Military and Public Safety Sites

The federal Works Progress Administration constructed a police pistol range in Perth Amboy, New Jersey in 1936. The exact location and status of the project are unknown to Living New Deal.

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed a pistol range at Fort Funston in San Francisco. The facility was: Built for target practice and competitive pistol matches with other police departments.--Healy, p. 70.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed a police department facility at 165 Haig Ave. in Stamford, Connecticut. StamfortHistory.org: The town department first had an office in the Springdale fire house and later was at the Springdale Rolling Mills. The guard at the Rolling Mills took messages from downtown for the officers and alerted them of a message by lighting a light out near the corner of Hope and Rolling Place. In 1941, the department head quarter was located on Haig Ave., where a two-story stone building was completed by the WPA. The town police department was equipped with a 3-way radio system...

The W.P.A. built a pistol shooting range at the old police headquarters in Leominster, Mass. The location of the old police station is unknown to Living New Deal.

The first major federal Public Works Administration (PWA) project undertaken in Atlanta during the Great Depression was the city's police station and jail. The PWA supplied a $257,000 loan and $97,460 grant for the project, whose total cost was $355,867. Construction occurred between February 1934 and May 1935. The exact location and present status of the facility is unknown to Living New Deal. PWA Docket No. GA 2983.

The Public Works Administration (PWA) funded a new fire station for Porterville in 1937.  This building replaced the original fire station, which was on an adjacent lot and where the new City Hall was constructed (also a New Deal building). The fire station is a one-story, Moderne building with minimal decoration (vertical ribbing), with four bays for fire engines.  It was designed by W. D. Coates. The New Deal fire station is still in use.

"The base is the home of the 142d Fighter Wing, Oregon Air National Guard. The 142d FW participates around the globe supporting drug interdiction, USAFE air defense, as well as contingency operations such as Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. To complete these missions, four groups are assigned to the 142nd Fighter Wing: 142nd Maintenance Group, 142nd Operations Group, 142nd Mission Support Group and the 142nd Medical Group... The base's history begins in 1936 when Works Progress Administration (WPA) funding allowed the City of Portland to purchase 700 acres of land along the Columbia River and bordering the Columbia...

The W.P.A. conducted substantial development work at what was then known as the Portsmouth Navy Yard, in Kittery, Maine. W.P.A. project info: "Construction and improvements" Official Project Number: 109‐3‐11‐10 Total project cost: $200,000.00 Sponsor: U.S. Navy Department "Construct access roads" Official Project Number: 165‐1‐11‐130 Total project cost: $100,000.00 Sponsor: Town of Kittery "Rehabilitate, extend, and improve buildings, structures and facilities" Official Project Number: 165‐2‐11‐68 Total project cost: $880,222.00 Sponsor: Commandant, 1st Naval District, U.S. Navy "Construct interior access roads" Official Project Number: 165‐3‐11‐136 Total project cost: $19,156.00 Sponsor: Commanding Officer, Portsmouth Harbor Defense, U.S. Army "Repair and improve grounds, roads, and systems" Official Project Number: 65‐11‐1327 Sponsor: U.S. Navy Department "Complete construction of extensions to...

This structure was built by the PWA in 1934-5 as the Post Exchange and Utility Building. It now houses the Academy's Directorate of Public Works. A 1939 PWA publication described the building as follows: "This structure is one of several provided for the Military Academy by the Quartermaster Corps of the Army with P.W.A. allotments. It is 291 by 137 feet in over-all dimensions and four stories in height. It contains the post exchange, a commissary department, five offices, a file room; and six storage, receiving, and issuing rooms. The foundations, columns, and floors are concrete, exterior walls above grade are...

The historic former post office in Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania was constructed in 1940 with Treasury Department funds. The building, which also received an example of New Deal artwork, now houses the Southwest Regional Police Department.

The historic former post office building in Calhoun, Georgia was constructed in 1935 with federal Treasury Department funds. The building is now home to Calhoun's police department.

The Colonial Revival-style former post office was constructed in 1933-4 with Treasury Department funds. It currently houses the Cleveland Police Department. The building was the first federal building constructed in Bolivar County (Fazio, et al., 1979).

Constructed in 1935 with federal Treasury Department funds, the historic former post office building in DeRidder, Louisiana presently houses the Beareguard Community Action Association.

Constructed as the Morehead post office, Morehead's police building (previously the Municipal Building / city hall) was constructed with federal Treasury Department funds ca. 1936. The building houses an example of New Deal artwork.

