This cabin sits in the Giant Sequoia National Monument at 6,000 feet of elevation. The CCC built the cabin to provide a residence for Forest Service fire patrolmen. "Mtn. Home Guard Station was constructed between 1933 and 1935 by the… read more
WPA funded the construction of a dam and bridge north of the town of Mountain Lake, Minnesota. The dam created what became Mountain Lake itself. The original bridge, with 1938 WPA plaque, is still in use, though now for pedestrians… read more
The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) worked to develop San Francisco’s Mountain Lake Park during the Great Depression. Examples: Repairs like Lombard, consisting of landscaping, building 2 new tennis courts and walks and horseshoe courts; also provided a shelter for… read more
Nipmuck State Forest’s Mountain Laurel Sanctuary began “as a beautification project of the Civilian Conservation Corps” in 1935. Located along Snow Hill Road, it features Connecticuts state flowers, and is particularly beautiful during peak bloom.
The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed a pool in Mountwell Park in Haddonfield, New Jersey ca. 1936. The pool has since been abandoned. Philly.com: [The pool] “started out as a swimming hole created by the 1913 construction of a… read more
Mt. Bradley Ridge is near Castle Lake in Shasta National Forest. It now appears to be reached mainly by a trail leading from Castle Lake, to Heart Lake, to Little Castle Lake to the Mt. Bradley Ridge. The highest point… read more
Providing the western edge of ridge of downtown basin sits Mt. Echo Park, with a sweeping view of the Ohio River. Starting with purchase of the land in 1908, over the following decades the park say numerous improvements. The pavilion… read more
Rising 1,350 feet, Mount Nebo offers sweeping views of the Arkansas River Valley. In 1933, a portion of the mountain was chosen as a park site. Native stone and logs from Mount Nebo were used by the Civilian Conservation Corps… read more
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was very active in the Coronado National Forest during the 1930s. Coronado National Forest is discontinuous across southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico because the forested areas occur only on isolated mountain ranges called “Sky… read more
The CCC did extensive work in Muir Woods National Monument. The National Park Service site summarizes their activity: “The men began work in Muir Woods and the surrounding Tamalpais State Park. Projects included a revetment (rockwork stream banks) in Redwood… read more
“Two limestone bbq pits and remnants of two metal picnic tables and benches are the only constructed elements in the east end of the park. A modern baseball field and two concrete block outhouses are located in the west half…. read more
Mule Peak is in the Tule River Ranger District and overlooks the Tule River Indian Reservation to the west: “Established in 1936 as a primary fire detection facility, Mule Peak Lookout was constructed for $2,800 on a rocky peak at… read more
President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Muleshoe Migratory Waterfowl Refuge by executive order on October 24, 1935. In 1940 the name was changed to the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge. The original tract purchased for the refuge was 738 acres. The… read more
According to Stacy Lundgren of the US Forest Service, the CCC was responsible for much of the infrastructure in the Stanislaus National Forest, including “roads, trails, bridges, dams, campgrounds, lookout towers, ranger stations, pretty much everything.” To do the work,… read more
The Bristow town website explains that the amphitheater was “built by the CCC and the NYA, one of the first youth projects completed. Eleanor Roosevelt came to Bristow to dedicate the project in March 1937.” A 1985 National Register nomination… read more
Aberdeen’s Municipal Ballpark, a.k.a. Pheasant Park, was constructed in 1936, competed as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project. The facility rebuilt in 1954 and demolished in 1975. The exact location of the since-demolished ballpark is unknown to Living New Deal.
Bathhouse number 6 was the last bathhouse built in St. Louis during the time when the need for bathing by those with no indoor plumbing was a critical problem. They were built in those areas of the city with the… read more
Wichita Municipal Beach Swimming Pool was built in 1938 as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project. The pool replaced an earlier municipal pool built in 1923. The new pool cost $50,000 to construct. At 240 feet long and 125 feet… read more
During the 1930s the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted improvement work at Ogdensburg’s municipal dock.
