Unmarked Sites

A 5x5-foot carved wood bas-relief depicting four "Workers" is located in the library over the circulation desk. It was produced in 1937 with Federal Art Project (FAP) funds. The artist is unknown. "Research suggests that the art piece was salvaged around 1970, when the library was relocated from the English Building to the Language Building and the original library space was converted to classrooms" (HRG Report, p. 89).

According to a Dec. 15 1938 report by the Los Angeles Fire Department: "Programs of motorway and trail construction, which for years have been carried on in the Santa Monica Mountain area through various agencies, lately to a much greater degree through W. P. A. under the direction of the City Engineer, have in my opinion eminently proved their value to the Department. Without fire roads on the east and west ridges of Mandeville Canyon, the fire could not have been reached and undoubtedly would not have been brought under control at this point. These roads have made it possible to...

The State Emergency Relief Agency (SERA) funded the construction of the Santa Paula City Fire Staion #1 in Santa Paula CA. Fire Station for Santa Paula will be demolished in 2024 under a CEQA Cat Ex. No historic review was done.  Historic report: Historic resources evaluation was prepared by San Buenaventura Research Associates of Santa Paula, California, October 1995: "Santa Paula City Fire Staion #1 -- This one-story brick and concrete block building is composed of two major connected elements, the engine bay to the north and office to the south. The engine bay is rectangular in plan, roughly twenty feet in height, with...

Saratoga Springs has been famous for its mineral waters, for bathing and drinking, for four centuries, and was known to native people long before that.  The town has a rich history of tourism, horse-racing and gambling, and its many springs have been developed commercially and heavily exploited by bottling companies.  In order to protect the springs from over-pumping, the area was declared a New York State Reservation in 1909. Dr. Simon Baruch, a leading exponent of hydrotherapy, guided the Spa's development in its early years.  In 1928, New York Governor Franklin Roosevelt established a commission to rehabilitate the springs, chaired by Bernard Baruch,...

This fire lookout is located at the summit of Schonchin Butte within the Lava Beds National Monument. Schonchin Butte is a cinder cone volcano that makes up part of the Medicine Lake Volcano. The fire lookout was built in 1939-41 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and is also registered as a National Historic Place by the National Parks Service (NPS) as a contributing structure as part of the Lava Beds National Monument Archeological District. This lookout went through a major renovation in 1994 and it looks to be in excellent condition today and maintained very well. There are four informative...

The Kokomo Consolidated School building was approved as Mississippi project 8723 in 1934. Construction began in October and was completed June 23, 1935 at a total cost of $23,034. E. L. Malvaney was the architect of the Colonial Revival school, which was constructed by Currie and Corley builders and contractors.

The 1936 high school was designed by E. L. Malvaney, and constructed by Walter L. Perry Construction Company. Mississippi project W1034 provided a $40,909 grant and the city funded the remainder of the total cost of $92,437. Construction began March 25, 1936 and was completed January 20, 1937. The school was demolished at some point, but the concrete bas relief panels--found on many of E. L. Malvaney's Mississippi schools, were salvaged and erected at the back of the new school.

The Public Works Administration (PWA) and the Works Progress Administration funded the construction of an addition to a school building in Roosevelt, Duchesne County, Utah. (The town is named after T.R. not FDR) The school addition was designed by the architecture firm Scott & Welch and the contractor of record was Tolboe & Tolboe. The photograph from the National Archives does not specify the name of the school, but there may well have only been only one in Roosevelt at the time.  But, having viewed all the schools in Roosevelt UT in 2022, we are sure that this school building has since been...

The Works Progress Administration built a school and gymnasium in Woodson TX in 1935. Two story center building appears to be the gymnasium. Wings on either side would be the classrooms and offices. Excerpt from newspaper clipping of Austin American-Statesman 9/30/1935: "Throckmorton county: Woodson - Construct gymnasium and school building. Federal Funds, $11,087; sponsor's contribution $1,961."

An article dated Jan. 11, 1934 speaks of New Deal assistance for the town, including the construction of a new athletic field: “Madison High School is to have one of the finest athletic fields in the state of Maine, thanks to the personal efforts of First Selectman James H. Thorne. Mr. Thorne saw the need of a modern athletic park at the local high school and through his efforts the Government has consented to forward more CWA funds to this town for the purpose of improving Alumni field. Several thousand dollars will be expended and about fifty men will be employed...