"One of many public buildings constructed in Mississippi under WPA legislation during the Great Depression, the building has been well maintained and has retained its architectural integrity" (Weaver, 1995). The former US Post Office in Philadelphia was one of 32 post offices constructed in Mississippi under the New Deal Administration. The nomination form for the National Register of Historic Places described the building as "loosely Classical Revival with Mediterranean influence." Currently in use as the Philadelphia Police Department, the building retains its original wood and glass entry vestibule and other internal and external elements. A mezzanine level is on the...

Constructed by the Treasury Department and PWA in 1938, and now used as a city police station. "By the mid-1930s, Rockville’s population was about 1,500, County government had erected the Grey Courthouse, and across the street arose a stately bank in the Art Deco style.  It was time for Rockville to have a permanent post office. The Federal Government paid $35,000 for the lot on the corner of Montgomery and Washington Streets, then demolished the small frame buildings that had housed the Sentinel newspaper since 1855.  Construction began in November 1938 and cost $42,000. Rockville celebrated the dedication of the Post Office on July...

The historic former post office in Sebring, Florida was constructed in 1940 with Treasury Department funds. The building now houses Sebring's police department. An example of New Deal artwork created for the building has since been relocated.

Among the numerous projects conducted by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) at Fort Leavenworth was the construction of a theater. The project, sponsored by the Commanding Officer of Fort Leavenworth, cost $25,000. WPA Project No. 713-2-26

Renovate officers' quarters in the Presidio of San Francisco, by painting interior and exterior, reflooring, repairing and improving plumbing and electrical work, making general carpentry reparis, and performing appurtenant work. This project will operate in the City of San Francisco, San Francisco County. Federally owned property--Mooser, p. 96.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) repaired 69 public buildings in Parkersburg, Wood County. The projects were sponsored jointly by the City of Parkersburg and the Board of Education, and were backed by local organizations. The WPA provided the labor and part of the materials and equipment. The projects included the modernization of schools and city fire stations.

This Classical Revival style public building was constructed with Public Works Administration (PWA) funds as Selma's City Hall. Today, the building is used by the police department, fire department No. 1, and the municipal court.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) developed the former Quabbin Reservoir Precision Bombing and Gunnery Range. The range was used prior to the filling of the reservoir. WPA project details: "New Salem: Range. Construct bombing and ground gunnery range" Official Project Number: 265‐3‐14‐38 Total project cost: $265‐3‐14‐38 Sponsor: Commanding Officer, Westover Field, U.S. Army

The historic former post office in Quincy, Florida was constructed in 1935 with Treasury Department funds. Ground was broken on Jan. 18, 1935. The building served as the post office until the late 1990s; now, it houses Quincy's police department as the R.D. Edwards Building.  

As part of war efforts, "on 26 February 1941, the FCC received funding to launch the 'Foreign Broadcast Monitoring Service,' the first name for FBIA. The service began its monitoring duties at 316 F Street, NE. On 1 October, FBIS opened its first bureau outside Washington---in a farmhouse at 13005 NE Street in Portland, Oregon---to monitor Japanese broadcasts." (Inside CIA) The federal facility was constructed with Treasury Department funds. "On 17 September 1941 Graves announced that 20 persons were being transferred to Portland to set up a new monitoring station. Included in the 2 were the three Japanese and one...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted improvement work at a (war-oriented) radio monitoring site in Millis, Mass. Radio timeline: "July 27, 1940: The new WBZ transmitter in Hull begins operation. Special programs were broadcast, culminating in a switchover ceremony punctuated by the decay of three atoms of uranium-235, which switched on the new transmitter. The FCC will take over the old Millis site as a monitoring station." WPA project details: "Construct and improve facilities" Official Project Number: 265‐3‐14‐45 Total project cost: $28,152.00 Sponsor: Federal Communications Commission

The Work Projects Administration (WPA) conducted multiple extensive projects to improve and develop Randolph Field, later Randolph Air Force Base and now part of Joint Base San Antonio, outside San Antonio, Texas. Per a Department of Defense (DoD) survey, the WPA did the following: Construct extension to warehouse building; Project No. 156-3-66-271; Cost: $38,928.00; Sponsor: Commanding Officer, Randolph Field, U.S. Army Improve airport facilities; 165-2-66-481; $435,599.00; Commanding Officer, Randolph Field, U.S. Army Improve military reservation; 165-2-66-556; $13,519.00; Commanding Officer, Randolph Field, U.S. Army Construct and improve buildings and facilities; 165-3-66-229; $49,988.00; Commanding Officer, Randolph Field, U.S. Army Construct, rehabilitate, and...

