- City:
- Martinez, CA
- Site Type:
- Courthouses (State & Local), Civic Facilities
- New Deal Agencies:
- Works Progress Administration (WPA), Work Relief Programs
- Started:
- 1935
- Quality of Information:
- Good
- Marked:
- No
- Site Survival:
- Unknown
Description
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) carried out improvements on the county Hall of Records building in Martinez CA, constructed in 1932, which is now known as the Justice Wakefield Taylor Courthouse (California State Superior Court).
There were three different projects approved for the Hall of Records, in 1935, 1936 and 1937, for a total of over $28,000, according to WPA Project Cards in the National Archives. The work specified included partitions of work areas, wiring, fixtures, and heating in the courts and painting, wiring and a burglar alarm system in the Hall of Records.
The Taylor Courthouse (originally the county Hall of Records) was built in a transitional style between neoclassical and Moderne, designed by Architect Edward Geoffrey Bangs. The building has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
We know the WPA men were still at work on the building in 1939, thanks to an article in the local paper (Gazette 1939). But we have no information on the completion and survival of the WPA renovations.
Source notes
WPA Job Cards, Fresno Public Library, San Joaquin Valley Heritage & Genealogy Center.
WPA Project No. 65-3-3318, $9,008, App. Date 12-9-35, "Alterations and repairs to Court House."
WPA Project No. 65-3-5472, $15,072, App. Date 6-24-36, "Improvements to the County Court House and Hall of Records. The work consists of the installation of (a) additional partitions, wiring and fixtures, heating equipment, and other work incidental to the same, in the Court House: also (b) structural bracing burglar alarm system and wiring incidental to same in the Hall of Records. Work is on County owned property, and is exclusive of any other projects specifically approved. Sponsor: Contra Costa County."
WPA Project No. 265-3-2164, $4,003, Total Funds $4,846, App. Date 5-22-37, Average Employed 26, Federal Man-Hours 4,808, Sponsor: Contra Costa County, "Construct partitions in County Court House, paint Hall of Records, and perform incidental and appurtenant work, in the city of Martinez, Contra Costa County. In addition to projects specifically approved. County owned property. To continue O.P. 65-3-5472"
"Many on WPA jobs here idle for the day," Contra Costa Gazette, July 21, 1939, p 2
National Register of Historic Places Listings in Contra Costa County, Wikimedia: (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Register_of_Historic_Places_listings_in_Contra_Costa_County,_California), accessed November 11, 2018.
https://courthousehistory.com/gallery/states/california/counties/contra-costa
Kristin Henderson, "Historic Resources of Martinez CA" Henderson, Historic Resources of Martinez CA 2014" Nomination to National Register of Historic Places.
Site originally submitted by Andrew Laverdiere on November 10, 2018.
Additional contributions by Richard Walker.
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