Gittings Avenue Paving – Baltimore MD
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted paving work on Gittings Ave. in Baltimore. WPA Project #14.
Green Ridge State Forest – Flintstone MD
At 47,560 acres, Green Ridge State Forest is the second largest state forest in Maryland and the “largest contiguous block of public land in Maryland.” It offers opportunities for target shooting, hunting, fishing, primitive camping, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding,… read more
Greenfield Library (former Annapolis Hall of Records) – Annapolis MD
What is now St. John’s College’s Greenfield Library was originally constructed as the Annapolis Hall of Records, which served as the Maryland State Archives until 1984. The facility was constructed in 1934, and was funded by the Public Works Administration (P.W.A.)…. read more
Hagerstown City Hall – Hagerstown MD
Many of Hagerstown’s administrative offices are located in the Hagerstown City Hall. According to a Maryland Historical Trust Inventory Form: “The Hagerstown City Hall is a Renaissance Revival style brick structure which was erected in 1939-1940 under the auspices of… read more
Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center – Beltsville MD
The Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, or BARC, is a unit of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service. BARC is the largest agricultural research complex in the world. It was founded in 1910 and greatly… read more
Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center: Log Lodge – Beltsville MD
The Log Lodge at the Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) from pine and white oak logs harvested on-site. Construction of the lodge was started in 1934 by the Works Progress… read more
Herrington Manor State Park – Oakland MD
The Civilian Conservation Corps created Herrington Manor Lake by damming Herrington Creek. They also built ten cabins, the lake concession building (which has been altered since), and a pavilion. The CCC boys also planted trees throughout the area. According to… read more
Hilton Parkway Bridges – Baltimore MD
"The valley of Gwynns Falls contains a small stream which is a tributary of the Patapsco River. North and south through traffic in West Baltimore was barred b this valley. A new parkway, including two bridges, was opened for use… read more
Hyattsville Armory Improvements – Hyattsville MD
The Hyattsville Armory is a historic National Guard armory built in 1918 and located in Hyattsville, Maryland. “The building is patterned after a medieval English castle and built of native stone, with rectangular turrets flanking the arched limestone entranceway.” (wikipedia)… read more
Johnson’s Pond Dam – Wicomico County MD
The WPA built the current Johnson’s Pond Dam after the previous dam washed out. Today (three quarters of a century later) the dam provides an area for recreational boating and bass management. And, in addition to bass, anglers can fish… read more
Kensington Town Hall Improvements – Kensington MD
Originally the Kensington Armory. The WPA made improvements and repairs to the then Kensington armory and rifle range in 1935.
Lake Ashburton Pumping Station and Improvements – Baltimore MD
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) developed the park at Lake Ashburton, constructing a fence and walkway around said. Maryland WPA Project #13. The Public Works Administration also built the lake’s pumping station for the Baltimore water system.
Laurel Armory Improvements – Laurel MD
Now the Anderson-Murphy Community Center. It is a 17,964 square foot building constructed in 1927. This building served as the National Guard Armory before being purchased by the City for use by the Parks & Recreation Department. According to an… read more
Magruder Park Improvements – Hyattsville MD
Magruder Park is Hyattsville’s major park facility. According to an index of WPA projects in the National Archives the WPA worked on the park in 1935, improving the park, clearing the stream, constructing playground courts, a wading pool and curbs… read more
Municipal Improvements – Brentwood MD
According to an index of WPA projects in the national archives, the WPA did extensive work in Brentwood, including: installing water mains, constructing sidewalks, curbs and gutters, and paving and storm drainage. Records show the WPA also constructed a Law… read more
Municipal Improvements – College Park MD
According to an index of WPA projects in the National Archives, the WPA rebuilt dairy barns and developed a botanic garden in College Park. These may have been on land owned by the University of Maryland. The WPA also installed… read more
Municipal Improvements – Colmar Manor MD
The WPA did extensive work in Colmar Manor in 1935, including constructing concrete sidewalks, curbs and gutter improvements. The WPA also made alterations to Town Hall and improvements to City Park and a local playground. It is not known whether… read more
Municipal Improvements – Gaithersburg MD
The WPA repaired and improved various streets in Gaithersburg in 1935.
