Chicopee Sites

WPA Bulletin, 1937: "A 12-acre pond is included on the land. WPA workmen have completed construction of a dike to hold in this water and in the winter the spot can be used for winter sport purposes."

The historic post office building located at 100 Center St. in Chicopee, Massachusetts was constructed by the federal Treasury Department and completed in 1935. Located in the village of Chicopee Center, this was one of two post office buildings from the era constructed in the town of Chicopee.

In the 1890s, the city of Chicopee purchased a tract of land along Cooley Brook for the creation of a reservoir, which later took place in 1926. Nearly a decade later during the Great Depression the area was selected for expansion and the creation of a state park by the Civilian Conservation Corps The CCC operated Camp 1156 in Chicopee, Massachusetts from 1935 to 1937. The camp that resided in Chicopee was near Cooley Brook Reservoir where Chicopee Memorial State Park is located today and housed about two hundred young men. CCC workers conducted efforts throughout the Chicopee Memorial State Park...

In response to heavy flooding after a severe storm in 1936, Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) labor—under the direction of U.S. Army engineers—constructed dikes along the Connecticut River in many Massachusetts communities, including Chicopee. The exact status and locations of these dikes is presently unknown to Living New Deal.

The W.P.A. extended Granby Road in conjunction with the development of the Westover military reservation. W.P.A. project information: "Granby Rd. to Ind. Gate ‐Westover Field" Official Project Number: 65‐1‐14‐3047 Total project cost: $15,587.00 Sponsor: U.S. Navy Department

Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) workers constructed an infirmary in Chicopee, Massachusetts. From a W.P.A. Bulletin: One hundred and fifty-two patients will be accommodated in the new Chicopee WPA City Infirmary Project now under construction. Plans include a two-story central building with one story wings on either side and the building of a two-story cottage for the hospital superintendent. The location and status of the facility is unknown to Living New Deal.

Ludlow Road was extended by the W.P.A. Project information: "Ludlow Rd. to Slobbery Pond Road", also "Ludlow Rd. to Pleasant St." Official Project Number: 65‐1‐14‐3047 Total project cost: $48,437.00 Sponsor: War Department The road was built in conjunction with the development of the Westover military reservation. "Slobbery Pond" was the name of a pond south of Slipe Pond, which was located northwest of Westover.

The historic post office building located at 28 Main St. in Chicopee, Massachusetts was constructed by the federal Treasury Department in 1936. Located in the village of Chicopee Falls, this was one of two post office buildings from the era constructed in the town of Chicopee.

The historic New Deal post office in the Chicopee Falls community in Chicopee, Massachusetts contains a 1938 Section of Fine Arts mural by Ernst Halberstadt entitled "History of Chicopee Falls." Richly detailed vignettes of the history of Chicopee Falls with Indians and Pilgrims on the left with game and initial settlement, progressing to a covered bridge and buildings on the right. The center is dominated by an eagle clasping the banner of US Mail Chicopee Falls. The scale is small with many locations and events pictured. Ernst Halberstadt was born in Germany and immigrated to Boston where he studied at the Massachusetts...

Four wooden grilles by Frederick H. Brunner adorn the historic New Deal-era post office building located at 28 Main Street in the Chicopee Falls community in Chicopee, Massachusetts. The carvings were commissioned by the federal Treasury Relief Art Project (TRAP).

WPA Bulletin, 1937: "On a misty, dismal day last April, a WPA crew started work on the wild and undeveloped 70-acre Bemis tract of land in the rear of the Chicopee High School, which is being converted into the city's first public recreational field. Today the physical change of a large part of the land is decidedly noticeable. Here workmen have graded, leveled and filled this area into a huge flat field which will contain a football and baseball field, a running track, eight tennis courts, three basketball courts, a field house and service building, a grandstand and a parking...

"President Roosevelt signed a $750,000 Works Progress Administration (WPA) project bill for the air base's construction in November 1939. Fourteen hundred WPA and Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) workers cleared the land, and actual construction was started in February 1940." W.P.A. project information: "Construct and improve facilities and grounds" Official Project Number: 165‐3‐14‐23 Total project cost: $4,197,055.00 Sponsor: War Department, District Engineer, Corps of Engineers "Construct telephone system" Official Project Number: 165‐3‐14‐340 Total project cost: $98,526.00 Sponsor: Commanding General, 1st Corps Area, U.S. Army "Construct and improve facilities and grounds" Official Project Number: 65‐3‐14‐715 Total project cost: $1,497,384.00 Sponsor: Commanding Officer, Northeast Air Base, Constructing Quartermaster, Westover Field, U.S. Army