A former armory quartering the Durham National Guard, what is now the central civic center in downtown Durham, North Carolina was constructed between 1935 and 1937 by the Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) It was converted to a civic center circa… read more
This compact, red-roofed station was built with $30,000 in federal funds.
The facility now known as East Hall was originally constructed as the “Isolation Building” for Florida Industrial School for Girls, a reformatory. It was constructed in 1936 as a New Deal-aided project. The Public Works Administration (PWA) supplied a $27,727… read more
Sometimes mis-attributed to the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the Public Works Administration provided funding for the expansion of the Eddy County Courthouse and jail in 1939. Treasures on New Mexico Trails: “Eddy County Courthouse was begun in 1891, with additions… read more
“In 1936, Edmond was allotted $45,000 to build a National Guard Armory. The WPA built this sandstone building, designed by Colonel Bryan Nolan, on the southeast corner of Stephenson Park.”
Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration work relief division efforts included “the remodeling of the old ‘Manicomio’” in San Juan, in 1937, “to render it available for the motorized transport of the Sixty-Fifth United States Infantry.” The facility now houses Escuela de… read more
The Works Progress Administration built an armory in Elba, Coffee County circa 1937. The exact location and condition of the structure is unknown to the Living New Deal.
The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) developed what is now Elizabeth Field on Fishers Island, as part of what was then Fort H. G. Wright. The following projects were sponsored by the Commanding Officer, Fort H. G. Wright, U.S. Army. Description: Develop… read more
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) supplied the labor to conduct repairs to the former Ellicott City Jail. Maryland WPA Project No. 181.
The WPA was responsible for the demolition of Elmwood Music Hall in Buffalo, NY in September 1938. The building, which previously served as an armory, was located at the northeast corner of Elmwood Avenue and Virginia Street. “The building was… read more
Emporia, Virginia’s historic National Guard armory building was constructed with federal funds and labor. The building, presently owned by Greensville County, also served as a school gymnasium. It has housed operations for the local chapter of the Boys & Girls… read more
“The Enid Armory, located at 600 E. Elm Avenue is a two-story red brick building, constructed as a WPA project in 1936. At the time, it was the third largest armory in Oklahoma. It is the only armory built using… read more
The Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) funded the Ephraim Fire House in Ephraim WI in 1935. Unusual fire house built into a cliff. Architect was William Bernhard, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright. Now a museum and a memorial to… read more
Originally the Erie County Jail, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office in Buffalo, New York was constructed with federal Public Works Administration funds (Docket No. 1282-D). Construction began February 1937 and the building was completed in 1938. According to a local… read more
“Built in 1935 and finished in 1937, this building continues to house a unit of the Oklahoma National Guard… Construction began in November of 1935 on the Armory. The building was constructed of quaried of native sandstone. The architecture created… read more
The Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut was constructed with Treasury Department funds and completed in 1940. The facility is still in use today.
Adobe fire building on Broadway across from Fellows Park at the west end of Fellows, CA. The structure was constructed with WPA labor at a cost of $9800. Not known whether building is still extant.
The Works Progress Administration constructed the firehouse on the Henry Hudson Parkway East in the Fieldston section of the Bronx. Frank da Cruz with the Kermit Project describes the history of the firehouse thus: “The Engine 52 / Hook & Ladder 52… read more
National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: “The Fifth Regiment was the first armory built by the State for the National Guard. … The original structure cost $450,000 to build and had a barrel vault roof over the drill… read more
On March 14th, 1939, the Washington Post reported the allocation of funds by the Public Works Administration (PWA) for the construction of a fire alarm headquarters for Washington DC: “Construction of the new District fire alarm headquarters building in McMillan… read more
Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) laborers constructed a new fire alarm signal station in Everett, Mass. The exact location and status of this project is presently unknown to Living New Deal.
As part of a Civil Works Administration (CWA) project in Casper, Wyoming: “the fire alarm system, a separate system by which businesses were connected to a central fire alarm center through lines on poles, was extended and rebuilt; in this… read more
The Works Progress Administration built the Fire and Community House in Plainville CT. Today, the structure houses the Plainville Recreation Department and the Youth Services office.
A combined fire and police station in Niles, Michigan was constructed as a Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) project. The P.W.A. supplied an $40,050 grant for the project, whose total cost was $94,463. Construction occurred in 1938-9. Sources suggest the building has since… read more
The Works Progress Administration built the Fire Department in Cordell, OK. Contributor note: “Cordell Fire Department is located in a two-story stone building at 203 E. Clay Street. The stones are laid randomly, and there is a continuous concrete lintel… read more
"The city of Greenfield, with a population of 15,500 in 1930, had not only outgrown its old fire headquarters but the location of the old building in the business district had become undesirable due to traffic congestion. The new building… read more
The Town of Palmer, Massachusetts’s website states: “1938 showed a major change for the Fire Department. The sixth chief was elected, a new engine house built, and new fire apparatus purchased. The structure of the department changed also. A study… read more
Rockland, Massachusetts received a new fire station with the assistance of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. Construction on the building began in 1938 and was completed 1939. The building, which has since been extended, is still in use today…. read more
Smithfield, Rhode Island’s Fire Department building in Greenville was constructed as a federal Public Works Administration (PWA) project between December 1938 and June 1939. The PWA supplied a $14,040 grant; the total cost of the project was $31,427. (PWA Docket… read more
The federal Public Works Administration provided a $182,970 grant for the construction of a new headquarters building for Rochester, New York’s Fire Department during the Great Depression. Construction began November 1935. The project was completed at a total cost of… read more
The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed the branch fire station at the western corner at Avenue A and W. 16th St. The building, which, as of 2015, houses Engine Company 4 and Rescue Squad 1, has been in use… read more
E. R. A. funds were used to assist the Mansfield, Massachusetts Fire Department with upkeep and beautification in 1934. “The Central Station received a coat of paint on all outside wood and metal surfaces during the year, also part of… read more
The federal Work Projects Administration worked to improve New Rochelle’s, New York’s Fire department Station #2 (Company #2 firehouse) during the 1930s. Station #2, which was built in 1926, is still in use today. One WPA project, which involved numerous… read more
The federal Work Projects Administration worked to improve New Rochelle’s, New York’s Fire department Station #3 (Company #3 firehouse) during the 1930s. Station #3, which was built in 1902, is still in use today. One WPA project, which involved numerous… read more
The federal Work Projects Administration worked to improve New Rochelle’s, New York’s Fire department Station #4 (Company #4 firehouse) during the 1930s. Station #4, which was built in 1911, is still in use today. One WPA project, which involved numerous… read more
Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) laborers constructed a fire drill practicing tower in Fitchburg, Mass. The drill tower was located at 28 Oliver St in Fitchburg. It was built behind an already existing fire station. The drill tower along with the… read more
This small stone building was constructed as the town hall and fire hall in 1938. A 2008 photo on flickr shows the building still standing, but the Living New Deal has not been able to confirm the building’s exact location… read more
The Firehouse in the newspaper article below still stands, and is in fact the current Llano City Hall. Excerpt from The Llano News, 05 Dec 1940: “Specifications for the building were prepared by W. A. Burton, Llano architect and engineer…. read more
Sayville’s Suffolk County News reported that Central Islip, New York’s new $63,000 fire house would be constructed with the PWA bearing “45 per cent of the cost of construction, or approximately $28,192.” The Central Islip Fire Department writes: “Construction began… read more
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) built the Central Fire Headquarters in 1938. The facility provided offices for the Fire Chief and other officers. It also served as San Antonio Fire Station #1 from 1938 until 2011, and is currently home… read more