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) carried out improvements on the ground so fthe Grammar School in Canaan ME. According to a Report of Superintendent of Schools, “One of the very pleasing innovations of the past year was the grading of the school grounds at both the grammar and primary schools. I wish to extend personally my thanks and appreciation to Mr. Horace Bean for his fine spirit of cooperation in this enterprise. He, personally aided in every way, and only through his keen interest and participation in the project would it have been possible to use the CWA funds for this work....

In September 1935, the City of Waelder applied for Works Progress Administration funds to build a Gymnasium. The Living New Deal could not confirm if the building located on this site is the one built by the WPA built. There is no marker on site.

The Works Progress Administration built a school gymnasium in Wortham, Freestone County. The structure has a reinforced concrete foundation, rock walls, concrete beams, built-up roof, and steel trusses. The interior floor finish is wood floor on concrete sub-floor. The official project number is 665-662-619.

In 1938, the Works Progress Administration built a gymnasium/auditorium combination for the Elm Mott School. Interestingly, the records show that they put "used" bleachers in the building. This is a two-story, red brick building that now sets behind a locked chain link fence. In 1955, Elm Mott and Lakeview Schools combined to create the Connally School District.

The Works Progress Administration conducted improvement work at the Rising Star School in Rising Star, Texas, in 1939. According to the Abilene Reporter-News, "Rising Star School Gets WPA Allotment RISING STAR, April 12.-- Announcement was received here today that $18,933 had been allotted by works progress administration to the Rising Star Independent school district. The allotment makes possible a project planned by school board members 18 months ago, the cost of which aggregates $25,000. Included In the project will be a new home economics building, a rock veneer for the gymnasium, a deep well for the school's, water supply, a rock fence for the...

The Independent Reporter often covered the ongoing work of the New Deal at providing relief for the unemployed on work in Skowhegan. In 1933-1934, the CWA and then FERA carried out extensive improvements to the local junior and senior high schools, including grading the schools' grounds and other landscaping, building roads, constructing a new athletic field and re-painting and cleaning the school interiors. The High School moved onto the island in 1869. In 1919, a new High School was constructed across the river from the island and the Junior High moved into the old High School. In the 1980's a new...

A few New Deal projects helped relieve the effects of the Depression in this very small coastal town. Population 135 (1930 census) Pronunciation of Arrowsic is Ah-row-sick. 1933 Repair of Schoolhouse (CWA) : town share $50 School Superintendent report “The re-modeling of the entrance to the North School room has made a wonderful change in the appearance of the interior of the building. The additional floor space is much appreciated when community events are held in the schoolroom. We take this time to thank the Senior League members for their generous donation of $40.00 to help in the expense of the project. A...

A December 1933 newspaper article reported that: “The public schools in Bingham will close Friday for a vacation of four weeks. All school activities have been postponed until after the recess. In accordance with the Civil Works program extensive repairs are to be made during that time. At the High school a crew of local men will have four weeks of work in remodeling the entire interior plan of the building. The Junior High room will be made into a larger main room by the removal of the dressing rooms. The English rooms will be made larger and painting and redecorating will...

From the Annual Report of the Municipal Officers of the Town of Bristol Maine: "Improvements on school grounds The Selectmen very kindly approved two special school projects under the Civil Works Administration. Under this plan marked improvements were made on the school grounds at the high school building and also at the Round Pond school building. This was in addition to the repairs made on school grounds in other parts of the town under the special appropriation granted at the last town meeting. Grounds We were all very much pleased to see the alders disappear last fall thru the work of the CWA. If...

The 1934 - 1935 town report mentions Federal help in this island community of 349 (1930 population): "All school buildings have been cleaned and, under the F. E. R. A. project, both buildings have been shingled, and the outside trimmings at the Islesford school have been painted. It was hoped that under another project the interior of our schools could be painted and other necessary improvements made. It is possible that this may materialize later. In closing, I wish to heartily thank the superintending school committee and citizens for their support during the year." The town share was $606

1934 Report of Superintendent of Schools: "At West Farmington, Farmington Falls, Fairbanks School and the Red School, grading was done, the labor for which was paid by the Federal Government, but the material was furnished by the School Department. This is responsible for most of the deficit in the Repair Account. In addition to grading the grounds at the Red School, a new fence was built and the roof of the schoolhouse was shingled." The Red School House survived and was moved to the county fair grounds in 2007.

