Unknown Sites

The Lakeside School was built in 1918 in Chisago City, MN. The original school was not built with an auditorium or anywhere for entertainment, plays, etc. and after 30 years the gymnasium in the school had fallen into disarray and many schools in the area refused to play in the gym that had a narrow floor, low ceiling, and no room for spectators. In 1934 the WPA selected Chisago County among 13 other counties to receive a WPA project. The school board submitted an application for federal aid in August of 1938 to make improvements to the school. In September...

The Works Progress Administration built the Lakeview Elementary School in Neenah WI. Located in the town of Neenah and originally owned by Lakeview School District #3, Lakeview School originated as a one room schoolhouse and was built into a public school in 1936 by the Works Progress Administration and by order of President Franklin Roosevelt during the New Deal. The area it was built in was a rural community, but had a rising number of students beginning school. As a result, the district purchased the property on which the original one-room schoolhouse was from Earl Hughes to build a new community...

Harry Sternberg painted a large and impressive mural, “Chicago: Epoch of a Great City”, for the Lakeview Station post office in Chicago, Illinois.  Like other New Deal post office murals, Sternberg's work was funded by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts. Harry Sternberg was born in New York City on July 19, 1904, to parents that were European immigrants. He was raised on the Lower East Side before moving to Brooklyn. From an early age, Sternberg was very interested in art. He started classes at the Brooklyn Museum of Art in 1915, and then from 1922 to 1926 he began part-time...

A 43' x 20' oil mural was painted on the steel fire curtain in the auditorium at Lane Tech High School by artist John Edwin Walley. It was installed in 1936 with funding from the WPA's Federal Art Project and restored in 1997. One commentary on the mural says this: "The imposing Native American figure called "the lean Indian," painted on the steel fire curtain of the school auditorium, was the first of many artworks to be commissioned for Lane Tech, then all male, during the New Deal years. The school had moved to a new building in 1934, and Lane's principal...

Among several other New Deal artworks at the Lane Tech High School are these carved mahogany bas-reliefs in the school library. These 15' x 6' reliefs were carved by sculptor Peter Paul Ott, with assistance from wood workers Conzelman, Meuzenmeier, Sarner, Ericksen and McGrory. The reliefs were completed between 1936 and 1938 with support from the WPA Federal Art Project.

Among the many Federal Art Project (FAP) funded artworks at Lane Tech High school is a four-panel fresco in the auditorium, "Teaching of the Arts," painted by Mitchell Siporin in 1938. Each panel is 15' x 3'6." From A Guide to Chicago's Murals (2001): "Four vertical panels mounted between the exterior doors of the Lane Tech auditorium describe the teaching of the humanities. They were painted when the school was all male. In each, Mitchell Siporin portrays the figure of a mentor or teacher standing behind that of a young student. For literature, a wise-looking older man with his arm outstretched gently...

Among the New Deal artworks at Lane Tech High School are several frescoes in the school lunchroom, each depicting a different period of "Epochs in the History of Man." These large (12' x 14') frescoes were painted by Edgar Britton in 1937 under the Federal Art Project (FAP), a branch of the Works Progress Administration (WPA).

Two 14-foot figures titled "Boys Rising From the Sea" were created by Charles Umlauf under the auspices of the WPA Federal Art Project.  These sculptures are placed in front of the school.  They are part of a group of New Deal artworks that embellish Lane Tech College Prep High School

Langston Terrace Dwellings, opened in 1938, was the first U.S. Government-funded public housing project in Washington and the second in the nation.  Initial funding came from the Public Works Administration (PWA); later the U.S. Housing Authority stepped in to complete the job. The International Style complex was designed by African-American architect Hilyard Robinson, a native Washingtonian. It embodies Robinson's belief in the ability of fine buildings and art to inspire and uplift residents. Langston Terrace is well known for its artworks.   Five large animal sculptures by Hugh Collins, Lenore Thomas and Joe Goethe double as climbing structures in the children's playground. The Washington...

