Unknown Sites

The Perkinsville Bridge over Verde River in Arizona was built with the help of the New Deal.  Perkinsville was the site of a quarry at the time that shipped lime to the cement plant at Clarksdale; it is a ghost town today. The Perkinsville Bridge was built in 1936 by the Arizona Highways Department using relief workers hired out of transient (homeless) camps along the Verde River, with the aid of Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) funds (probably via the Arizona Relief Administration).  The design was done by Arizona Highways Bridge Engineer Ralph Hoffman, basically a concrete base on which the steel...

The Federal Emergency Relief Administration funded improvements at the Phillips Playground in Washington DC, between 1934 and 1935. The work consisted of the following improvements: “Graded ground, removing 200 cubic yards dirt; fencing (700 feet, 8-foot); 4 gates.”

Phineas Banning High School, which opened in 1911, was renovated with funding from the Public Works Administration (PWA) between 1934 and 1935. 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 Times, “I am sure that every member of the board agrees with...

Artist James Redmond painted a mural, "History of San Pedro Harbor," at Phineas Banning High School in Los Angeles, CA. He was funded by the Federal Arts Project (FAP). The mural "shows high points in the harbor's history beginning with a group of aborigines watching the landing of Cabrillo" (Wells, p. 21). Redmond's other New Deal–funded works in the region include a post office mural in Compton, CA, and a mural at Thomas Starr King Middle School in Los Angeles, CA.

Piedmont High School was expanded under the New Deal with the help of Public Works Administration (PWA) funding.  A new library and classroom building were built, 1937-39. There had been three previous efforts to replace temporary buildings at schools in Piedmont in the 1920s, because about one-third of Piedmont students were being taught in temporary buildings (derisively called ‘shacks’ by the locals). All the bond issues lost (Tribune Dec. 1933).  After the school board sought and gained a promise of $83,000 in funding from the Public Works Administration (PWA) in 1933, a new bond issue for $233,000 passed in December of that year....

Piedmont High School was graced with four New Deal artworks in the 1930s, two of which have disappeared. They were commissioned by the Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which also constructed a new library and a classroom building.  This work was done c. 1937-39. Edgar D. Taylor created two mosaics for the school: "Modern Education" was on the wall in the library; "Ancient Education" was in the corridor behind the library.  These works are evidently still in the current library. Two other works are reported as missing and any information on their fate would be greatly appreciated: •Joseph Sheridan...

The original structure (Circleville Elementary) dates to 1921 - 22 (Pope & Burton, architects). High school attendance in this very rural area grew dramatically during the 1920s due to a new state law requiring compulsory school attendance until age 18. Thus in 1926, high school students were moved to the Pope & Burton structure and it was renamed Piute High School. In 1946 a WPA-funded addition was built for high school industrial arts and home economics as well as the Circleville town board office. The addition was to the right of the Pope & Burton structure, and comparatively large. The doors...

The Plainview Band Shell was built by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in Plainview NE. According to the Architectural Foundation of Nebraska, "The land for the park in which the band shell would be located was purchased in 1935 by the city of Plainview, which used WPA labor to level and grade the land the following year. Norfolk architect Elbert B. Watson received WPA funds in 1938 to design the band shell, and work began in June 1939. Due to other WPA projects taking place in the park, the shell’s construction wasn’t hurried; in fact, in July 1941 – 25 months...

This colorful 38' x 22' mosaic, "Recreation in Long Beach," was created under the WPA Federal Art Project (FAP). Produced by a large group of artists—whose tile signatures surround the giant artwork—it was the largest WPA mosaic upon its completion in 1938. The mosaic depicts a variety of recreational activities associated with 1930s Long Beach, including swimming, croquet and horseshoes. Notably, it depicts both men and women at play, with a range of skin tones and dress, including uniforms. The mosaic originally adorned the Municipal Auditorium, which was demolished and replaced by the Terrace Theater. In 1982, the mosaic was relocated to...

