wall; lights and flagpoles. The stone features throughout the site consist of rubble stone,...

The Works Progress Administration built sidewalks at the south east corner of Lincoln and North Main Street in the central business district of Walnut Creek, CA.

All 17 schoolhouses in Framingham, Massachusetts were painted, remodeled, and/or repaired with federally funded labor during the Great Depression. At the former Lincoln School the Civil Works Administration (C.W.A.) painted classrooms and repaired ceilings in 1933. Heating facilities and floors were improved in 1934. Federal Emergency Relief Administration (F.E.R.A.) funds also allowed for a new playground for the school that year. In 1936 the Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.)  conducted numerous repairs, including varnishing interior woodwork; painting, both inside and out; patching ceilings; and re-pointing bricks. New concrete walkways were installed by the W.P.A. in 1937. A school addition project was completed by the...

A W.P.A. shield-style plaque embedded in the sidewalk, on South side of Lloyd Ave., east of Hope St., identifies the sidewalk as a W.P.A. construction. The plaque is located adjacent to Erickson Gym, directly across the street from the direct entrance to the Moses Brown School.

The federal Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) played a crucial role in the development of Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York. NPS.gov: "By June 1939, the cemetery employed 480 men through WPA projects. A final narrative report of the WPA projects completed at the cemetery listed: construction of the shelter house and comfort station, including its sewer line and septic tank; clearing 76 acres of scrub trees and underbrush, and a 60’ fire break along boundary lines; construction of a rostrum; construction of 2,363’ of sidewalks, 5,472’ of curb and gutters; and completion of woven-wire and barbed-wire fences on the...

The Works Progress Administration built sidewalks on Lynwood and 15th Street in the west side of Phoenix, circa 1937.

The Work Projects Administration (W.P.A.) constructed sidewalks in Clayton, New Mexico. Evidence of such can be found at 10 Main Street, where two stamp imprints declare "WPA 1940" and "WPA 1942," respectively. ca. 2015: "The downtown sidewalks will soon be replaced in a NM Department of Transportation construction project, but the WPA stamps will be preserved and placed in the new sidewalks." As of 2017, the two stamps were isolated from the newer sidewalk with rings of bricks.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) built the Main Street Steps in Cincinnati OH. Access up and down Mt. Auburn. Excerpt from Cincinnati Magazine: "These are Cincinnati’s first concrete steps, poured as a WPA project in the 1940s, and longest, at 355 risers. Built into the right-of-way of the defunct Mt. Auburn Incline, they rise from the corner of Mulberry, Main, and Antique streets and are a workout—but well worth it for the views at the top."

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) built steps and sidewalk on Main Street in Superior AZ.   The sidewalk WPA stamps are undated.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed concrete sidewalks around the "1937 Martin High School L-shaped building on Park and San Bernardo" in Laredo, Texas. The status of the sidewalks is currently unknown to Living New Deal.

The W.P.A. constructed sidewalks in Arlington, Mass., including "on Massachusetts Ave. near Tufts St."

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) developed San Francisco's Merrie Way Esplanade during the Great Depression. Work: Consisted of clearing and grubbing a half acre tract, 1,500 cubic yards and surfacing with 350 cubic yards of rock and bitumuls wearing surface, creating parking and observation area close to Ocean Beach and Recreation grounds.--Healy, p. 44.

Throughout the 1930s, CCC and WPA crews made extensive improvements to the already popular Minnehaha Park, site of Minnehaha Falls. Federal workers built impressive stone retaining walls throughout the 170-acre park, staircases from the upper park down to the creek, and bridges, all from native limestone. Improvements have since been made to the park, including a Pergola Garden and most recently a river overlook and playground area. The stonework has remained largely intact, and the park continues to draw a steady stream of both locals and tourists.

Franciscan Monks established the Spanish Mission San Francisco de los Tejas in what is now East Texas in 1690. The monks were forced by the local Indians to abandon the mission in 1693. The monks burned the mission when they left. The discovery of a Spanish cannon barrel led to the park's development near the village of Weches, where the CCC set up a reforestation camp in 1933. The Texas Forest Service developed San Francisco Mission State Forest as a tourist attraction and commemoration of early Texas history, just in time for the Texas Centennial celebration in 1936. Those individuals involved in...

A Public Works Administration grant helped to fund construction of the Montlake Boulevard Pedestrian Overcrossing on the campus of the University of Washington. The bridge provided a safer pedestrian connection between the main part of the campus west of Montlake Boulevard and the university's main athletic facilities east of Montlake Boulevard, including Husky Stadium and the University of Washington Pavilion, later renamed to Hec Edmundson Pavilion. Construction of the bridge began in late 1938 and was substantially completed by February of 1939. The total cost of the project was $22,349, of which 45% was paid by the PWA. The remainder...

