Maine Sites

Constructed by the Treasury Department in 1940. A 1941 Section of Fine Arts mural by Elizabeth Tracy was originally installed in the post. It was entitled “Bathers” and was a beach scene. The preliminary sketch had been approved, though the townspeople had not been consulted. Unfortunately, the opinion of a vocal part of the Kennebunkport populace was highly negative to Tracy’s painting, inflamed by the historic mural in the adjacent Kennebunk that was favored by the townspeople. The beach in the area is in fact in Kennebunk, not Kennebunkport. Permission to remove the mural was included in an appropriations bill, the...

The Lewiston post office was constructed using Treasury Department funds during 1934.

Constructed in 1939.

The historic post office in Norway, Maine was constructed in 1940 with federal Treasury Department funds. The building bears a 1940 cornerstone and houses an example of New Deal artwork.

Built in 1937.

Constructed by the Treasury Department in 1935. The building now houses the Emmaus Center homeless shelter. The Section of Fine Arts mural originally painted for the post office now hangs in the nearby City Hall.

The historic former post office in Westbrook, Maine was built in 1935-6 with Treasury Department funds. The building, which housed an example of New Deal artwork, is now a bank. The artwork has been relocated.

New Deal mural entitled "Ellsworth, Lumber Port" was painted in 1938 by Alzira Peirce for the old Ellsworth post office. It currently hangs in the city hall.

The historic Norway, Maine post office houses a New Deal wooden relief: "Jacob Howe, First Post Rider," completed in 1942 by Margaret Vincent. The work was commissioned by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts.

The Dover-Foxcroft post office features this mural, "River Driving", by Barrie Barstow Greenbie (1920-1988). Greenbie was trained at the Corcoran School of Art in New York, and this was his first job.  Painted in 1940, it made Greenbie possibly the youngest artist ever commissioned by the Work Projects Administration (WPA), according to a University of Massachusetts website entry on his life.  However, it is more likely that the mural was painted under the auspices of the Treasury Section of Fine Arts, not the WPA.  

"New Deal mural entitled "The Arrival of the First Letter--Kennebunk Post Office from Falmouth---June 14, 1775" painted in 1939 by Edith C. Barry. The mural remains in the old Post Office building, now used as Kennebunk Police Station." (flickr)

The Kennebunk post office mural remains in what is now the police station. The mural entitled "The Arrival of the First Letter--Kennebunk Post Office from Falmouth---June 14, 1775" was painted by Edith C. Barry in 1939. It was funded by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts.

"Kennebunkport Harbor, 1825" The original mural for Kennebunkport was painted in 1941 by Elizabeth Tracy and was entitled "Bathers". The citizens of Kennebunkport did not like the mural one bit. They raised $1000 from the locals in order to contract Gordon Grant to paint a satisfactory replacement mural in 1945. The is no "official" title for the replacement mural. Medium: oil on canvas

New Deal mural entitled "Logging in the Maine Woods" painted by John Beauchamp in 1942.

New Deal mural entitled "Shipwreck at Night" painted in 1939 by Alzira Peirce.

The post office itself was started by the Treasury Department in 1932, but may have been completed with New Deal money. The post office contains two 1937 Section of Fine Arts murals by Henry Mattson entitled “The Rocky Coast of Maine” and “The Sea.” These 2 works flank an entrance to the post office, showing the roiling sea, gulls overhead and the rocky coast pictured in “The Sea”. “The Rocky Coast of Maine”, by contrast shows only the land dominated by rock with small shrubs and a lone pine, a work that has elements of abstraction in it. Henry Mattson was born in...

New Deal wooden relief entitled "News from the Woodsman" installed in 1941 by Elliott Means.

The historic post office in Fairfield, Maine houses an example of New Deal artwork:a bas relief entitled "A Letter," completed and installed by Joseph Walter in 1939.

The historic post office in Farmington, Maine houses an example of New Deal artwork: a Treasury of Fine Arts-commissioned wooden relief entitled "Lillian Nordica." Created by Hetty Beatty, the work was installed in the post office lobby in 1938. "Nordica was born in Farmington in 1857. She became a foremost soprano Opera signer in the late 19th, early 20th centuries."

"The Quimby Athletic Field of Gardiner was enlarged to make a combination baseball and football field at a cost of $17,257.08 of which $1,368.50 was spent for material. There were 11,700 cubic yards of earth moved and 300 cubic yards of ledge had to be taken out. All was done by hand. Two grandstands 50 feet long were constructed from lumber salvaged at the Veteran's Administration Grounds at Togus. They were roofed with metal roofing, painted with a heavy coat of asphalt aluminum paint. These stands will seat 300 people each. A dressing room was built beneath one and a lavatory and...