Originally known as the Plummer Park Community Clubhouse, the Great Hall/Long Hall was constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1938. It is the only New Deal structure located in West Hollywood, CA. Plummer Park was dedicated the same year by Los Angeles County in partnership with the WPA as part of county-wide efforts to increase public green space. "Formerly the homestead of Captain Eugene Plummer," historian Laura Dominguez notes, "the property was the last remnant of the pioneer family’s vast Rancho La Brea." The Great Hall/Long Hall's "Spanish Colonial Revival design, chosen to reflect Plummer Park’s heritage and link to the...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) built a hangar for the Pocatello Airport in Pocatello, Idaho, in the late 1930s or early 1940s. We do not know if the hangar is still standing. Wikipedia indicates that four hangars are still standing from World War II Army Airfield on the site, but ignores the earlier work by the New Deal.  

The Public Works Administration (PWA) financed additions and renovations to Pocatello High School (docket #1096-DS).  The school added two new classroom wings and a new gymnasium, reportedly later known as "The Pit." Pocatello High is a beautiful example of brick Moderne architecture.  The original central portion of the building shows more decorative flair, typical of the 1920s.  The New Deal wings were added perpendicularly on the north and south ends of the original structure; they are more sober than the 1920s original.  The New Deal gymnasium stands to the south of the modern glass entrance.  More additions have been made farther...

Point Fermin Marine Science STEAM Magnet (formerly Point Fermin Elementary School), which opened in 1912, was rebuilt with funding from the Public Works Administration (PWA) between 1934 and 1935. 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 Times, “I am sure...

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built the bathhouse and beach at Pokagon State Park in Angola, Indiana, in 1938-39.   CCC 'boys' trucked endless loads of gravel from a deposit in another part of the park to create a swimming beach, as well as a fine gravel lake bottom.  This was accomplished by spreading a thick layer of gravel over the ice of the frozen lake where the beach was being created and letting it settle as the ice melted. The gabled frame bathhouse was completed in 1939. The beach and bathhouse are not marked as CCC, but there is now a...

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) enrollees worked on Pokagon State Park’s Group Camp from 1934 to 1939. The main area of the camp, which overlooks Lake James to the west, contains five buildings, the centerpiece of which is a lovely octagonal stone dining hall/kitchen. Around the central area, roughly organized into three groups, are 13 identical small frame cabins.    The Group Camp is not marked as CCC. But the old gatehouse is now a CCC Pocket Museum with exhibits and the Nature Center has an exhibit that lists all the structures CCC enrollees worked on.  

The saddle barn at Pokagon State Park was constructed by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) enrollees in 1938.   It still serves its original function. The structure is classified as Parks Rustic. New Deal agencies built several attractive saddle barns and extensive horse trails in most of the state parks, bringing this activity into the reach of the average visitor.  The saddle barn is not marked as CCC, but there is now a CCC Pocket Museum in the old gatehouse and the Nature Center has an exhibit that lists all the structures CCC enrollees worked on.

The Spring Shelter at Pokagon State Park was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1937-38.  Originally conceived as a trailside shelter next to a natural spring, the Spring Shelter was built of hewn logs.  Originally, the shelter was also used as an overnight cabin. The style of the building is classified as Parks Rustic. Substantial CCC stone work also enhanced the appearance and accessibility of the artesian well beside the shelter.  The Spring Shelter is not marked as CCC, but there is now a CCC Pocket Museum with exhibits in the old gatehouse and the Nature Center has an exhibit that...

Long Beach Polytechnic High School, which opened in 1895, was rebuilt with New Deal funding in 1935 after incurring extensive damage during the 1933 Long Beach Earthquake. Buildings 100, 300, 400, 600, and the auditorium were designed by architect Hugh Davies in the WPA/PWA Moderne style. Polytechnic High's auditorium is of particular note. "During the repairs, the building was transformed from a Mediterranean Revival auditorium to a building that strongly evoked the WPA Moderne style. While the corner towers retained the look of three windows near the base of the structures, the domes as well as any arching was removed,...

Ivan Bartlett and Jean Swiggett—alumni of Long Beach Polytechnic High School—completed this tempera fresco, entitled "Industrial Activities in Long Beach," in 1938/39, under the auspices of the WPA Federal Art Project (FAP). The mural, which wraps around an interior stairwell between buildings 300 and 400, measures 18 by 32 feet and depicts a crowded city scene of local people at work and play near the harbor.

