Mariposa County High School - Mariposa CA

City:: Mariposa, CA
Site Type:: Education and Health, Schools
New Deal Agencies:: Work Relief Programs, Works Progress Administration (WPA)
Started:: 1936
Completed:: 1941
Quality of Information:: Moderate
Site Survival:: Extant

Description

Although initial applications for WPA help were rejected in 1935, this WPA project replaced the old Mariposa High School in 1937. A page from the 1937 yearbook described the new school:

“Our move into the new school has been a great advantage to both the students and the faculty. It has made teaching a great deal easier.”

“Every room is supplied with the necessary conveniences that we did not have in the old school. Telephones connected with the office are in each room. There is plenty of closet space, blackboard space, and steam heist. A new system of ringing the bells also has been arrange. The ten minute bell for shop and boy’s gym period, is rung loudly and the bells in the various rooms are soft tone bells.”

“The auditorium is very large with a slanting floor, and will seat four hundred people. It has a large attractive stage with rust-colored curtain, and orchestra pit.”

The WPA stamps in the sidewalk in front of the school show that the WPA completed this nearby work in 1941.

The WPA completed several other projects for the Mariposa High School.

WPA Proj. No. 65-3-3149, $270, March 3, 1936, “Cook to prepare and serve hot lunches for undernourished children from families on relief. At the Mariposa Union High School.”

WPA Proj. No 65-1-08-2309, $16,367, April 3, 1940 “Improve Mariposa County High School buildings and grounds. Work includes grading, leveling, cutting, filling, and landscaping; painting; constructing field track, tennis courts, bleachers, sidewalks, retaining walls, hand ball courts, wash rack, and fences; performing masonry work; installing water pipe; demolishing and reconstructing garage building; and performing incidental and appurtenant work. Publicly owned property. Total Federal and Sponsor funds $21,396, Average employed 45.”