Duncan School - Duncan OK - Living New Deal

City:: Duncan, OK
Site Type:: Education and Health, Infrastructure and Utilities, Schools, Roads, Bridges, and Tunnels
New Deal Agencies:: Public Works Funding, Work Relief Programs, Public Works Administration (PWA), Works Progress Administration (WPA)
Started:: 1936
Completed:: 1937
Marked:: Yes

Description

“The Public Works Administration, one of the New Deal programs, was a large-scale construction effort which built dams, bridges, hospitals and schools. The Duncan Senior High School was PWA Project No. 8458 and was constructed in 1936.

Facing 9th Street, at Ash Avenue, this is a two-story light-colored brick building, which currently houses Duncan Edge Academy. This is a school program for students who would likely not graduate from high school. Special attention is given to learning and health needs, and the issues related to difficult family situations. It meets in the mornings.

Unlike many WPA projects where native rock is used, this building is “modern” for its day. The building is decorated by the use of rows of darker, tan-colored brick, which run horizontally and vertically on the building…

Sidewalks in front of the building are stamped with “WPA 1937”. We noted in walking around the residential neighborhood to the north that many of the sidewalks were also stamped “WPA”, and found one reading “WPA Proj. G5 G5 607″ (or possibly 65 65 607).” (waymarking.com)