Survival: No Longer Extant

The Old Jamestown Bridge, which spanned the west passage of Narragansett Bay, was constructed as a New Deal project: the Public Works Administration (PWA) supplied significant financial assistance for the then-$3 million project, which opened for traffic in 1940. The structure, which was demolished in 2006, has since been replaced. The structure bore a "Federal Works Agency // Public Works Administration" plaque. Art in Ruins: "Planning for a bridge at this location began as early as 1920 and was spurred by the financial woes of the Newport Ferry Company. The noted bridge engineering firm Parsons, Klapp, Brinckerhoff and Douglass, which also designed the...

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted improvement on the training ship USS Illinois (later USS Prairie State), stationed off 135th Street on the Hudson River. The boat was sold for scrap in 1956. WPA project details: “Alter and rehabilitate U.S. Naval Training Ship "Illinois" at 135th Street and North River, including installing water lines, heating lines, ventilating ducts, and electrical work, replacing toilet and other partitions, tile floors and roofing, painting boat and superstructures” Official Project Number: 765‐97‐2‐8 Total project cost: $63,300.00 Sponsor: Commandant, 3rd Naval District, U.S. Navy

Follows is a description of part of a massive Public Works Administration (PWA) grade crossing elimination project, undertaken on the South Beach Branch (a.k.a. "East Shore" branch) of the Staten Island Railway. Most of the structures created are no longer extant. "From 1934-1937 SIRT embarked on an ambitious grade crossing elimination project, part of which involved the East Shore subdivision in 1934/5 from St. George to Wentworth Avenue. The tracks were raised above grade between Stapleton and Clifton. Grade crossings were taken out along the South Beach line by sinking the streets, raising the rails or a combination of both. Some residential...

The Harbor Road railway station was constructed during the mid-1930s as one link in a massive grade separation project along what was then a freight and passenger railway (the North Shore Branch of the Staten Island Railway). Developed as a two-track, island platform facility, it was located off Harbor Road to the west. The station was long since abandoned before its demolition in 2004. The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $1.46 million grant for the $6 million grade crossing elimination project, which included work elsewhere in Staten Island and even in Manhattan. PWA Docket No. NY 4926.

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...

An overpass carrying John Street over what was then a freight and passenger railway (the North Shore Branch of the Staten Island Railway) was constructed during the mid-1930s, in conjunction with the lowering of the railroad right-of-way, as one link in a massive grade crossing removal project. This bridge has since been removed; vehicular traffic now reaches a discontinuity at this point. The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $1.46 million grant for the $6 million grade crossing elimination project, which included work elsewhere in Staten Island and even in Manhattan. PWA Docket No. NY 4926.

Paradise Elementary School was constructed with the help of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which was very active in Butte County, CA. (Smith 2012) Unfortunately, the school burned in the catastrophic Camp Fire of November 2018, which destroyed most of the town of Paradise. (Chico Record)

A railway-crossing bridge carrying McClean Avenue was built during the mid-1930s as part of a massive grade separation project along what was then the South Beach Branch of the Staten Island Railway. The line has long since been abandoned (as the line was discontinued in 1953) and the space beneath the bridge has been filled in. Traces of the bridge structure can be seen by way of the different cement used along the 100-foot stretch of McClean between Conger St. and Railroad Ave. The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $1.46 million grant for the $6 million grade crossing elimination project, which included work elsewhere in Staten Island and...

A railway-crossing bridge carrying Major Avenue was rebuilt ca. 1936 as part of a massive grade separation project along what was then the South Beach Branch of the Staten Island Railway. The line has long since been abandoned (as the line was discontinued in 1953) and the space beneath the bridge has been filled in. The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $1.46 million grant for the $6 million grade crossing elimination project, which included work elsewhere in Staten Island and even in Manhattan. PWA Docket No. NY 4926.

A railway-crossing bridge carrying Hope Avenue was built during the mid-1930s as part of a massive grade separation project along what was then the South Beach Branch of the Staten Island Railway. The line has long since been abandoned (as the line was discontinued in 1953) and the space beneath the bridge has been filled in, though there is still a drop-down from the south side of the road. The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $1.46 million grant for the $6 million grade crossing elimination project, which included work elsewhere in Staten Island and even in Manhattan. PWA Docket No. NY 4926.