The two-story jail was completed in 1936 for a total cost of $27,453. Public Works Administration provided a grant of $12,310 and Rankin County provided the remainder through a bond election. The project, W1159, was approved November 14, 1935, and bids advertised in November. Contracts were awarded December 14, 1935. The Mississippi Department of Archives and History documents N. W. Overstreet & A. H. Town as architects. The Jackson Clarion-Ledger (Nov 1, 1936) identified E. L. Malvaney as architect and I. C. Garbor and Sons construction. Construction began March 9, 1936 and was completed September 22, 1936. The jail was...

The Work Projects Administration (WPA) conducted millions of dollars of projects (not even adjusted for inflation) developing the former Raritan Arsenal in Edison, New Jersey, now the site of Raritan Center Industrial Park. Per a Department of Defense (DoD) survey, the WPA did the following: Improve buildings, grounds, and facilities; Project No. 713-2-31; Cost: $45,000.00; Sponsor: Commanding Officer, Raritan Arsenal, U.S. War Department Improve arsenal; 765-22-2-13; $349,437.00; Commanding Officer, Raritan Arsenal, U.S. Army Improve arsenal; X65-22-2-XX; $14,221.00; Commanding Officer, Raritan Arsenal, U.S. Army Improve structures, utilities, and grounds; ; $97,447.00; Commanding Officer, Raritan Arsenal, U.S. Army Construct roads and railroad...

From contributor Charles Swaney: "Older style National Guard Armory with dual entrances on the front façade which is predominately brick with concrete accents, art deco." The building is not specifically listed as a New Deal project, but dates to the period when the WPA was constructing armories in this area of Kentucky. The building is now the Estill County Youth Center.

The Reading Fire Department EMS Station was built as a New Deal project: the Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $33,789 grant for the project, whose total cost was $69,493. A 1939 cornerstone can be found at the northeast corner. The facility was dedicated October 9, 1939. PWA Docket No. PA 2134

The federal Public Works Administration (PWA) aided in the financing of the construction of a firehouse in Redding, California. The exact location of the firehouse is presently unknown to Living New Deal.

From the Redlands history page: "Built during the WPA depression days, the building has been designated as the future location of the Redlands Historical Museum. Replacing the original Richardsonian masterpiece that mysteriously burned in 1939, this civic style building with classic elements and artnouveau bas reliefs, contains multiple styles, as if it was built by committee...it was!" This building now serves as the Administrative Offices for the Redlands Police Department. The new city hall is located directly across the street.

Allen Field, later called Reeves Field, was built in 1927 as a 410-acre civilian airport on Terminal Island. The U.S. Navy begin using Allen Field in the same year as a Naval Air Reserve Training Facility. In 1935, the Navy took complete control of Allen Field, renamed it Reeves Field, and, in 1936, designated it as a Naval Air Base. In 1938, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Harbor Department developed Reeves Field for the United States Fleet and elevated it to "Fleet Air Base, San Pedro." The work done by the WPA included 9200 lineal feet of plane runways, a...

In 1935 F.E.R.A. and W.P.A. labor conducted the following improvement work at what was then known as the Reformatory (now Massachusetts Correctional Institution), in Framingham, Mass.: Roads and walks were constructed and grading done at the Reformatory Mother's Cottage and Junior Inmates' Home. Also, a clothes drying yard was graded and built. Maple floors were relaid in the corridors of the main buildings. The W.P.A. constructed facilities and conducted beautification work on the grounds as well.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed the Remount Area Headquarters at Fort Mackenzie outside Sheridan, Wyoming—now the Sheridan VA Medical Center. The status and location of the facility is unknown to Living New Deal. WPA Project No. 265-3-83-19. Cost: $75,793. Sponsor: Commanding Officer, Fort Mackenzie, U.S. Army.

The Renton History Museum is housed in a former fire station built by the WPA between 1941 and 1942.

The historic Renville County Courthouse in Mohall, North Dakota was built starting in April 1936 and dedicated on June 25, 1937. Its construction was enabled by a $51,650 grant provided by the federal Public Works Administration (PWA). The Moderne building, which was also built as a jail, is still in service. Construction is sometimes mis-attributed to the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. PWA Docket No. ND 1027.

The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) conducted improvement work at Rice Wharf in Winthrop, Mass. Project information: "Improve buildings, etc. at Forts Banks, Heath and Rice Wharf" Official Project Number: 165‐2‐14‐59 Sponsor: War Department

From contributor Charles Swaney: "Atypical National Guard Armory, which from the front façade is wider than usual, and which has predominant horizontal concrete bands across the 2nd story.  The roof is flat. A basement is accessed from the rear." The building is now the Richmond Recreation Center.

The Federal Emergency Relief Administration carried out repair work at the Richmond Penitentiary in the vicinity of Christiansted. The repair work included roof repairs after fire-related damage. Today, the facilities are vacant and in an advanced state of disrepair.