Langston Terrace Dwellings, opened in 1938, was the first U.S. Government funded public housing project in Washington and the second in the nation.  Initial funding came from the Public Works Administration (PWA); later the U.S. Housing Authority stepped in to complete the job. The International Style complex was designed by African American architect Hilyard Robinson, a native Washingtonian. It embodies Robinson's belief in the ability of fine buildings and art to inspire and uplift residents. Langston Terrace is enhanced by its artworks. Daniel Olney's terra-cotta frieze, "The Progress of the Negro Race",  lines the central courtyard and chronicles African American history from enslavement...

In 1940, the Public Works Administration (PWA) funded the construction of a bridge on Lankershim Blvd. over the Los Angeles River in Studio City, CA. 

Lankershim Elementary School, which opened in 1910, was rebuilt with funding from the Public Works Administration (PWA) between 1934 and 1935. It appears the New Deal–era structure survives as the school's central, flat-roofed building. In January 1934, the PWA allocated $9,380,000 to the Los Angeles Unified School District for the rehabilitation of schools damaged in the severe 1933 Long Beach earthquake.  One hundred and thirty schools would benefit from the system-wide loan and grant, with 2,500 men to be employed in rehabilitation work over 21 months. Upon receiving news of the PWA allocation, Board of Education member Arthur Eckman told the Los Angeles...

The Lapeer State Home and Training Facility was used as a house for the mentally feeble and those suffering from epilepsy or other medical conditions. Originally established in 1895, it was previously known as both the Michigan Home and Training School, as well as the Oakdale Regional Center for Developmental Disabilities. Spanning hundreds of acres, it also became known as Oakdale, made up of a number of buildings similar in operations to that of the Lapeer State Home and Training Facility. The Lapeer State Home and Training Facility was created by the state of Michigan to help make advances in...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) reconstructed Las Flores Elementary School (today's Las Flores Home Education Independent Study Academy) in Bellflower, CA, following the 1933 Long Beach earthquake.

"Another distinctive and ambitious project was at Pine Mountain, the site of the annual Mountain Laurel Festival. CCC corpsmen excavated an amphitheater from the hillside and constructed new seats and facilities for the thousands of visitors who made the annual spring pilgrimage to see the governor crown a new queen. More than $500,000 of CCC money went into this park alone." "The Laurel Cove Amphitheater is part of Pine Mountain State Resort Park. This incredible venue has been the home of the Mountain Laurel Coronation for 90 years, the world famous Book of Job drama, spectacular weddings, and the Laurel Cove...

A Works Progress Administration (WPA) project in the amount of $22,000 was allotted to 2 Laurel schools in 1940. One project was to complete plastering and ceiling, drainage and landscaping of the Frank G. Wisner Activities building for Laurel High School. The building was a two-story Art Moderne designed by N. W. Overstreet and A. H. Town completed 1939-1940.

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Sepulveda Bus Garage in North Hills, CA was built with funding from the Public Works Administration (PWA) in 1936-37. Designed by architect A. S. Nibecker Jr, the bus garage was constructed as part of the single largest PWA funded program in the country: the reconstruction and renovation of Los Angeles schools damaged by the 1933 Long Beach earthquake. Totaling ~$34.7 million, the project was overseen by LAUSD and proceeded in two cycles, 1934-35 and 1935-37 (LA Times, May 23, 1937). The first cycle began in Spring 1934, lasted 21 months, included over 130 schools, cost...

Construction on this Public Works Administration (PWA) funded building took place in 1934 as an addition to the town's high school (built in 1911). While retaining the New Deal era gymnasium, the current Lava Elementary School structure replaced the high school in 1979. The Lava School Gymnasium received National Register status in 1997 based on its significance to both local history and architecture. In the application's statement of significance, it was argued that the gymnasium is associated with "the continued development of this small southeastern Idaho town during the Great Depression" and its ability to demonstrate several primary contributions of the...

Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, originally Lawrence Stadium, was a baseball stadium built by the Civil Works Administration (CWA) in 1934. Home to minor league baseball and National Baseball Congress tournament for many years. It was demolished in 2018 to make room for Riverfront Park.

"A modern school at Le Grande, California, constructed with PWA funds."

