Massachusetts Sites

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 federal Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) constructed a bridge for Fountain Street in Ashland, Mass.; most likely at the reservoir, in 1937. The bridge appears to be no longer extant.

The former Foxboro State Hospital was greatly expanded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with the aid of Federal funds, during the New Deal era. One Federal Public Works Administration-assisted project saw the construction of four buildings on the State Hospital campus, including the Assembly Building. The Assembly Building is located north of Chestnut Street along Payson Road. Construction details: "masonry exterior bearing, concrete and steel interior framing, steel roof truss, non-combustible roof deck." The Foxboro Reporter wrote that the building, "one story and balcony and basement, of brick and limestone, 127 feet long and 70 feet wide, will be constructed at...

The former Foxboro State Hospital was greatly expanded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with the aid of Federal funds, during the New Deal era. One Federal Public Works Administration-assisted project saw the construction of four buildings on the State Hospital campus, including the Laundry Building, which has been slated for demolition in 2014. Construction details: "masonry exterior bearing, concrete pier and floor slab, steel column, beam and flat roof deck." The Foxboro Reporter wrote that the building, "one story and basement, 150 feet long and 75 feet wide, of first class brick and stone, will be constructed at a cost of...

The former Foxboro State Hospital was greatly expanded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with the aid of Federal funds, during the New Deal era. One Federal Public Works Administration-assisted project saw the construction of four buildings on the State Hospital campus, including the since-demolished Tuberculosis, or "T", Building. The "T" Building was located about 900 feet north of Chestnut Street between North Street and Payson Road, northwest of an assembly hall built at the same time with additional federal assistance. Construction details: "masonry exterior bearing, concrete and steel interior framing, wood flat roof framing." The Foxboro Reporter wrote that the building, "two...

The former Foxboro State Hospital was greatly expanded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with the aid of Federal funds, during the New Deal era. One Federal Public Works Administration-assisted project saw the construction of four buildings on the State Hospital campus, including the 'day space building.' This building is probably what was also known as Walnut Lodge. Construction details: "masonry exterior bearing, steel and steel joist and concrete framing, wood pitched wood deck." The Foxboro Reporter wrote that the building, "two stories and basement, 85 feet long and 28 feet wide, brick construction, with piazzas 53 feet long and 14 feet...

In 1934 F.E.R.A. labor undertook "painting and repairing flagpoles and benches on the Framingham and Framingham Centre Commons."

In 1934 F.E.R.A. labor undertook "painting and repairing flagpoles and benches on the Framingham and Framingham Centre Commons."

Frank Newhall Look Memorial Park was constructed between the years 1928 and 1930, as the result of a large one hundred and fifty acre land grant from Mrs. Fannie Burr Look who was the wife of the late Frank Newhall Look. At the time of construction Mrs. Look provided the land and the money needed to develop the land, and she established a trust fund so that the park could be kept up and maintained for future generations to enjoy. The original park contained a variety of paths, ponds, streams, gardens, and sitting areas to enjoy nature. There were also...

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 Federal Emergency Relief Administration (F.E.R.A.) extended Franklin Street and constructed a 60-foot-long, 60-foot-wide concrete bridge to carry the road across the Sudbury River in Framingham, Massachusetts. The bridge was rebuilt in 2009.

"Fraser Field is a baseball park in Lynn, Massachusetts that was built in 1940 by the Works Progress Administration as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal." (Wikipedia)

The CCC assisted in the creation of this state forest between 1933 and 1942. From the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs: "The well preserved CCC roads and water holes illustrate the importance of the CCC in creating park infrastructure. The stone arch bridge shown here is an outstanding example of CCC craftsmanship."

Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) workers conducted the following work in Cambridge, Massachusetts. From a W.P.A. Bulletin: WPA beautification of the Cambridge Fresh Pond Parkway golf course includes the filling of unsightly water filled pools, messed with an accumulation of assorted junk and discarded automobiles.

The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) constructed "a rubble wall ... along Front Street to replace the wooden fence which was badly in need of repairs." There is no such wall along Front Street today. A sewer was constructed along the road as well.

W.P.A. project descriptions: "Furnace Brook Parkway; fill was furnished and placed for a parking space in the rear of the Quincy Armory; the commission being a co-sponsor with the City of Quincy." "Furnace Brook Parkway; landscaping work was done along the parkway between Willard Street and the St. Moritz sports area."

In the winter of 1935, the Works Progress Administration started doing work throughout Wrentham, Massachusetts. In 1936, the WPA helped to develop the land for the town's new elementary school, which the town was in dire need of. The WPA workers took part in drainage and grading work. They laid a water pipe for the new school and lined the nearby brook with rocks.

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."

Description of a project undertaken by the W.P.A. in 1937: "Gerry's Landing, Charles River Lower Basin; a project for the improvement of this area was started in 1936 and completed during the year. Extensive improvements were made which involved work of grading, loaming and seeding grass areas, filling of low lands, construction of gravel walks, service roads, etc."