Several substantial structures at the Miami Municipal Fairgrounds were built using native sandstone by the WPA (ca. 1940), including: an eight-foot-tall perimeter wall; a 78′ x 205 fairground grandstand; a wall surrounding the racetrack; a 90′ x 70′ stable, and a 76′ x… read more
This recreational complex inclusive of ball fields, grandstands, a playground and tennis courts was constructed by the WPA. Completed in 1937, the project extended from today’s Bullens Field to Franklin Street and was comprised of three levels. The first level… read more
An article in the Illustrated Daily News noted that as part of a group of 8 federally funded projects in the early period of the New Deal was “No. 3 – Construction of a municipal fish market in San Pedro…. read more
www.amsterdammuni.com describes the development of Amsterdam, New York’s Municipal Golf Course: The effort to create the Amsterdam Municipal Golf Course began on July 17, 1934 with the allocation of $3,500 by the Recreation Commission , City Council and Mayor Arthur… read more
Circa 1933 to 1935, FERA and CWA workers (and possibly WPA workers) constructed this golf course. From the City of Schenectady website: The course opened in 1935. It was designed by A. F. Knight (the inventor of the “Schenectady Putter”)… read more
Although the golf course is no longer being maintained or used, the fairways and recently constructed cart paths remain. It was part of a larger WPA project that included development of the municipal park and swimming pool construction. The park… read more
Among the Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects identified as completed in an El Paso Times article from June 7, 1936 was a “Municipal Golf Course Clubhouse, $14,945.72.” The golf course in question and the status of the facility are presently… read more
The Civil Works Administration (CWA) and Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) conducted improvement / development work at Casper’s municipal golf course, also known as the Casper Community Club. The work was described in a newspaper article as “municipal golf club-house… read more
“The Gym is one of only two remaining WPA Project Gymnasium in Texas and has been fully restored to its original appeal. The Gym offers 7200 sq. ft. of space for reunions, business meetings, trade shows and family activities. Included… read more
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… read more
The Lewiston Evening Journal reported that by 1935, a combination of the CWA, FERA, and ERA had completed numerous work projects in Auburn Maine: A two mile hiking trail along the Little Androscoggin River called the Baker Mill Trail was… read more
“Some work was found through federal programs, such as the Civil Works Administration, with employment for some 200 people in local projects. For example, the upgrading of Kelley Field and the conversion of the Goddard Pond area into a playground… read more
Annual municipal reports for the fiscal year ending in 1941 detailed New Deal involvement in several local projects: “The highway department reported that W.P.A. APPROPRIATIONS equaled $682.22 and 13 men were employed.” “The FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE BEDFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT… read more
SELECTMEN’S REPORT To the Citizens of Boscawen: That the people of Boscawen, may more fully comprehend the financial assistance the town has received for W. P. A. Projects and what was accomplished by obtaining such projects, we submit the following… read more
According to an index of WPA projects in the National Archives, the WPA rebuilt dairy barns and developed a botanic garden in College Park. These may have been on land owned by the University of Maryland. The WPA also installed… read more
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… read more
Various relief and infrastructure efforts were provided by the New Deal for this small New Hampshire mountain village, population 514 (1930 Census). From 1933 to 1935, the Public Works Administration conducted a survey for a proposed water project, at a… read more
WPA records in the National Archives indicate that the WPA installed various water mains in Hyattsville in 1935. The WPA also improved what was listed as “University Park” in Hyattsville. It is not known whether this referred to a specific… read more
From the Pittsfield Historical Society: In those five years there were other items of lesser interest but worthy of mention. One of the first of the alphabetical administrations created by the new Democrat regime was the Civil Works Administration —… read more
In the 1930’s, Winter Garden was struggling economically along with the rest of the nation. The Great Depression left growers without markets, consumers without spending money, and many without work. It was Winter Garden’s fortune to have George Walker as… read more
