Military and Public Safety Sites

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) rebuilt Long Beach Fire Department Station No. 7 after it was destroyed in the 1933 earthquake.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) built Fire Station 7 in Topeka KS.  "This station was constructed in 1935 through Works Progress Administration to service the newly expanding areas of western Topeka, including the newly developed Westboro neighborhood located one block to the south. The Spanish Revival architectural style of this station, in fact, mirrors one of the designated architectural styles designated by covenant within the Westboro neighborhood. Funding for this station was further enabled through a public bond approved by voters in 1926, specifically intended to provide fire services to these newly annexed areas." “Station No. 7 shares an identical floor plan...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) rebuilt Long Beach Fire Department Station No. 9 in 1939 after it was destroyed in the 1933 earthquake.

In 1934 The Foxboro Reporter wrote that work on the hose room at Foxboro, Massachusetts's fire station was a Civil Works Administration project. Exact location and current status of this project are unknown to the Living New Deal.

The Skowhegan Fire Station was built in 1904. According to a local news article from 1935, FERA carried out extensive improvements to the station: “A thorough cleaning of the interior of the Skowhegan fire station is being followed by the application of fresh coats of paint and varnish. The work is being done by a FERA crew. Improvements at the station are more extensive than anticipated due to the fact that money has been found available with which to increase the size of the crew. Four additional painters and four additional laborers have been added, thanks to the fact that an...

The Civil Works Administration was involved in repairs to this former downtown fire station. 23 fire stations in the city were classed "A" projects 37-C-715 "needing general minor repairs, having sufficient sound value left in them to justify a thorough repairing, on which buildings was included painting inside and outside where needed, general carpentry repairs, including doors, windows, and repairs to floors, or new floors; general repairs to masonry work and plaster or stucco, repairs to roof and sheet metal work, or new roof and sheet metal work installed. Plumbing, heating and wiring were put in good state of repair,...

Birmingham Fire Station No. 11 (1910) was a station for the Birmingham Fire Department located at 1250 13th Street North, adjoining the alley between 12th and 13th Avenues to serve the Fountain Heights area. Construction of a station in the neighborhood was recommended in a 1904 report by the Southeastern Tariff Association. The flat-roof one-story brick building was built by early 1910 in a utilitarian commercial style with one large truck bay on the left side of the building and offices to the right. It was the first Birmingham fire company to exclusively use "automobile equipment". The fire company's first run...

The former Station No. 12 was built in 1929 in Woodlawn at 1st Avenue North and 57th Street North. Designed by Turner & Slater Architects in a residentially-scaled Tudor Revival style, the station was pulled back from the street to create a park space across from Woodlawn High School. Schoolchildren were welcomed to the grassy lawn, and public restrooms for "girls and boys" were included in the station's floor plans. The two-bay garage, tucked under parallel gables with arched openings and fanlights, opened onto an alleyway. Unsightly functions such as hose-drying, barbecuing and coal deliveries were concealed in a rear...

Fire Station No. 14 of Fort Worth, Texas was constructed in 1938-39 under the PWA. The architect was Preston M. Geren and the Sr. Contractor was Quisle and Andrews. The building now serves as a YWCA Child Care-Community Center.

This station was constructed in 1928 near Woodward Park. The two-story beige brick station house was designed by Bem Price and constructed for $13,800 by Charles W. Hall. Station No. 15 held one 750-gallon pumper truck in 1960. It later served as the offices of Partners in Neighborhood Growth. This station was fixed up under a CWA Birmingham Public Buildings 37-C-715 project. These were designated Class “A”, “those needing general minor repairs, having sufficient sound value left in them to justify a thorough repairing, on which buildings was included painting inside and outside where needed, general carpentry repairs, including doors, windows...

Before Pratt City was annexed into Birmingham, the independent municipality was protected by three volunteer firefighting companies, the first of which was organized by Mayor Ephraim Hudnall around 1900. After 1910 the Birmingham Fire Department took over the Pratt City station as its Station No. 18. In June 1912 the station was the last of Birmingham's 19 fire companies to be equipped with a Seagrave "automobile hose wagon". Medal of Honor recipient Kelly Ingram was a firefighter at Station 18 for four years before his re-enlistment in the U.S. Navy during World War I. In 1960 the old station at...

"Birmingham Fire Station No. 19 serves the East Lake neighborhood. In 1960 Company No. 19 operated one 750-gallon Seagrave pumper truck from the station. in 2017 Station 19 ranked as the 68th busiest Engine Company in the Nation according to Firehouse magazine. Station 19 is the second oldest active fire station for the City of Birmingham behind Station 24. It is the only station with a fire pole still in use." This was one of 23 fire stations that were fixed up under a CWA Birmingham Public Buildings 37-C-715 project. These were designated Class “A”, "those needing general minor repairs, having...

The former East Fairhaven fire sub-station was constructed with Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) labor in 1937. W.P.A. Bulletin, 1937: "Down in the lovely little town of Fairhaven, across the harbor from New Bedford, WPA has built a new sub-fire-station at the junction of Aiken and Washington streets, adding fire protection to the town and helping reduce fire insurance rates. Fire protection is extremely important in Fairhaven. For some of its fine old mansions were built by whaling skippers and could not be replaced, once destroyed. The fire station project was begun last July, completed Oct. 25." Much of Washington Street in Fairhaven has...

