Military and Public Safety Sites

In 1935, the WPA demolished Sebastopol’s original wood-frame city hall and replaced it with a reinforced concrete building containing both municipal offices and a fire station. The Santa Rosa architectural firm, William F. Herbert and Clarence A. Caulkins designed the building in the Streamline Moderne, a style they also applied to the 1936 New Deal-financed Park Side School, located a few blocks to the west. Seeking more space, the fire department moved to McKinley Street in the 1960s. The core of the structure built by the WPA lies behind a 1974 renovation that created a redwood and brick pergola across...

Sullivan's municipal building was completed by the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works in 1937 and served as City Hall, police department, and jail as well as the town's auditorium. While the police department has moved, this New Deal building continues to serve as Sullivan's City Hall as well as a jail and public auditorium and gymnasium. The gymnasium/ auditorium is located on the south side of the building; the jail is on the west side in the basement.  

The former combination city hall and library in Artesia, New Mexico was constructed with the assistance of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds in 1939. The PWA provided a $13,975 grant for the project, whose total cost was $31,250. Construction began at the end of December 1938 and the building was completed in July 1939. Artesia Walking Tour: brought several City departments together under the same roof, including the City Clerk, City Manager, and the Public Library. The WPA Sewing Room also was there, as well as an assembly room for public meetings. In later years, the Police and Fire departments...

In 1936, the Works Progress Administration built the Armory, City Hall, Police Department, and Fire Department in Lake City, Florida. All departments were combined in one building.  

Kearney made an application for funding for a city hall in 1935, however the bond issue failed and the Public Works Administration (PWA) money was never allocated at that time. In 1938, Kearney was given a grant from the PWA for the construction of a new city hall, however the project would once again have to undergo a bond issue election, which meant that a political campaign was quickly initiated by the proponents of the project. Petitions for the special election were submitted within two weeks of notification of the grant, signatures having been largely obtained by Kearney firemen who...

Construction of Cloverdale's joint city hall and fire station began under California's State Emergency Relief Administration; it was completed with federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) labor.

In 1902 Mineola's city hall burned. For over 20 year they operated out of rental property. In 1929 the city bought this property and in 1929 the city started to build a combination fire house/city hall. The fire house was completed in 1931 but then the city ran out of money. According to a newspaper article, in August of 1940 the city applied for WPA funds to complete the city hall. Other sources say the city hall was completed in 1939.

WPA funds in the amount of $4,711 were appropriated for the construction of the City Hall in 1940.  The cost of the building was estimated at $8,100.  The building is two stories, of natural stone, and contains a garage for two fire trucks.  The second floor was utilized as an auditorium and city offices were on the first floor. The building currently serves as the Fire Station Museum.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) and Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) dramatically improved the former multi-purpose municipal building at 45 Community Road in Pinehurst, North Carolina. "In Pinehurst, Moore County, project No. 63-B4-5, transferred from the Civil Works Administration, has provided a combination city hall, fire station and public hall. An old community building was remodeled under this project to provide more adequate municipal facilities."

This former city hall and jail building was built by the PWA in 1936. "The building is currently the location of the Prague Police Department, with the municipal offices having moved to another location in town. ...The town of Prague applied for a grant and received $6,316 toward construction costs. The building was completed in November 1936 and occupied in January of 1937. The first public meetings were held there in March of that year. The PWA grants were for 45% of costs, and if the applicant was legally allowed to enter into loan agreement, the remaining 55% could be borrowed...

"The federal government’s New Deal programs, specifically the Works Progress Administration and the Public Works Administration, also played a direct role in Rock Hill’s economic recovery. Building projects included ... a new City Hall building ..." The PWA supplied a $45,617 grant for the construction of the city hall/jail, whose total cost was $119,441. Construction began October 1936 and was completed October 1937. (PWA Docket No. SC W1120.) Rock Hill has a new City Hall building; the exact location and status of the New Deal City Hall is unknown to Living New Deal.

The jail annex and repairs to the city hall including beautifying and landscaping of city streets in addition to the construction of a 35 x 35 one-story jail annex. W. P. No. 1046 was started 02/01/1936 and completed 07/04/1937 for a total cost of $25,913.19 including payroll, material, and equipment. The federal funds provided$22,105.97 and the City of Biloxi as sponsor provided $3,807.22. The city hall repairs included modernization of offices. The landscaping included West Beach improvement and Central Beach Promenade. The building is no longer extant.

The building housing FDNY Engine 70, Ladder 53 on City Island was constructed in 1939 by the Work Projects Administration. This firehouse has a plaque confirming its New Deal origin. This is one of the few New Deal plaques in New York. The City Island Firehouse plaque reads. CITY OF NEW YORK F. H. LA GUARDIA MAYOR FIRE DEPARTMENT JOHN J. McELLIGOTT FIRE CHIEF & COMMISSIONER DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION UNDER THE SUPOERVSION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS IRVING V. A. HUIE COMMISSIONER ERECTED BY WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION 1939 The building is still in service and houses two fire companies and two trucks. In 2012, the firehouse was proposed for closure, as part of Mayor Bloomberg's...

