Boston Sites

The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) conducted improvement work at Fort Standish on Lovells Island in Boston, Mass. Project information: "Improve buildings and grounds " Official Project Number: 165‐2‐14‐251 Total project cost: $132,214.00 Sponsor: Commanding Officer, Fort Banks, U.S. Army

The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) conducted improvement work at Fort Quincy on Long Island in Boston, Mass. Project information: "Improve buildings and grounds " Official Project Number: 165‐2‐14‐251 Total project cost: $132,214.00 Sponsor: Commanding Officer, Fort Banks, U.S. Army

The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) conducted improvement work at Fort Warren on Georges Island in Boston, Mass. Project information: "Improve buildings and grounds " Official Project Number: 165‐2‐14‐251 Total project cost: $132,214.00 Sponsor: Commanding Officer, Fort Banks, U.S. Army

The Works Progress Administration made improvements to the Franklin Park Zoo. This project sought to improve the lion house, monkey house, and build machine and carpenter shop and garage extensions and a storage building. The total cost of the proposed project was $137,050.14 of which $94,349.50 would be provided by federal funding. This would account for the cost of materials and labor. This federal project was controversial and ended in litigation. The federal government sued the city of Boston for $4787.65 due to diversion of WPA of wages, although there were claims totaling nearly $11,000.

The George Wright Clubhouse is a facility part of a municipal golf course located in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Boston, MA. The course was designed by Donald Ross and named for George Wright, one of the original members of the Cincinnati Red Stockings professional baseball team. The clubhouse was built by the Works Progress Administration. This Norman style clubhouse cost $200,000 in 1930s' dollars, the overall golf course's construction, including the clubhouse, is estimated to have been $1,000,000, in 1930s' dollars. The course opened in 1938 and remains open to this day owned and run by the City of Boston....

"George Wright Golf Course is a Donald Ross designed, public golf course in Hyde Park, Massachusetts that was opened in 1938 after receiving President Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration (WPA) funding to complete the construction."

A Boston Public Works Department report cited Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) labor as conducting work on "Prison Point Bridge," a.k.a. Gilmore Bridge.

A Boston Public Works Department report cited Federal Emergency Relief Administration (F.E.R.A.) labor as conducting the following work: "Glenwood Avenue Bridge (over Mother Brook) cleaned and painted."

In 1938-1941 the WPA constructed this Boston subway extension, part of the Boston Elevated Railway which now appears to be part of the MBTA Green Line underground light rail route. WPA Bulletin, 1937: HUNTINGTON AVENUE SUBWAY TO EMPLOY 1400 A YEAR Work for 1400 men for about a year will be provided by the $2,000,000 Huntington avenue subway in Boston on which initial construction has begun. At its peak the project will employ about 1400 on a six-shift basis. Engineers, engaged in preliminary work, carefully inspected every building and every building foundation along the route of the subway extension to determine what steps will...

Hyde Park Ave. in Boston, between Walk Hill St. and Metropolitan Ave., was reconstructed as part of a Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) project.

W.P.A. Bulletin, 1937: "Continuing a program which has changed the interior of the old Pemberton square courthouse in Boston from a dingy old relic of the horse and buggy days into a beautiful building, 147 building tradesmen and laborers are resuming the work. The Federal government is paying $95,301 of the cost of this supplementary project while the City of Boston is contributing $19,584. All loose and broken tile and marble will be replaced by marblesetters, old lavatories will be replaced with modern facilities, treads will be placed on stairways and the building will be generally made safe and sanitary. All...

Lagrange St., between Centre St. and Vermont St., in Boston, Mass. underwent reconstruction as part of a Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) project.