Schools were one of the many work programs that helped reduce welfare rolls in the depths of the depression in this industrial city. Out of $239,193.23 distributed by the Civil Works Administration (CWA), "Nearly all of our public schools have been painted and varnished 12 rural schools are also to be painted." The 1934 town report, under Federal Emergency Relief Project From Dec 1933 up to Feb. 1935 specifies the schools. "5. Painting and varnishing the interior of City Schools. Martel, Pettingill, Coburn, Frye, Dingley, Wallace, Jordan, and Lewiston High School. Exterior and interior painting of the twelve suburban schools, with general repairs such...

In the November 1, 1934 issue of the Independent Reporter, the community notes mentions that the Kew brothers were engaged in painting the Lincoln School building with the help of a CWA grant, both interior and exterior getting much needed work. Marilyn Sterling-Gondek of the Old Canada Road Historical Society, who helped Living New Deal locate the building, mentions that it was rebuilt in 1906 and used until 1960.

According to town reports, needed repairs were conducted on the former school system of Searsport by CWA, FERA, & WPA. Of the school houses mentioned, only one on Mt. Ephraim St. survives as an apartment building. 1933 "There were three projects of grading school grounds entered under the C. W. A. which the Selectmen have engineered. This work will certainly improve the looks of the buildings and also make it possible for the children to play on the school grounds, instead of in the street. Much credit is due the Selectmen for the interest that they have shown in these projects. The...

Like other rural Maine towns, St. Albans got help with its one room school houses from the New Deal. "A substantial improvement in the physical condition of the school buildings has been made during the past year as the result of the W. P. A project. At the Village a new ceiling was put on and the interior of the building painted. The entrances were changed, making for much greater safety. The Five Corners, Merrill and Lang school buildings were painted on the inside and the Hopkins was painted an outside coat and shingled and the chimney topped out. A new...

During 1933 and 1934 much-needed repairs were undertaken to the school system. From the annual reports of the city of Waterville: 1933 "School Superintendent: Through the efforts of the city officials, funds from the Federal government have been made available for much needed work in the building that would otherwise have remained undone for many years. During the summer months the corridor, auditorium, and gymnasium walls and ceilings were cleaned and refinished with washable paint. Early in the fall the balcony was removed from the end of the gymnasium. This permits of a regulation basketball surface, 60 ft. long and 3-5 ft....

According to the 1933 and 1934 town reports, a significant amount of work in the city of Belfast was accomplished by the New Deal, particularly improvements, addictions and new construction for the town schools. 1933: Superintendent of Schools Under the C. W. A. the brick walls in the High School have been scraped and repainted with a sealer and two coats of paint. We are also maintaining a school for illiterates in the City under the Emergency Relief in Education. Milk is also being provided from the Federal Fund. 1934 Under the newly formed School District construction was started December 3rd, of a new...

The New Deal was involved in improvements to the school system in the small mill town of Brownville and Brownville Junction. According to the 1933 town report, the town paid its share of $1,064.32 for materials for a Civil Works Administration (CWA) school project. The school superintendent reported that the  CWA requested a school project and school officials asked for an enlargement of the Brownville Junction High gymnasium. The CWA paid for all labor and $626.00 for materials. May 1934 was the planned completion date when the CWA was liquidated. Its reported that under Federal Emergency Relief, 65 pupils were receiving...

The Public Works Administration (PWA) funded the construction of the Sea Lion Point Rock Wall near Florence, Oregon. According to the Oregon Department of Transportation, "his section of rock wall (.36 miles) extends around Sea Lion Point, providing a pull-out for viewing, to the north entrance of the Sea Lion Caves parking lot. The wall is a low, solid structure and believed to have been built under the federal Public Works Administration Program during the early 1930s." Video along full length of rock wall along coast highway at Sea Lion Point 

A small park at S/W Corner of Water & Devereaux Street with historical marker. Marker text: "As a branch of the Boy Scouts of America, Sea Scouting promotes mental and physical fitness through maritime skills. In 1936, Jacksonville attorney John C. Box, Jr., organized a unit for local boys, sailing the Sea Scouts Ship 400. The Sea Scouts met in one of four buildings made of red ironstone by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). One of the buildings was built in the shape of a hull and deck of a sailboat, fronted by a small amphitheater. This served as a...