Multiple New Deal agencies worked to develop and otherwise improve Pueblo, Colorado's historic Mountain View Cemetery during the 1930s. "Major improvements to the Mountain View Cemetery began with 1933-1934, CWA Projects. The CWA crews enclosed the ornamental iron fence on Beulah, Sprague and Northern Avenues within a cobblestone wall, built four large arched entrances on Northern Avenue and cobblestone walls around the cemetery and orphanage properties. This work was done in conjunction with other CWA and WPA, street, sidewalk and sewer improvement projects. They also remodeled the Sexton’s home and provided a small addition that served as the cemetery office. WPA crews...

The WPA allocated $6,512 in late 1938 for street, sidewalk, and alley improvements in Alberton, Montana.

The annual municipal report from 1935 reported on extensive E.R.A. activity in Ashland: "Since May 1, 1934 the Town of Ashland has received approximately $10,000.00 in the form of Federal Emergency Relief Funds. This money has enabled the town to work between fifteen and twenty-five men on a part time basis. Efforts have consistently been made to get approval for worth while projects. A few of the things accomplished with these funds are listed below: 1. Construction of approximately one mile of rock drain. 2. Cleaning up town dumps at Ashland and Sheridan. 3. Assisting park commission in cleaning up Community park. 4. Provide labor...

The WPA undertook a "sidewalk, curb and gutter project" in parts of Blue Point as part of a $174,315 project begun in July 1937. The federal government supplied $123,340 while the Town of Brookhaven contributed $50,975 toward the project, which featured similar work performed in neighboring Patchogue.

The Civil Works Administration conducted a municipal improvement project in Brookside, Alabama. Work began Nov. 24, 1933. CWA Project No. 37-C-370: completed; "streets, sidewalks & drains".

The WPA did extensive work in Colmar Manor in 1935, including constructing concrete sidewalks, curbs and gutter improvements. The WPA also made alterations to Town Hall and improvements to City Park and a local playground. It is not known whether the current town hall is the one referred to in 1935 or which playground and park were improved.

1936 "Report of the Overseer of the Poor The relief situation in Greenville has shown a gradual improvement during the year. Due to improved business conditions, and use of available W. P. A. and other projects our local relief cases are confined to families which are unable to take part in any such projects." "The flood of last March damaged the fire water system in various places necessitating digging up, repairing and replacing pipes and valves to the extent of several hundred dollars. The Selectmen obtained an allotment of cash to be used in WPA work and assisted very materially in extending the hydrant...

A 1937 municipal report described extensive WPA improvement in Millinocket: "The W.P.A. was involved in a number of town improvements. The Sewing Project now employing fifteen women is very much worth while and has tended to reduce, as has the airport, the cost of the Poor Account. Through the Sidewalk Project we completed about 5,500 feet of sidewalks and laid the foundation for about 3,700 feet, the surfacing of the latter will have to be taken care of by the town. A Project for a Storm Sewer from Katahdin Ave. thru Spruce Street to Penobscot Avenue to Pine Street to the river is in...

The Peterborough town reports of 1937 and 1940 report WPA involvement in various projects: Water Main on Pine St. Sidewalk project #1314 24 men employed Library wall project #966 18 men employed Powers Bridge project #1194 31 men employed "In addition to Direct Relief and Old Age Assistance we have forty-two men on W. P. A. with a payroll of $2,000 a month. The total payments made by W. P. A. during the past year for the town of Peterborough were $19,122.50. This has been of great help in reducing the direct relief load. We also receive a considerable amount of food and clothing from...

The WPA installed water mains in Riverdale in 1935 and constructed sidewalks along Jefferson Ave. in 1938.

According to records in the National Archives, the WPA did extensive work in Rockville. They laid sewer extensions on multiple streets in 1936. In 1939, work included: "Improv public thoroughfares throughout the town of Rockville…including constructing curbs, gutters, and sidewalks, draining, paving, installing subsurface utilities, landscaping and performing incidental and appurtenant work."

"According to the Annual Town Reports of 1934-35 and 1936-37, the CWA, FERA and WPA were involved in numerous projects throughout the city. The dollar amounts are the share of the project that the city contributed and don't list the amount provided by Federal Relief agencies. "The town library which was a gift from the Carnegie foundation in 1903, owing to the thorough renovation which the building received in 1934 through a CWA project, no repairs have been necessary this year (1935), beyond the general upkeep. The school district received the benefit of Federal Labor and with a small expenditure of funds...

The WPA did extensive work in Seat Pleasant in 1937, including: "Improve Roosevelt Avenue, Vine and Valley Streets, and Addison Chapel Road, by constructing curbs, gutters, and cross drains, surfacing, underforming, and appurtenant work," and "Construct streets, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, water-drains, and cross-drains, throughout Seat Pleasant."

Newspaper articles describe various projects in carried out in Skowhegan  by the CWA, FERA and the WPA, as well as direct food relief provided by federal agencies. In 1934, the CWA began a sewing project employing local women. In 1938, the WPA also ran a sewing project in town. Work by FERA over the years included building 700 feet of sewer line from Hesselton St across the Cannan Rd and into the Kennebec River; other sewer work on West Front, Hathaway, Leavitt and St. John Streets; installing street signs; constructing sidewalks; cutting roadside bushes; and improving the local airport. FERA also ran...