Municipal Improvements – Bethlehem NH

City:
Bethlehem, NH

Site Type:
Infrastructure and Utilities, Water Supply

New Deal Agencies:
Work Relief Programs, Works Progress Administration (WPA)

Started:
1934

Completed:
1941

Description

Town leaders early on in the New Deal took advantage of Federal largesse to make improvements according to annual reports from 1934 to 1941.

1934
Amount Raised by Issue of Bonds or Notes:
P. W. A. Water Bonds 37,000.00
P. W. A. Sidewalk Bonds 13,000.00
P. W. A. Sewer Bonds ^ 650.00
36. Other receipts:
Treasurer of U. S. A. a|c P. W. A. Int. $885.17
Detail 39. Water Works Construction:
Loan to Water Department $12,114.54
Preliminary work on P. W. A. $1,727.81
Detail 40. Sidewalk Construction:
Preliminary work on P. W. A. $640.66
Detail 41 . Sewer Construction:
Preliminary work on P. W. A. $283.24

1935
Other bills due Town:
(c) P. W. A. Water $4,006.65
P. W. A. Sidewalk $640.66
P. W. A. Sewer $437.69

Detail 39. Water Works Construction:
P. W. A. 2574, loan $154.45
P. W. A. 2554 loan $2,278.84

SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT
Last year undernourished pupils received milk furnished by the Federal government from a fund set aside for that purpose. In addition, you furnished materials from school funds to provide a hot cup of soup
or cocoa for all pupils who eat their noon lunch at the school building.

1936
SELECTMENS ANNUAL REPORT
On figures given by the Highway department, flood expenditures were made as follows:
Town of Bethlehem – – – $3,944.05
W. P. A. Funds – – – – – – – $3,536.79
State of New Hampshire – – 900.91
Much of the flood damage expense has been included in the regular Pay Rolls of the road agents. During the summer W. P. A. Funds were expended in town, for the eradication of White Pine Blister, to the amount of $1,307.90 and funds from the same source were received to help repair damages to the water system.

Detail 38. Highways and Bridges—Town Construction: W. P. A., labor amount paid by government.

Blister Rust Control Project
W. P. A. Funds Expended—$1,307.90
Area Covered—1,431 acres
Currant and Gooseberry Bushes Destroyed—90,326
Number of local men employed—11

SCHOOL SUPERINTENDANT
Last summer the exterior of the building, the interior of the classrooms on the first floor and part of the auditorium were painted. The W. P. A. street project in front of the building provided some fill for the lower part of the school grounds.

1937
Detail 38. Highways and Bridges—Town Construction:
W. A. Green, W. P. A. payroll 25.64
T. C. Churchill, W. P. A. payroll 40.00

1938

SELECTMENS REPORT
The town debt has been increased $1,597.88. Against this increase, the Selectmen purchased the Bethlehem Amusement property for $2,000 in order to protect other town property. The September hurricane and
flood ruined the water line and highways. Immediately the Selectmen contacted W. P. A. officials in Manchester and Berlin and arranged for a repair project in Bethlehem. In doing this practically all labor cost was paid by the government, and all trucks, materials, etc., was paid by the town, amounting to $4,329.38 on highways alone for their part, besides expending approximately $1,000 of highway money for
necessary emergency work before the project started.

Highways and Bridges: Town Construction, Austin Road
State Aid Construction—Town’s Share ___ 2,597.62 2,000.00
W. P. A. $4,329.38

Outlay for New Construction and Permanent Improvements:
38. Highways and Bridges—W.P.A. $1,160.04

Detail 39. Highways and Bridges – Town Construction.
Austin Road:
T. C. Churchill, payroll 1,160.04
W. P. A. Reconstruction: Paid by town 4,329.38
This includes all materials—culverts, cement,
dynamite, pipe, etc., trucks, supervision, and non-certified labor. Paid by W. P. A. certified labor approximately $6,000.00.

1939
Highways and Bridges:
Town Construction 1,824.04
State Aid Construction—Town’s Share 3,138.00
Water Works Constr., PWA 1110-1112F $4,369.78

P.W.A. 1110F Swimming Pool $11,000.00
P.W.A. 1112F Reservoir $11,000.00

1940
Bonds Outstanding:
P. W. A. 2554 Water Bonds $21,000.00
P. W. A. 2559 Sidewalk Bonds 7,000.00
P. W. A. 2574 Sewer Bonds 3,000.00
P. W. A. 1110-F Swimming Pool 10,500.00
P. W. A. 1112-F Reservoir 10,500.00

38. Grants from U. S. A.:
P. W. A. 1110-F swimming pool balance 2,400.78
P. W. A. 1112-F reservoir balance 1,770.29

Source notes

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TOWN OFFICERS OF BETHLEHEM, N. H.

Site originally submitted by Andrew Laverdiere on October 27, 2014.

Location Info


Bethlehem, NH 03754

Coordinates: 44.3001003, -72.00971930000003

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