In 1936, Lenicia B. Weemes Elementary School (formerly Thirty-Seventh Street Elementary School) in Los Angeles, CA was remodeled with funding from the Public Works Administration (PWA). For $108,425 total, Architect A. S. Nibecker Jr and contractor Carl J. Johnson rebuilt the main school building and built a new single-story classroom building. Both PWA Moderne structures survive, the former on Raymond Ave and the latter on W 37th St. The reconstruction and renovation of Los Angeles schools damaged by the 1933 Long Beach earthquake was the single largest PWA funded program in the country, totaling ~$34.7 million (LA Times, May 23, 1937). ...

Through proceeds of a bond issued in 1925, the City of Beaumont acquired 2.75 acres of land to construct a segregated swimming pool and park for black residents. The modern Bintz pool, 45 x 90 feet, was equipped with dressing rooms, a concourse for spectators, and other accessories supporting residential access. When officially opened in 1927, the park was named “Liberia” after the African Republic. Playgrounds, a softball diamond, a basketball court, a boxing ring, a concrete tennis court, and picnic and handicraft benches were used by approximately 250,000 people annually. The establishment of New Deal programs during the depression supported...

The auditorium at Liberty Boulevard Elementary School in South Gate, CA was built with funding from the Public Works Administration (PWA) in 1936-37. Designed by architects Donald Beach Kirby and William Stickney and built by the DeCamp-Hudson Company, the PWA Moderne auditorium survives at the corner of Liberty Blvd and Seville Ave. According to the construction inspector’s diary, a representative of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) auditor’s office visited the site on July 22, 1936. This suggests WPA crews were employed on the job. The reconstruction and renovation of Los Angeles schools damaged by the 1933 Long Beach earthquake was the single...

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) constructed a one-room library in Beemer, Nebraska. Built with CWA and city funds, the former library was located on Main St., near Highway 8. The structure had "built-in shelves, coat closets, fuel, and closets for surplus magazines."

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) constructed the former Syracuse Public Library in Syracuse, NE. The town had applied for Public Works Administration funds for a new library building, but the application was not granted. The town purchased and demolished the Syracuse Congregational Church and the new building that replaced it became the public library. The library held 4,000 volumes in 1934. The government funds for labor and materials amounted to $1,908.75. The building is located at the northwest corner of Plum St. and 6th St.

Lillian Street Elementary School in Los Angeles, CA was rebuilt with funding from the Public Works Administration (PWA) in 1937. While the auditorium has since been demolished, the main school building survives. Designed by architect A. S. Nibecker Jr and built by contractor J. H. Pelky, the two-story PWA Moderne style structure is located at the corner of Lillian and Randolph Streets. The reconstruction and renovation of Los Angeles schools damaged by the 1933 Long Beach earthquake was the single largest PWA funded program in the country, totaling ~$34.7 million (LA Times, May 23, 1937).  It was overseen by the Los...

The National Youth Administration (NYA) built park facilities in Lincoln City Park in Lincoln KS. West of the entrance is a bandstand built by the NYA in 1938, and restrooms built by the NYA in 1937.

In 1933, the Public Works Administration allotted $10,000 (about $203,000 in 2020 dollars) for the construction of three small schools on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation (home of five Shoshone-Bannock Tribes), one of which was the Lincoln Creek Day School. The schools were completed in 1935 and described by Rosalie Springfellow in early 1936: “Three fine school buildings have been erected on the reservation: one at Lincoln Creek, one at Ross Fork and one on Bannock Creek. Compared with the little red schoolhouse of a bygone year, this new school is a palace, with hardwood floors, insulated walls to keep out...

Designed by Cutter Kirtland, Lincoln Elementary School was built in 1934 with Public Works Administration (PWA) funding. It is one of six LBUSD schools built in the aftermath of the 1933 Long Beach Earthquake that were designed in the Period Revival style instead of WPA/PWA Moderne. The 1933 earthquake destroyed hundreds of schools throughout Southern California. “On August 29, 1933, Long Beach citizens approved a $4,930,000 bond measure for the rebuilding of schools. Applications for approximately thirty-five schools were filed with the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and Public Works Administration (PWA); federal grants up to thirty percent of labor and material...