The W.P.A. conducted improvement work at Lockwood Basin in East Boston, Mass. W.P.A. project details: "Improvements at Boston Navy Yard, So. Boston Annex, and Lockwood Basin" Official Project Number: 154‐3‐14‐529 Total project cost: $568,252.00 Sponsor: U.S. Navy Department "Improvements at Boston Navy Yard, So. Boston Annex, and Lockwood Basin" Official Project Number: 165‐2‐14‐426 Total project cost: $179,140.00 Sponsor: U.S. Navy Department

Then known as East Boston Airport, what is now Logan International Airport was developed in part during the 1930s with federal Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) funds and labor. W.P.A. project details: "Improve airport" Official Project Number: 165‐1‐14‐493 Total project cost: $240,544.00 Sponsor: Park Department, City of Boston

Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) workers constructed a tunnel at the former Long Island Hospital in Boston Harbor, connecting the primary facility with its chapel. WPA Bulletin: Previous to WPA inmates of the Long Island Hospital were unable to attend church services during inclement weather as the hospital and chapel were not connected. WPA has constructed a 210 foot tunnel from the hospital to the chapel and a wooden approach similar to the chapel design.

WPA Bulletin: Long Island — Boston's smallest firehouse is soon to be built by WPA. Though David-like in proportion the new building will be a Goliath to the 1500 people and 16 institutional buildings on this Boston Harbor plot of land. When complete it will be 67 feet long, 27 feet wide and one story high, housing modern and efficient fire-fighting equipment. The Island is greatly in need of adequate protection as the only existing apparatus is a hand-drawn pump and rolls of hose.

A Boston Public Works Department report cited Federal Emergency Relief Administration (F.E.R.A.) labor as conducting the following work: "Longfellow Bridge, repairs to parapet walls."

W.P.A. project descriptions: "Malibu Beach; a parking space of about 3,000 square yards was constructed at the beach, off the Old Colony Parkway, Dorchester" Old Colony Parkway has since been renamed Morrissey Blvd.

Boston's Old Harbor Housing Project was constructed as a federal Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) project during the Great Depression. "Built in 1936, and opened on May 1, 1938, the Old Harbor Village was the first public housing development in New England and it remains one of the largest. It comprises more than 1,000 apartments in 22 three-story buildings and 152 row houses. The complex was renamed after the mother of John W. McCormack, former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, who championed housing and human rights." (Wikipedia) "One of the largest of the low-rent housing projects fully financed with P.W.A....

Artist Edward Brodney won two WPA competitions during the 1930s to paint two murals at Massachusetts's State House in Boston, MA. "Columbia Knighting Her World War Disabled" and "World War Mothers" are located on the second floor underneath the statehouse dome. The New York Times: "In 1936 Mr. Brodney won a competition sponsored by the Federal Works Progress Administration, which supported many artistic projects during the Depression, to paint a mural for the Massachusetts Statehouse. It was called 'Columbia Knighting Her World War Disabled,' and he persuaded friends to pose, since the W.P.A. could not afford models." "n 1938 Mr. Brodney won another W.P.A....

W.P.A. project description: "Metropolitan District Commission Headquarters Building; painting, with two coats, all interior walls, columns, partitions, all exterior metal work, window sash and frames, rebronze all radiators and kalsomine all ceilings. The work will be completed about March 1, 1938."

The Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works (a.k.a. Public Works Administration, or PWA) sponsored construction of the North Metropolitan Relief Sewer. Sections 102 and 103: "Section 103 is located in Everett and Chelsea and consists of about 3675 linear feet of 11'-3" inside diameter sewer in tunnel, with shafts and other appurtenances. Section 102 is located in Chelsea and consists of about 3670 linear feet of 11'-3" inside diameter sewer in tunnel and about 640 linear feet of 11'-3" by 11'-3" reinforced concrete sewer in open cut. Bids were opened on February 23, 1939 for Section 103 and Section 102 separately and for Sections 103...

Old Colony Ave., between Dorchester Ave. and Mt. Vernon St., in Boston, Mass. underwent reconstruction as part of a Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) project.