One of several fire stations built in the New Deal in Charleston West Virginia. This station was listed on as contributing on the Elk City Historic District (08000392). The building is no longer used for a fire station but remains in use for businesses. The bay doors are infilled. The immediate building to the northeast is connected to the firehouse but is unclear if it an older building attached to the firehouse or part of the entire project. The NRHP nomination states: KA-4883. 601 TENNESSEE AVENUE commercial BB&T Carson Insurance Services Fire House date: 1939 Kanawha County, WV County and State Page 9 description: Very...

One of several fire stations built in the City of Charleston under the New Deal.

Originally built as the city's Civic Auditorium and Armory. It was built with assistance from the PWA in 1938-1940. It now houses the Administrative Offices and Athletics Office of Kingsport Parks and Recreation: "Planning began in the autumn of 1938 during the mayoralty of W.L. Holyoke, ground was broken on 22 December, and the dedication occurred on 9 March 1940. With a seating capacity of 2,032 in the auditorium and with areas for the exclusive use of the 191st Field Artillery of the Tennessee National Guard, the building owed its existence to $125,000 from the city and a grant of $97,510...

The W.P.A. constructed an armory in Lewistown, Montana in 1936. "The history of the Civic Center starts with its construction in 1936, just prior to World War II. It was built under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) with the understanding that it would serve Lewistown as their new armory. It had a rifle range in the basement and a built-in vault (room) to be a safe storage for arms, ammunition, and other sensitive items belonging to the Lewistown National Guard. Being a civic center, it was not solely for the exclusive use of the National Guard. The large room, upstairs, with a...

The $100,000 civic center and armory in Livingston, MT was constructed by the WPA. The facility is still open for public recreational use today. W.P.A. Official Project Number: 65‐91‐6554

The Art Deco civic center and armory was Public Works Administration (PWA) project W1206. Designed by Edgar Lucian Malvaney, it was approved 10/24/1036 and completed 11/10/1937. The PWA allotted a grant of $51,226 toward the completion cost of $110,575. A bond sale was held to raise funds for the city's share of the project. The building was demolished in 1975.

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) undertook a sizable public building improvement project in Brooklyn, New York beginning in 1935.  The project involved the "Improvement of Public Buildings and Offices" at more than 30 locations, including the no-longer-extant Civil Prison at the southeast corner of Willoughby Ave. and Raymond Ave. (now Ashland Pl.). The land is now occupied by The Brooklyn Hospital Center.

The armory was built by the WPA in 1935: "This armory is a single-story, rectangular...structure constructed of cut, course, and rusticated native stone of buff color. The central portion of the roof is arched, while the remainder of it is flat... As a WPA building this armory is exceptional for its quality of workmanship that reaches the level of artistic expression. It is unique within the city of Claremore in terms of type, materials, style, and most notably workmanship."   (www.okhistory.org) Since its addition to the Oklahoma Landmarks Inventory Nomination in 1985, the armory has unfortunately been demolished.

The Works Progress Administration built the Clinton Armory in Clinton OK. Contributor Note: "The Clinton Armory was built by the WPA between 1935-1937. It was designed by Bryan W. Nolan. The main entrance faces south onto Opal Avenue, across from the large McLain Rogers Park. It is addressed as 723 S. 13th. The armory was placed on the National Register in 1994. The south portion of the armory is one-story red brick with a flat roof and was used for offices and storage. The main entrance has a single glass door with sidelights, flanked by wide brick pilasters, with a cast concrete surround....

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.

Coast Guard Air Station St. Petersburg was built during 1934-1935 with Public Works Administration (PWA) funds and under Works Progress Administration (WPA) labor and rules. Built during this time were a 100 ft by 120 ft aircraft hangar and associated maintenance shops, a seaplane ramp, concrete aprons and aircraft operating areas, an underground aircraft fuel storage facilities, two Spanish-style enlisted barracks, a vehicle maintenance garage, and a building containing the galley, mess hall, recreation hall and officers' quarters. With the addition of larger aircraft in 1976, the air station had to move to an airport with longer runways so the air station...

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 U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Taney, now a museum ship in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, was built in 1935-1936, with funds from the Public Works Administration.  During World War II, the Taney was outfitted with extra weaponry and saw action in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters of operation.  She was also present during the Pearl Harbor invasion (docked in Honolulu Harbor), where she fired at enemy aircraft and disrupted an attack on a power plant.  She is the last surviving ship that saw action on that infamous day.  After World War II, the Taney returned to normal Coast Guard duties:...