The Public Works Administration (PWA) contributed funding for the construction of a sea wall in Lahaina, Maui, during the 1930s. The PWA gave a grant of $8,184 and the cost of the completed project was $18,186. The project was begun and completed in 1938. The exact location of this sea wall is unclear; several parts of Lahaina possess a sea wall, including along Front Street. However, one tourism site writes: "The Lahaina Harbor is in front of the old courthouse, which is a visitors center with knowledgeable and free walking maps. For the Lahaina Seawall—a must-do side-trip—walk over to the prominent Lahaina...

In 1934, the Interstate Commerce Commission approved a loan of $3.5 million from the Public Works Administration (PWA) to the Seaboard Air Line, a railroad company headquartered in Portsmouth, Virginia.  Among the purchases made with this PWA funding were five very large freight locomotives (requiring hefty 2-6-6-4 wheel configurations), to be built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Eddystone, Pennsylvania. The engines, numbered 2500 through 2504 were completed in 1935, with the first engine put on display on Sunday, April 28 at Union Station in Raleigh, North Carolina.  Raleigh’s newspaper, The News and Observer, enthusiastically described the new arrivals: “Both awesome...

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a major presence in Yosemite National Park from 1933 to 1942, helping to improve the park for public use.  CCC enrollees carried out a wide range of projects throughout the park, from forestry to construction. More than seven thousand young men and 24 companies cycled through the park during the life of the program (a 25th company arrived just before the program ended, according to Broesamle 2022). The two hubs of CCC activity were Camp Wawona at the south end of the park and Camp Cascades at the foot of Yosemite Valley (see separate pages...

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built a seawall along the Pacific Coast Highway north of Ventura. The original was a rubble wall type of construction, but it has recently been replaced by a concrete wall.  Harland George Voight, a farmer from Nebraska, migrated to California after locusts destroyed his crop during the Great Depression. Upon finding no private work he joined the CCC and was stationed in Ventura County. One of the projects he helped to build was the seawall.      

The Sebasticook Bridge is a 194 foot Polygonal Warren through truss with all verticals over the Sebasticook River on Pleasant Street in Clinton Maine. It was one of 26 bridges in March 1936 severely damaged or destroyed by a 500 year flood. A state highway commission report notes that the reconstruction of these bridges were U.S. Works Program Flood Relief projects and were handled under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Public Roads, U.S. Department of Agriculture. All bridges were placed under construction in 1936 with labor being provided on some by the Works Progress Administration. Construction was by the...

Serpent Mound is the largest effigy mound in North America. The site is a National Historic Landmark and, with eight other Native American earthworks in Ohio, is on the US Tentative List of sites submitted to UNESCO as a proposed World Heritage Site. Several New Deal agencies contributed to the memorial site: CWA (1933-34) – Funded surveys and topographic map of the mound and park, renovated historic-era buildings, planned and possibly initiated construction of two restroom buildings next to the parking lot. Restroom buildings used brick from the 1823 Second Baptist Church in Clarksville, OH (about 47 miles WNW of Serpent...

The Works Progress Administration built a sewage disposal plant for Elgin, Texas in 1939 under project number 665-66-2-206. It was the first municipal plant to use the Hays process for sewage treatment.

According to the testimony of Wendall Peterson, City Attorney of Hudson during hearings in Congress over a toll bridge in 1941, the Works Progress Administration was involved in constructing a large storm sewer 4 or 5 blocks long. The City Attorney of Hudson described how the Wisconsin State Board of Health was forcing them to build a Sewage Disposal plant that was being lined up next year. The previous speaker, Mayor James Newton mentions the sewage plant, how the state was forcing them to build it, and that the estimated cost was $65,000. See source below.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) built sewers on Johansen, Oakley, and Sherwood Streets in Portland, ME, in 1934. A photo courtesy of the Maine Memory Network depicts the sewer construction by CWA crews in 1934.

According to a March 8 1934 article in the Clovis Independent, out of $17,374 for 17 Civil Works Administration projects for Fresno County, $3,649.96 was spent "for a sewer distribution line in Selma."