Municipal Improvements – Hyattsville MD
WPA records in the National Archives indicate that the WPA installed various water mains in Hyattsville in 1935. The WPA also improved what was listed as “University Park” in Hyattsville. It is not known whether this referred to a specific… read more
Municipal Improvements – Poolesville MD
The WPA constructed a reservoir for a fire protection pump shed and installed a pipe connecting the pump and reservoir. Current status and exact location of the project unknown.
Municipal Improvements – Riverdale MD
The WPA installed water mains in Riverdale in 1935 and constructed sidewalks along Jefferson Ave. in 1938.
Municipal Improvements – Rockville MD
According to records in the National Archives, the WPA did extensive work in Rockville. They laid sewer extensions on multiple streets in 1936. In 1939, work included: “Improv[ing] public thoroughfares throughout the town of Rockville…including constructing curbs, gutters, and sidewalks,… read more
Municipal Improvements – Seat Pleasant MD
The WPA did extensive work in Seat Pleasant in 1937, including: “Improve Roosevelt Avenue, Vine and Valley Streets, and Addison Chapel Road, by constructing curbs, gutters, and cross drains, surfacing, underforming, and appurtenant work,” and “Construct streets, sidewalks, curbs, gutters,… read more
Municipal Improvements – Silver Spring MD
The WPA installed water mains on Chicago Ave. and Falkland Dr. in Silver Spring and Blair Subdvision in 1935.
Municipal Improvements – Upper Marlboro MD
According to WPA records in the National Archives, the WPA constructed a sanitary sewer system and disposal plant and a town water supply system for Upper Marlboro in 1936.
Municipal Infrastructure – Cheverly MD
The WPA installed a publicly owned street lighting system in 1935.
Municipal Infrastructure – Chevy Chase MD
In 1935, the WPA improved water services in the Woodbine Street, Bradley Lane, and Kirk Street sections of Chevy Chase.
Municipal Water System – Bethesda MD
In 1935 the WPA improved and installed water main systems on various streets in Bethesda.
Municipal Water System – Bladensburg MD
The WPA installed various water mains in Bladensburg from 1935-37.
Municipal Water System – Capitol Heights MD
The WPA installed various water mains in Capitol Heights in 1935.
National Institute of Standards and Technology – Washington DC
Originally called the National Bureau of Standards, this a measurement standards laboratory, otherwise known as a National Metrological Institute (NMI), which is a non-regulatory agency of the United States Department of Commerce. The name was changed in 1988. In 1938-40,… read more
National Institutes of Health Campus – Bethesda MD
The modern campus of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) was established at Bethesda MD during the New Deal. It included the first laboratory of the newly-created National Cancer Institute, as well (the NCI came under the NIH in 1944)…. read more
Naval Academy Improvements – Annapolis MD
From the Naval Academy’s website: “Through the efforts of the Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft, the Naval School was established without Congressional funding, at a 10-acre Army post named Fort Severn in Annapolis, Maryland, on October 10, 1845, with… read more
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division – Bethesda MD
The Carderock Division of the NSWC us a center for research, development and testing of Navy ships and technology. Newspaper clippings in the National Archives report that in 1938-39, new construction on the site in the amount of $3,500,000 was… read more
New Germany State Park – Grantsville MD
CCC-built structures at New Germany State Park, that are still in use today, include a recreation building, cabins, and picnic shelters. According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, “Today the Recreation Hall (Rec Hall) is the site for many… read more
Oakland Golf Course – Oakland MD
The public golf course in Oakland, Maryland is one of 254 new golf courses created by the WPA during the Great Depression (they reconstructed or improved 378 others). According to the Golf Club at Oakland: “On January 7, 1937, over… read more