Gilbert Memorial Bridge, which spans the North Canal in Lawrence, Massachusetts, carrying the traffic of Broadway, was one of multiple bridges in the city constructed with the assistance of a federal Public Works Administration grant, completed in 1939. PWA Docket No. MA 1562.

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.

Winchester.us: "Ginn Field was laid out as a playground and three tennis courts were built. The other main project at that time was grading the field, accomplished by the WPA in 1938-40. The work of improving the field also included continuing the road from Manchester Field, building a road leading out to Bacon Street and creating a walk leading from tennis court to train station at Wedgemere, building an 800-foot-long stone retaining wall, and installing 360 feet of drain pipe at the field and more drains in 1942 to carry off water which made roadway impassable in rainy weather."

The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) constructed a wading pool at Flendale Park in Everett, Mass.

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."

The Federal Emergency Relief Administration (F.E.R.A.) and Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) played a substantial role in the development of Maynard's Glenwood Cemetery. Work commenced in 1934 and was completed in 1936. "During the 1930s construction of the new cemetery was undertaken by several Depression-era relief programs, most notably the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Improvements included building of a new iron fence along the Parker Street in front of the old cemetery; laying out the new cemetery and constructing a rubble entrance wall along Great Road; and dredging the swampy area at the corner of Parker Street and Great Road to transform...

Though there is some uncertainly about the artist and original location of this mural, it was painted with the help of FAP funds.  

Frederick Mulhaupt painted "DeChamplain Surveys Le Beauport" and "Landing of Dorchester Colonists--1623" in 1936 with funding from the WPA Federal Art Project. The murals were originally installed at the old Central Grammar School.  

Gloucester City Hall contains several paintings by Charles Allan Winter. "The Founding of Gloucester" was painted in 1934, with funding from an unknown federal agency. "Education" was painted in 1935 with funding from the WPA Federal Art Project. It was originally installed at the old Central Grammar School. In 1939, Charles Allan Winter also painted three WPA murals in the main lobby: "“City Council in Session” fills the space above the collector’s windows (approximately 7 feet high by 11 feet wide). “City Government” covers the opposite wall. Tucked in and around the arch-topped lunettes, the two-part mural, “Civic Virtues,” spreads across the two...

Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) conducted improvement work along Goddard Avenue in Rockland, Massachusetts.

W.P.A. Bulletin, 1937: "Because of WPA and the Winthrop Golf Club the formerly ugly marsh is now a recreational beauty spot. The golf club reclaimed a spot in the centre of the marsh and created a nine-hole course."

Goodell Hall was constructed as a Public Works Administration (PWA) project. Construction occurred in 1934-5.

The federal Civil Works Administration (C.W.A.) conducted repair work at Goodnow Library in 1934. The Federal Emergency Relief Administration (F.E.R.A.) continued the work that year: "The walls were painted, ceilings whitened, floors oiled and a fine window seat built in the juvenile room making that room much lighter and more cheerful. The books are now clean and properly classified and the town can be justly proud of the library."

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

Prior to colonial settlement, the area of Granville State Forest was inhabited by the Tunxis Native American tribe. In the mid-1700s, English pioneer Samuel Hubbard purchased the land for farming and pasturage, and the river that runs through the forest is now named the Hubbard River. The property was bought and owned by Tiffany and Pickett Lumber Company near the turn of the 20th century. In the 1920s, the Commonwealth obtained the land from the lumber company but little improvements were made before the CCC Camp was established. The Civilian Conservation Corps began work on Granville State Forest in 1933. CCC...

Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) workers developed recreation improvements at Greenfield's Green River Swimming and Recreation Area and Murphy Park, during the 1930s. WPA Bulletin: Children of Greenfield have benefited by the WPA construction of a new bath house and other improvements at the Greenfield Swimming Pool. Tennis courts and a soft ball diamond were built in the adjoining public park property.

"Major improvements were initiated in 1933 and 1934 with W.P.A. workers planting many botanical specimens. F. Carroll Sargent, noted arborist, brought many varieties of trees and shrubs from all over North America, China, Japan, Europe, Manchuria, Siberia and Korea to plant at the cemetery. Notable speciments are the following trees: Amur Cork, Dawn Redwood, Osage Orange, Yellowwood, and Katsura Trees. In 1934 the Workers Progress Administration (WPA) workers planted hundreds of trees." Given the dates, it is more likely that the author meant to attribute the Civil Works Administration (CWA), not the WPA.

Description of a project undertaken by the W.P.A. in 1938: "Hammond Pond Parkway, Newton Street traffic circle to Boylston Street, Newton; to construct a 5-foot wide pea stone and stone dust walk and a 10-foot wide planting space, each 4,200 feet in length."

Description of a project undertaken by the W.P.A. in 1937: "Hammond Pond Parkway; work was begun in November on a project which provides for the improvement of an area between the parkway and Hammond Pond in Newton. The work includes laying 300 linear feet of 24-inch drain pipe, filling a low area with about 12,000 cubic yards of gravel borrow, spreading about 3,000 cubic yards of loam, grading and seeding and thinning and grubbing 20,000 square yards of underbrush. Most of this work will also be done during 1938."