An unknown WPA Federal Art Project (FAP) artist—possibly Eugene Broachs—created a 5' by 6' painting for Polytechnic High School in Long Beach, CA. Painted in 1939, the work "is made of two textured canvases hanging in a wooden frame above the main entrance hallway. The work depicts ten students either engaged in various activities or holding objects representing scholastic activities such as the arts, sports, reading etc. The brushstrokes have a sketchy drawing-like appearance" (LBUSD WPA Artwork Collections Assessment Guidelines Survey, p. 21).

The construction of the post office in Compton, CA, was funded by the Department of the Treasury. It was completed in 1935 and is home to James Redmond's mural "Early California" (see linked project).

The historic post office building in Burlingame, California was constructed during the early 1940s with federal funds. The building was sold to private interests in September 2014 and ceased its postal operations in January 2015. Part of the building and its artwork have been incorporated into a new adaptive reuse project.

In 1938, the U.S. Treasury Department funded the construction of a post office in Laguna Beach, CA.  It is a single-story Mediterranean Rival structure with stucco exterior and tile roof. It only served as a post office for a few years and later converted to retail space. The building still stands today.   As of January 2023, it was for sale.

The Section of Fine Arts-funded oil-on-canvas mural "Lumbering in Arkansas" was painted for the Siloam Springs post office by Bertrand R. Adams in 1940. "Bertrand Adams was commissioned for $600 to create a mural for Siloam Springs, Arkansas as a result of competent work submitted in the Dubuque, Iowa, Section of Fine Arts competition. He had a significant amount of trouble determining his subject matter and the Section critiqued his style and subject more than any other artist that created a mural for Arkansas. Adams, discouraged by these dilemmas, decided to resign from the commission, but was convinced by Rowan to...

The former Post Office in Venice, now privatized, contains a surreal, 10' x 20' mural, entitled "The Story of Venice," was painted by Edward Biberman under the Treasury Section of Fine Arts.   The mural was done with oil-wax emulsion on canvas.  It depicts a collage of city scenes from the early 20th century, including oil rigs and the old Venice pier.

In 1936, Charles Kassler painted a series of eight lunette murals for the former Beverly Hills Post Office (today's Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts). Located at either end of the Grand Hall's interior, the lunettes "Post Rider" and "Air Mail" were funded by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts (TSFA) and depict the past and future of the mail service. The remaining six lunettes, collectively titled "Construction–PWA", were funded by the Treasury Relief Art Project (TRAP).

Atanas Katchamakoff created a Spanish cedar relief, "Covina Desert Orange Groves," to frame a door in the Covina, CA, post office lobby. The project was funded by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts (TSFA) and likely completed in 1939. Note: Established in 1939, the Section of Fine Arts succeeded the Treasury Section of Painting and Sculpture (1934-1938) and the Treasury Section of Fine Arts (1938-1939) in overseeing artworks created to enhance public buildings, notably post offices.

The main Santa Clara post office contains a 4' x 3.5' wood carving, "Early Pioneers" by Michael von Meyer, created under the auspices of the Treasury Relief Art Project, c. 1935.

This 5' x 10' oil-on-canvas mural entitled “How Happy Was the Occasion” was painted by Mary M. Purser in 1939. Her husband, Stuart Purser, painted murals for the Carrolton, AL; Leland, MS; Ferriday & Gretna, LA post offices. "Mary May Purser was commissioned for $470 to create a mural for Clarksville, Arkansas on the basis of competent designs submitted in the Vicksburg, Post Office Competition. Purser visited Clarksville in search of appropriate subject matter and spoke with the local postmaster. The main source of information for the mural came from Ella Molloy Langford's book, History of Johnson County, Arkansas: The first...