A 1938 Hampton Union article reported that: "The new Hampton Beach Coast Guard station will be the most elaborate and up to date of any in this section. The large two and one half story building will be located in a triangle between Dover and Exeter avenues at White Island, instead of at the point near the jetty. A four-door garage will be located at the foot of Dover avenue next to an equipment building. There will be another entrance to the station from Exeter avenue. Two recreation rooms are planned for the first floor of the station, in an ell at...

The W.P.A. conducted improvement work to the former Cochituate fire station. Work included interior and exterior repainting.

This brick fire hall was constructed as Colden's Fire Station #1 by the WPA: "In the 1930’s plans were drawn for a new Station #1 to be located across the street from the hall of the time next to Cazenovia Creek. Near the end of the Great Depression Colden managed to have this hall built through the Works Progress Administration. This hall included one truck bay, a downstairs meeting room and an upstairs gymnasium that was used for basketball games, dances, and other social events. In the 1940’s two additional truck bays were built on the side of the original hall."  ...

In 1972 the U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service approved the nomination of the Cole County Jail-Sheriff’s House to the National Register of Historic Places. The areas of significance were identified as architecture, political and jurisprudence. The nomination form described the Jail-Sheriff’s house as compatible in style and stonework pattern with the courthouse. The square-plan building is three bays wide on each façade, with the front entrance centered on the northwest façade in a projected, gabled bay. The rectangular-plan, three-story jail is joined to the sheriff’s house along the southeast façade of the sheriff’s house. The jail is...

"This project consisted of additions to the courthouse and the construction of this two-story reinforced-concrete jail. The jail contains the warden's quarters, dayroom and two cells each for white and colored women, two day rooms and four felony cages for men, isolation wards, and two juvenile cells. It was completed in November 1937 at a construction cost of $43,776 and a project cost of $46,864." The exact location and current status of this project are presently unknown to Living New Deal.

Collin County Jail was erected in 1880. The two-story Collin County Jail features quarry-faced, ashlar limestone masonry construction and exhibits detailing and massing characteristic of the High-Victorian Italianate style. Two-tiered pilasters mark the slightly projecting central bay. This bay features a low-pitched pressed-metal pediment above the top floor and a stone panel engraved with "Collin County Prison" above the double-door, front entrance. The jail was vacated when new facilities were completed in 1979. Texas State Historical Marker: Completed in 1880, it was modified in 1938 with Funds from the Federal Public Works Administration. Plaque on building: Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works Franklin D....

Oxford, Massachusetts's old Colonel DeWitt Fire Station, located on Barton Street, received modest assistance from Federal Emergency Relief Administration funds in 1934. The current status of the building is unknown to Living New Deal.

"Located on the south side of South Table Mountain, the amphitheater was constructed by the WPA during 1933-35. With an estimated 2,500 seats, it is the second largest of only four known historic open-air amphitheaters in Colorado. The fieldstone and concrete seating area was built on the natural slope below the mesa’s edge. It forms an inverted Ushape that is flanked by concrete mortared stone walls, which are buttressed for support. An associated footbridge, crossing a drainage, provides access from a parking lot."   (www.historycolorado.org) The amphitheater was built to serve Camp George West of the National Guard. One of its primary...

"Station 211, located at 303 East "E" St, was constructed in 1936 by the City of Colton and the Works Progress Administration. It is considered a historical landmark by the Historical Preservation Commission, and is Landmark No. 10. Station 211 also serves as administrative headquarters. The Fire Chief and five administrative support staff, along with six suppression personnel, work at 211. One Battallion Chief, Captain, Engineer, Firefighter, and two Paramedics respond from this station on Truck 211, and Squad 211." - City of Colton Fired Department Website

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted substantial improvement work at the historic Commonwealth Armory. The facility was demolished in 2002. The details—including description, Official Project Numbers, total costs, and sponsors—of more than a dozen W.P.A. projects undertaken at the armory can be found in the DoD Heritage Assessment cited below.

From Missouri Armories: "This armory was built as a WPA project and incorporates many aspects of the WPA modern style inside and out, but the stylistic features are somewhat extreme and could not be considered typical of the are deco style. This is illustrated in the two pillars flanking the main entrance and the lack of geometric interpretation." Occupied 1939-ca. 2000.

The Works Progress Administration built the Company F, 140th Infantry Armory in Poplar Bluff MO. From "Missouri Armories": "By July 1940, forty-two men were employed on the armory project, building 6000 large blocks for the outside walls on the front lawn of the building site." Currently owned by the Poplar Bluff school district and used as a maintenance building.

'... sixteen identical company officers quarters. Each unit will accommodate 1 officer and his famly and is a 1-story-and-basement building with reinforced concrete foundations, stuccoed hollow-tile wallas and a roof covered with Spanish tiel... All of the buildings at Hamilton Filed have been carried out in the Mediterranean type of architecture.' (PWA: $657,205; total: $146,000)

Also known as the 174th Regiment Armory, the Connecticut Street Armory was 'overhauled' by federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) labor.