There is little info about this station beyond that it "was equipped with one 1939 Seagrave pumper truck with a 750-gallon capacity." This station was fixed up under a CWA Birmingham Public Buildings 37-C-715 project. These were designated Class “A”, “those needing general minor repairs, having sufficient sound value left in them to justify a thorough repairing, on which buildings was included painting inside and outside where needed, general carpentry repairs, including doors, windows and repairs to floors, or new floors; general repairs to masonry work and plaster or stucco, repairs to roof and sheet metal work, or new roof and...

Birmingham Fire Station 4 is a retired fire station that served the "East End" and Terminal Station area from the 200 block of 24th Street North. It was one of several stations constructed in the mid-1920s by the city of Birmingham for the Birmingham Fire Department. Station No. 4 was designed by architect Bem Price. The two-story brick building featured two large truck bays flanking an entry door. A recessed balcony on the upper level was ornamented with Italian Renaissance-inspired terra-cotta arches supported on thin colonnettes and provided with projecting terra-cotta planter boxes. The pediment roof was provided with a...

The Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works (Public Works Administration) provided funding for the construction of Fire Station No. 5 in Charleston, West Virginia. This is one of several fire stations built in the City of Charleston under the New Deal. Station No. 5 is located on the northeast corner of Bridge Road and Walnut Road in the Bridge Road Neighborhood near the Bridge Road Shops in South Hills, Charleston, West Virginia.

The original station, constructed in 1905 at 1501 3rd Avenue North, is the oldest Birmingham fire station still standing. Designed as a 2-bay, 2-story station it has been center of much of the departments history with an original name of "The Greener Station". From 1983 to 2020 it was the home of the Firehouse Shelter, an emergency homeless shelter. However, it is currently abandoned. This was one of 23 Fire Stations listed as Class "A", the CWA Birmingham Public Buildings 37-C-715 Project. Class “A” meaning "those needing general minor repairs, having sufficient sound value left in them to justify a thorough...

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) built Fire Station No. 9 in Birmingham AL. There is little information about the history of this station. From Google Street View, it appears to have a mid century style of architecture indicating that it might have been rebuilt. The station was designated as Class “A”—"Those needing general minor repairs, having sufficient sound value left in them to justify a thorough repairing, on which buildings was included painting inside and outside where needed, general carpentry repairs, including doors, windows and repairs to floors, or new floors; general repairs to masonry work and plaster or stucco, repairs...

According to the 1933 and '34 town reports, the Civil Works Administration (CWA) and Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) were involved in: "REPAIRS TO HOUSES The CWA laid the last section of flooring in the Central Station and built a new hose drying rack and also painted and papered the interior of Hose No. 4 house. Hose No. 3 house interior was painted last spring by the driver there. Previous to the CWA work only minor repairs were attempted." "The construction of fire prevention pools in the rural section" (1934) REPAIRS TO HOUSES "A concrete wall was put under the west side of Hose 4...

An article by Gerald Reed in the Lewiston Evening Journal Jan. 3rd, 1935 reported that the CWA helped with the funding of the construction of a sub fire station in East Auburn and the renovation of another sub fire station on Court Street on Goff Hill. Total cost of the projects was $13,846.95 with the city covering $4,396.40 for the materials. The sub station on Center Street was rebuilt in 1974, and the the sub station on Court Street on Goff Hill was demolished and a new station built nearby on Minot Avenue in 1972.

Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) laborers constructed a 55-foot fire drill-tower in Everett, Mass. The exact location and status of this project is presently unknown to Living New Deal.

This Art Deco fire training tower was built in 1933-34 by FERA, a precursor to the WPA. The tower was used by the city of Miami to train local fire fighters for many years. The tower is still standing, but is not currently in use.

In 1941, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) built a fire-fighting water supply system, including underground pipes and surface hydrants, for the small, dairy center of Loleta in the Eel River delta area. Although it is usually impossible to verify such infrastructure work visually, in this case an ancient hydrant/standpipe reveals that the WPA work was carried out.

WPA Project No. 465-3-2-596, App. Date May 4, 1938, $15,342, Total Funds $27,413, Federal Man-hours 16,654, Average Employed 51, Sponsor: Mt. Diablo Fire Protection District, "Construct firehouse, including driveways and sidewalks, in the town of Concord, Contra Costa County, and perform incidental and appurtenant work. In addition to projects specifically approved. County owned property. Sponsor is a legally constituted public body with authority to operate the project over the entire area involved." There is a plaque on the front of the buildings that is not clear on Google Street view, but in discussion with a fire district employee, she confirmed that...

Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) labor constructed a fire station in South Deerfield, Mass. The facility was dedicated March 31, 1937. WPA Bulletin: South Deerfield— A parade featured by an antiquated pumping outfit and horse-drawn steamer followed by modern motor equipment, was a main event at the recent dedication of the brick fire station recently completed by WPA. The new station serves Deerfield as well as this town. Since 1990, the historic site has housed Schoen Books, specializing in Judaica in all languages.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) built a firehouse in the then unincorporated area of Broderick (now West Sacramento) for the Washington Fire District.  The building is now privately owned. According to the Sacramento Bee on May 13, 2016, the station had "been long vacant" when it was acquired by Derar Zawaydeh and Philippe Masoud, owners of  chain of brewpubs called "Burgers and Brews." The downstairs was converted into a restaurant and the upstairs became the bar and club.  Thankfully, the Art Deco architecture of the building was preserved. 

The Federal Emergency Relief Administration (F.E.R.A.) painted the former Dover firehouse in 1934. The location and current status of the old building are unknown to Living New Deal.

The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) conducted improvement work at the Ashland firehouse, including exterior painting in 1935 and roof repairs in 1936.

Constructed by the Public Works Administration (PWA) in 1939. It is the oldest continuous operating fire station in the San Fernando Valley. There has been investigation since 2009 on whether to replace it or construct a new station elsewhere since the needs of the community have outgrown the building.

The Works Progress Administration built an armory in Florence, circa 1937. The armory was called Fort Willingham. The armory was demolished in 1981.  A historical marker at the site reads, "The United States flag that flies at the base of this hill stands as a sentry over the site that was the home of Fort Willingham Armory from 1937-1979. The Armory was named after Dr. Henry J. Willingham, president of Florence State Normal School, and later, Florence State Teachers College for 25 years. In addition to its military functions, the Armory also served as the focal point for community sporting events and...

A pair of segregated dining halls at what was then known as the Florida Industrial School for Boys, a reformatory, was constructed in 1936 as a New Deal-aided project. The Public Works Administration (PWA) supplied a $34,389 grant for the project, whose total cost was $84,517. The exact location and status of the buildings on the now-abandoned campus are presently unknown to Living New Deal. PWA Docket No. FL 1161-R

A pair of segregated dining halls at what was then known as the Florida Industrial School for Boys, a reformatory, was constructed in 1936 as a New Deal-aided project. The Public Works Administration (PWA) supplied a $34,389 grant for the project, whose total cost was $84,517. The exact location and status of the buildings on the now-abandoned campus are presently unknown to Living New Deal. PWA Docket No. FL 1161-R

A hospital at the Florida State Prison (in some documents referred to as the "Florida State Farm"), was constructed in 1936-7 as a New Deal-aided project. The Public Works Administration (PWA) supplied a $137,296 grant for the project, whose total cost was $339,851. The exact location and status of the building are presently unknown to Living New Deal. It is also possible that the project included the construction of other facilities on the prison grounds. PWA Docket No. FL 1160-R

"The Flushing Armory is a historic National Guard armory building located in the Flushing section of the New York City borough of Queens. It is a brick and stone castle-like structure built in 1905–1906, designed to be reminiscent of medieval military structures in Europe. ... Throughout the armory's history it has been used for the National Guard, as a homeless shelter, and a gymnastics center. It is currently used by the New York City Police Department's Queens North Task Force." The WPA provided resources to conduct repairs at the Flushing Armory (14th Infantry Armory) in Flushing during the 1930s.

"Resting on a concrete slab, the building has cast concrete with walls approximately 9 inches thick. A corrugated metal roof with flat, narrow wood fascia caps the jail. The only openings are located in the west side. These include a steel door and two steel six-light window with metal bars... Located on an alley behind City Hall, this building is currently used for storage by city. The jail was built by the CWA in 1933-34."

The first State Police Post outside Indianapolis, it was used by the State Police until 2010. The Indiana Finance Authority sought to demolish the building in 2012, but it has been preserved, so far, Presently (May 2021) being used as a Covid-19 testing venue by the local hospital.

"Fort Abercrombie, in North Dakota , was an American fort established by authority of an act of Congress, March 3, 1857. The act allocated twenty-five square miles of land on the Red River in Dakota Territory to be used for a military outpost, but the exact location was left to the discretion of Lieutenant Colonel John J. Abercrombie. The fort was constructed in the year 1858... The original buildings were either destroyed or sold at public auction when the fort was abandoned, but a Works Progress Administration project in 1939-1940 reconstructed three blockhouses and the stockade (fence) and returned the original...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted numerous improvement and development projects at Fort Adams in Newport, Rhode Island. The projects collectively cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and included building repairs, the construction of a hospital, and plumbing and road improvements. Additional details, Official Project Numbers, total project costs, and sponsor information relating to the more than 16 W.P.A. projects undertaken at Camp Adams can be found in the DoD Heritage Assessment identified as a source, below.

The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) conducted improvement work at Fort Andrews on Peddocks Island in Hull, Mass. Project information: "Improve buildings and grounds " Official Project Number: 165‐2‐14‐251 Total project cost: $132,214.00 Sponsor: Commanding Officer, Fort Banks, U.S. Army

From a state historical marker at the site: “Fort Ashby, one in the chain of Indian forts built by George Washington, 1755.  Sharp fighting here, 1756.  In 1794, troops under Gen. Danial Morgan camped here on their way to suppress Whiskey Rebellion.  Fort restored by W.P.A., 1939.”