In 1936, artist James Redmond painted a mural, "Early California," for the post office in Compton, CA. Funded by the Treasury Relief Art Project (TRAP), the mural depicts the mythic history of early California and wraps around all four walls of the lobby. "One of the most beautiful sets of mural panels executed under government sponsorship during the depression is James Redmond's panels for the Compton Post Office. Unfortunately, because of their location, they are also one of the least visited sites, which is a pity since they are so captivating in person. In his letter to TRAP administrators describing...

In 1941, George Samerjan painted a 12' x 10' tempera mural titled "Studio Lot" for the Culver City, CA, post office. It was commissioned by the Section of Fine Arts (SFA). Samerjan was inspired by the MGM studios located in Culver City. "The scene depicts a film stage, as is evident by the framing that is visible behind the house façade and the support that attaches the tree limb to the base in the foreground. initially wanted to paint the behind-the-scenes workers who create movies, such as script researchers, machine shop mechanics, and the projection crew. After pushback from MGM,...

Elise Seeds (Cavanna) painted "Air Mail" at the Oceanside CA Post Office. This 16' x 6' oil on canvas depicts a mail plane flying over a California landscape. For more on Elise Cavanna's work, see Dr. Film, Our Man and Cavanna.

An oil on canvas mural, "Richmond - Industrial City," by Victor Arnautoff was installed in the Richmond Post Office in April 1941.  It was funded by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts program.  The mural disappeared for years and was only recently rediscovered and moved to the Richmond Museum of History. It has not been restored as yet and is unavailable for public viewing as of 2019.  In 1976, the interior of the Richmond post office was completely renovated and the mural was removed by art conservator Nathan Zakheim, the son of another renowned New Deal artist, Bernard Zakheim.  But it was then...

The New Deal post office in Grants Pass contains two New Deal murals in the lobby.  "Rogue River Indians" was painted by Louis DeMott Bunce and "Early and Contemporary Industries" is the work of Eric Lamade. Both were created in 1938 under the auspices of the Treasury Section of Fine Arts.

The Redondo Beach post office contains three oil on canvas murals by Paul Sample that were originally created for the since-demolished post office building at Catalina and Garnet street. The artwork relocated with the post office to its current location in 1977. The murals were painted in 1937 with TRAP funding. The murals depict "Sheep Farming and Ocean Near Redondo," "Excursion Train and Picknickers in the 90s" and "Fishing Redondo Dock".

The post office in Gardena, CA, is home to a carved mahogany relief by Rudolph Parducci. Titled "Rural Life," the relief depicts a farm scene with a family, chickens, and horses. The project was funded by the Section of Fine Arts (SFA) under the newly-created Public Buildings Administration. Established in 1939, the Section of Fine Arts succeeded the Treasury Section of Painting and Sculpture (1934-1938) and the Treasury Section of Fine Arts (1938-1939) in overseeing artworks created to enhance public buildings, notably post offices.

The Treasury Section of Fine Arts commissioned two plaster bas-reliefs by Mary Kittredge for the post office in Delta, Colorado.  They are entitled "Cattle" and "Fruit", and were installed in 1942. The murals are still in place and the building was placed on the National Register in 1986.

Two glazed ceramic tile murals grace the front porch of the Monterey, California main post office.  Both were created by Stanton Willard in 1933.  The murals are titled,  "Raising the Flag at Monterey by the Forces of Commander Sloat, July 7, 1846" and "The landing of Sebastian Viscaino at Monterey, December 16, 1602".   The murals are very large, 4' x 6' and 4' x 8'. The stand at opposite ends of the recessed front porch. They were likely commissioned by the Treasury Section of Fine Art, but they might have been done under the Treasury Relief Art Project in 1933-34. 

Built in 1937 to re-start a floundering city library system, to be staffed by Works Progress Administration librarians. Building continued to serve as the library until the 1960s. Currently in private ownership. Built of rusticated sandstone and unusual in the fact that the main entry in on the second floor. A pair of stone staircases provide front-door access. Adjacent to the building is on overgrown park with BBQ pits and picnic tables. It's unclear whether the park was part of the WPA construction.

The Works Progress Administration built the Poteau School Gymnasium in Poteau OK. Built in 1936-37, primarily to accommodate basketball, but could also be used as an auditorium. Two stories, 100'x78', sandstone.