In 1934, the Public Works Administration gave a $28,770 grant and $71,230 loan to the Ellwood City school board for an addition to Lincoln High School. The addition included 18 class rooms and a gymnasium. It was designed by Robert A. Eckles of W.G. Eckles & Company. The general construction contract was awarded to Cooke-Anderson Company of Beaver Pennsylvania. The school and addition are still in use.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) completed extensive structural bracing work on Lincoln Junior High School (today's Lincoln Middle School) in Santa Monica, CA.

The Lincoln Park Station post office was constructed in 1935-36.  The Treasury Department was in charge of building federal facilities and post offices at the time, but occasionally received funds for projects from the Public Works Administration (PWA), as in this instance. The Moderne-style building clad in buff-colored brick and has three tall window openings on each side of the entrance, which is recessed with a convex window over the door.  The post office was still in operation in 2024, but, unfortunately, there appears to be no access to the interior beyond a cramped desk just inside the entrance. A report on...

The lily pool in Chicago's Lincoln Park, just one block from Lake Michigan, was dilapidated before 1936 when Chicago Park District employee Alfred Caldwell was asked to redesign it.  With funds and relief labor provided by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), Caldwell designed a beautiful, 3-acre garden in an urban metropolis. Walking paths guide visitors around the garden, where they can get in touch with native plants and trees. The pond includes a waterfall made from big slabs of limestone.. In the southeast corner, Caldwell designed a council ring to sit and relax. It was a beautiful urban oasis where city...

Lindbergh STEAM Academy (originally Lindbergh Junior High School) was rebuilt by the Public Works Administration (PWA) in 1935 after the 1933 Long Beach Earthquake destroyed the original 1930 structure. The school was designed in WPA/PWA Moderne style by D. Easton Herrald to resemble an airplane with the main entry, library, and administrative offices the nose of the aircraft and the classrooms the wings. Above the main entrance is a relief map of Charles Lindbergh's historic transatlantic flight. The 1933 earthquake destroyed hundreds of schools throughout Southern California. “On August 29, 1933, Long Beach citizens approved a $4,930,000 bond measure for the rebuilding...

This steel cantilever bean bridge, spanning the Sheyenne River, was built by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1936. The bridge is still in use and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built this octagonal stone shelter The shelter was designed by Denver architect J.J.B. Benedict in the popular parks rustic style of the time, using native stone and timber to blend with the natural setting.  Little Park was added to the Denver Mountain Park system in 1917.  We do not know exactly what year the shelter was built.

The New Deal funded the construction of a new Loara Elementary School in Anahiem, CA. Partial funding came from the Public Works Administration (PWA). The original Loara School was demolished and replaced in 1936. You can still visit a school bell which was a part of the original 1888 Loara School building. The school appears to have been rebuilt again in recent years.

The Works Progress Administration, and the Civil Works Administration (WPA) funded improvements at the Logan Playground in Washington DC. The work consisted of the following improvements: WPA, 1935-1936, “grading 1,000 cubic yards.” (Report of the Government of the District of Columbia 1936) WPA, 1936-1937, “Completed grading, fencing 400 linear feet; one gate.” (Report of the Government of the District of Columbia 1937) WPA, 1937-1938, “Installation of equipment.” (Report of the Government of the District of Columbia 1938)

Loma Vista Elementary School in Maywood, CA was rebuilt following the 1933 Long Beach earthquake. Construction between 1934 and 1936 totaled $68,817 and was partially funded by the Public Works Administration (PWA). In 1934, contractor A. H. Watson oversaw the construction of five classroom bungalows at the school. One of these appears to survive at the rear of campus on the corner of Loma Vista Ave and E 57th St. In 1935-36, a main school building was constructed for $61,917. This single story, nine-room structure remains the face of the school on E 58th St. It was designed by architect A. S....

In 1939, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) made improvements to Loma Vista School in Whittier, CA. The main building is a PWA Moderne style structure, and features Art Deco detailing on the facade.