Maryland Sites

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted improvement work along Foxville Road, west of Thurmont, MD. Maryland WPA Project #165.

"Port Deposit is an interesting town that sits alongside the Susquehanna River, not far from the Conowingo Dam. There is an abundance of stonework in the town, and the former African American school shown below is no exception. This was one of 19 new schools that the WPA built in Maryland (they repaired or improved 389 other schools). The building is now called 'Freeman Hall.' ...The building seems to be in fairly good shape, but it has suffered from some degree of neglect and vandalism. Fortunately, a restoration project has been started, and on December 14, 2011 it was reported that...

From the Maryland Department of Natural Resources website for Gambrill State Park: “Most of the buildings and facilities within the park were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s. The CCC was a Federal program that was created during the Great Depression. The goal of the program was to create jobs for young men and to help restore the nation’s struggling natural resources…The Tea Room has been a popular feature of Gambrill State Park for over 70 years. The Tea Room is a native-stone building, built by the CCC in the 1930’s. It was originally designed for community events and...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted paving work on Gittings Ave. in Baltimore. WPA Project #14.

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, a driving tour, “geocaching” (see https://www.geocaching.com/), and paddling. According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, “The first forest management activities at Green Ridge were performed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930’s. Their main focus was fire control. Other work consisted of building roads, trails, recreation enhancements, and the management of existing forest for its future timber and...

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.). The land was deeded to the state of Maryland for $10, and Lawrence Hall Fowler was the architect. The building is part of the Georgian Revival style.  Originally, the building had a seven storied interior. The building was completely renovated from 1994 to 1996 as part of the conversion to Greenfield Library, featuring conversion to a three-story interior.

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 the federal government as a Public Works Administration project.”

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 expanded under the New Deal.  Several New Deal agencies were involved in this massive  project, presumably working under the direction of the USDA's Bureau of Plant Industry (which later became part of the Agricultural Research Service). To begin with, the Public Works Administration (PWA) purchased the land and paid for clearing, drainage, water lines, roads, walkways and an irrigation system.  The...

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 Administration (WPA), but little advanced when work halted. It was completed in 1937 by the CCC. "Construction of the lodge was started in 1934 by the Works Progress Administration, but work stopped when the structure was four logs high. It was completed in 1937 by the CCC. The building was modeled after lodges in Yellowstone National Park. All logs and lumber used...

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 the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, “The park offers swimming, canoeing, kayaking, picnicking, hiking, tennis, volleyball and 20 furnished log cabins for rental use year round” (this includes the ten CCC-built cabins). The park also offers fishing and cross-country skiing opportunities.

"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 in November 1938 eliminating this barrier. The larger bridge has three segmental spans each 90 feet in length and two end spans of 60 feet each. It is constructed of reinforced concrete and, with the exception of the arch soffits, is faced with granite in two shades of pink. The granite was set in place before the concrete...

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) A “Microfilmed Index to WPA Projects" in the National Archives describes the WPA as improving and repairing the Armory in 1935. (Note: It is not entirely clear whether the index refers to completed or only to planned projects, but all listed projects had received presidential approval, the last administrative step before a project proceeded.)

The WPA installed water mains in the city in 1935.

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 for “black crappie, pumpkinseed sunfish, yellow perch, white perch, chain pickerel, brown bullhead catfish and common carp" (see Department of Natural Resources source below).

Originally the Kensington Armory. The WPA made improvements and repairs to the then Kensington armory and rifle range in 1935.

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.

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 index of WPA projects at the National Archives, the WPA improved and repaired the Laurel Armory in 1935.

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 and installing playground equipment.

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 Hall for Municipal offices, a fire department and a community hall. The exact location and current status of these buildings is unknown.

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 water mains in the area, all in 1935.

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 the current town hall is the one referred to in 1935 or which playground and park were improved.

The WPA installed water mains in East Riverdale in 1935.

The WPA installed water mains in Edmonston in 1935.

The WPA repaired and improved various streets in Gaithersburg in 1935.

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 municipal park or instead to the incorporated community bordering Hyattsville and known as University Park.

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.

The WPA installed water mains in Riverdale in 1935 and constructed sidewalks along Jefferson Ave. in 1938.

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 public thoroughfares throughout the town of Rockville…including constructing curbs, gutters, and sidewalks, draining, paving, installing subsurface utilities, landscaping and performing incidental and appurtenant work."

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, water-drains, and cross-drains, throughout Seat Pleasant."

The WPA installed water mains on Chicago Ave. and Falkland Dr. in Silver Spring and Blair Subdvision in 1935.

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.

The WPA installed a publicly owned street lighting system in 1935.

In 1935, the WPA improved water services in the Woodbine Street, Bradley Lane, and Kirk Street sections of Chevy Chase.

In 1935 the WPA improved and installed water main systems on various streets in Bethesda.

The WPA installed various water mains in Bladensburg from 1935-37.

The WPA installed various water mains in Capitol Heights in 1935.

Originally called the National Bureau of Standards, this a measurement standards laboratory, which is a non-regulatory agency of the United States Department of Commerce. The name was changed in 1988. (It is also sometimes known as the National Metrological Institute (NMI)). In 1938-40, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) did extensive work on the facilities.  WPA relief labor was employed around the Bureau of Standards site to: "Rehabilitate buildings and improve facilities and grounds at the National Bureau of Standards Reservation. The work includes improving roofs and gutters; placing footings and floors; relocating and remodeling doors, windows, and skylights; replacing doors and window...

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). The NIH is the leading medical science agency of the United States, performing its own research and funding research at universities and hospitals around the country. The NIH was launched in 1930 as a reorganization and enhancement of government-funded medical research efforts that date back to 1887. NIH’s original location (1930-1938) was at 25th and E streets NW, Washington DC.   In...

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 a class of 50 midshipmen and seven professors…In 1850 the Naval School became the United States Naval Academy…Congress authorized the Naval Academy to begin awarding bachelor of science degrees in 1933…In just a few decades, the Navy moved from a fleet of sail and steam-powered ships to a high-tech fleet with nuclear-powered submarines and surface ships and supersonic aircraft. The academy...