Survival: Unknown

The WPA built an elementary school with agricultural buildings in Fair Grove circa 1935-1937. The site appears to now be used for all grade levels. In 2009, a windstorm with sustained winds of over 100 miles per hour tore off the roof; subsequent repairs in 2013 may have significantly altered the building's original structure.  

The Public Works Administration (PWA) announced a number of projects in May 1937 which were designed to improve or eliminate conditions in schools that might be regarded as hazardous to students’ lives. Shelton was given a grant of $30,900.00 to build an addition to the school that would provide more room for students and alleviate an overcrowding hazard. Work on Shelton’s new $32,000 school addition began on May 2, 1938. The project included an auditorium/gymnasium wing measuring 60 by 100 feet in size, and a Smith Hughes vocational and shop wing, 30 by 80 feet. J. P. Helleberg of Kearney served...

In November 1938, the Legion Hall in Decatur was visited by the State Fire Marshall. The building was declared unsafe, condemned, and no further gatherings could be held within the building for the safety of the public. The building had been built in 1927. The community applied for a Public Works Administration (PWA) grant to repair or rebuild the hall. Since the grants could only be awarded for community properties, the American Legion deeded the property to the village. The original building was torn down, beginning in February 1939. Plans for the new building called for a council chamber and...

In August 1938, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) gave Cedar County a grant for the improvement of the county fairgrounds at Hartington. The grant amounted to $8,040.00.

In 1935, Congress was considering legislation that would provide Works Progress Administration (WPA) funds for the construction of National Guard armories for communities whose National Guard units were currently renting space. If communities would provide a square block of land, deeded to the state, the federal government would loan the community $25,000.00 for a standard plan armory. Hartington was among the communities that indicated an interest in the program. In late September, Hartington was given notification that they had been selected for one of the $25,000.00 grants.

The Gibbon Public School was designed by John P. Helleberg, Kearney architect. The contract for plumbing and heating the school was given to Art Hilberg of Kearney in December 1935. The building was estimated to cost $45,400.00. The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a grant in the amount of $20,450.00 toward the building’s construction. The construction of the school was initiated on February 24, 1936 and completed by August.

Tall rock wall with periodic columns for strength that is capped with concrete. It surrounds 3 sides of a large baseball field. One of the corners has a curved façade. The structure was completed with funds and labor provided by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).

In December 1934, Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) labor was busy building two water conservation dams in Brown County northwest of Ainsworth. The dams were built on the farms of Mr. L. D. Crawford and Mr. Fred Wallenstein. Five additional dams were planned for other farmsteads in the Buffalo Flat section of the county. The applicant paid for materials and the labor was funded by the reemployment office.

Saint Edward was the beneficiary of a $32,000.00 Public Works Administration (PWA) project for the construction of a gymnasium and auditorium addition to the high school. After two weeks of clearing the site and excavating the basement in the first part of May 1935, the concrete footings for the main building walls were ready to be poured. Hopes were that the footings would be completed within a week, and that the brickwork could get underway soon after. The contractor, John L. Soderberg, planned to call for two shifts per day, each lasting five hours per shift, and having a six-day...

In December 1936, Mayor R. G. Kryger received word that the city’s proposal for a swimming pool had been approved by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The proposed pool would measure 146 by 60 feet, and would be constructed of concrete. The project would also include a bath house measuring 32 by 68 feet and a filtration system. The WPA had committed $6,225.00 on labor and $1,809.50 on supplies and materials. The city of Neligh would be required to furnish materials and supplies in the amount of $6,275.91. The total cost was anticipated to be $14,510.41. Neligh would have to...