1939 MDC annual report: "A by-pass and traffic circle were constructed on Old Colony Parkway at Mount Vernon Street and Columbia Circle, Dorchester. Incidental work included the reconstruction of a storm sewer overflow. All work was done under P.W.A. Docket No. Mass. 1512-F, Massachusetts State Project No. D-206"

Reconstruction of Northern Avenue Bridge was undertaken as part of a Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) project in 1935. PWA Docket No. MA 9177

The W.P.A. conducted restoration and preservation work at the Old State House in Boston, Massachusetts.

Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) workers constructed a pedestrian underpass at Park Street and Tremont Street in Boston, Massachusetts. From a W.P.A. Bulletin: Boston's WPA Park Street Subway Project, to relieve congestion in the busy downtown district, is nearing completion. Soon motor traffic will thunder overhead while pedestrians pass safely underground to the subway terminal.

Pendergast Preventorium, once a tuberculosis clinic, is no longer open to the public. The old facility grounds feature marked stone New Deal walls.

Savin Hill Ave. in Boston, "from Railroad bridge to Evandale terrace and from railroad bridge to 120 feet south of Denny street," was reconstructed as part of a Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) project.

"One of the largest artificial reef areas in the United States if not the world lies in an area east of Boston Massachusetts referred to as the lightship dumping grounds. During the Great Depression of the 1930’s the US government embarked on a program to help provide employment for the masses of people left unemployed after the stock market crash of October 1929... One of the projects instituted was to rid Boston harbor of all the derelict ships that had accumulated in the various backwaters of the harbor over the past 30 to 40 years. This project took place between...

The following water mains were laid as part of a Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) project: "Forest Hills street, Glen road, Sigourney street and Walnut avenue ..."

The W.P.A. conducted improvement work at the South Boston Naval Annex, which was located in South Boston. W.P.A. project details: "Improvements at Boston Navy Yard, So. Boston Annex, and Lockwood Basin" Official Project Number: 154‐3‐14‐529 Total project cost: $568,252.00 Sponsor: U.S. Navy Department "Improvements at Boston Navy Yard, So. Boston Annex, and Lockwood Basin" Official Project Number: 165‐2‐14‐426 Total project cost: $179,140.00 Sponsor: U.S. Navy Department

Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) workers constructed a sea wall in South Boston, Massachusetts. From a W.P.A. Bulletin: Designed to hold back destructive water at flood tides, to keep drifting sand from the adjoining roadway and non-bathers from encroaching on the beach area a WPA Sea Wall Project, Columbus Park, South Boston, extends for more than half a mile along the beach. The status of this structure is unknown to Living New Deal.

Multiple New Deal agencies conducted improvement and repair work at the facilities at Boston / East Boston South Ferry facilities.

Southampton St. in Boston, Mass. underwent reconstruction as part of a Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) project.

W.P.A. project description: 1937 Massachusetts Metropolitan District Commission annual report: "Stony Brook Reservation; 8 miles of bridle roads in the reservation were improved by widening, grading and the application of gravel"

Boston, Massachusetts's Suffolk County Courthouse was constructed between 1936 and 1939 with federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The PWA contributed a grant of $2,151,000; the final cost of the project was $4.9 million. PWA Docket No. MA 1142.

A Boston Public Works Department report cited Federal Emergency Relief Administration (F.E.R.A.) labor as conducting the following work: "Summer Street Bridge (over Fort Point Channel), approach spans chipped, cleaned and painted."

As part of a Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) project a combination sewer was built along a 1,019-foot stretch of Tenean Creek (since filled in / destroyed) from Pope's Hill St. north to the train tracks. P.W.A. Docket No. Mass. 4193-L

W.P.A. project descriptions: "Veterans of Foreign Wars, West Roxbury, and Turtle Pond Parkways; the roadsides of these parkways were beautified for their entire lengths by grubbing, grading and seeding. Ten miles, or 176,000 square yards of property was reclaimed." "Dedham Parkway and Turtle Pond Parkway; a project in operation at the end of the year will provide a parking area on each of these two parkways in the Hyde Park district."