A small town built for the purposes of housing the "clerks, engineers, draftsmen, technicians, and laborers building the Passamaquoddy Tidal Power Project, the world’s largest tidal dam. The site was originally the George Rice farm, on the Old Toll Bridge Road and Route 190."   (https://penobscotmarinemuseum.org) "The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Quoddy dam project began officially on July 4, 1935. It was estimated that 5,000 workers were needed for the project, and Eastport lacked housing. A model village, named Quoddy, was built three miles from the center of Eastport. It consisted of 128 single family, two-family, and four-family houses; three large...

In January 1934, an ambitious project of opening up the vast forested area of northern Maine by the construction of a 94 mile road connecting Ashland Maine and Lac Frontier Quebec Canada and called the Brann Scenic Highway was launched. By February, there was unanimous endorsement by the towns of Northern Maine and a survey launched by the Civil Works Administration. Governor Louis J. Brann was the honorary chairman and Maine CWA Executive John McDonough was project director. The Bangor Daily News reported that 125 telegrams from business, civic leaders, and individuals were sent in in support of the project....

A 250 unit housing project in South Portland Maine. "Under the Lanham Act of 1940, and to the chagrin of the Portland Chamber of commerce, Washington ordered in February of 1942 that the Federal Public Housing Authority of the Federal Works Agency build 550 units of permanent housing in the Portland area. The 250 unit Redbank project grew up near the municipal airport in South Portland. John Howard Stevens and John Calvin Stevens II designed Redbank with its modest, wood framed, Colonial Revival-style units as a planned New England community. In the mode of the 1890's British Garden City and WW1...

The 1933 - 1934 town report mentions an Emergency C.W.A. project costing the town $173.22 as their share and 4 men employed which was probably a road project. The school superintendent reported that "Several of the unweight children are receiving a half pint of milk daily from funds received from the C. W. A. This seems to be one of the most worthy projects and a great deal of credit is due the authorities, who have made these funds available." The 1934 - 1935 town report mentions Emergency C.W.A. Work costing the town $19.73 and employing 2 people. The School Superintendent reported...

In 1933, acting under the leadership of Mayor Thayer, the local C.W.A. administrator, various actions were taken to stabilize the finances of the town and reemploy as many people as possible. Reconstruction Finance Corporation Grant Received during 1933: $19,820.75 Among the various project launched: 1-H Sewing project "supervised by Mrs. Blye Drew. Clothing of all kinds has been furnished, through the Poor Department, for the relief of needy persons. More than 400' mackinaws have been made and distributed to minimum paid 'Civil Works employees engaged in outdoor work, in this, the most severe winter we have experienced in a generation." (Thayer) No. 1 J -...

An article in the Independent Reporter August 24, 1933 reports of 7 CWA projects for Somerset County, of which is $3000 for work on the River Road connecting East and West New Portland "as far as it will go".

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) completed improvements at Riverbank Park in Westbrook ME. "Riverbank Improved by C. W. A. Project The C.W.A. project for improving Riverbank, and greatly appreciated by the Trustees, consisted in the closing of the unsightly dump on the bank of the river and establishing of a new city dump at the foot of Foster Street. A large amount of filling required was moved by trucks in the winter to grade the river bank, also to build a road-way across the gully at the new city dump. The grading, fertilizing and seeding of the improved section was done by...

Portland's Riverside Golf Course was one of several local sites to be improved by the WPA in 1936 when "the Public Works and Park Departments received $86,875 in WPA funds for engineering, supervision, a portion of the wages of skilled labor, equipment hire, and some materials." (Conforti) The golf course was originally built in 1932, but only expanded to an 18-hole course with this WPA funding. In the winter, the course is used for skiing, sledding, an ice rink and other seasonal activities.

Only 1933 and 1934 town reports were available, but a significant amount of relief work was documented during the dark days of the depression. 1933: On Dec. 1st C. W. A. projects absorbed a part of the unemployment relief men, and continued with a quota of 147 until March, when weekly reductions were put into effect by the Federal Government. The severe winter handicapped these operations to a great extent, but what was accomplished was at comparatively small cost, for material on some projects. It is unfortunate that this opportunity could not have come at a time of year when work...

The annual town report from 1936-37 reports that the WPA was involved in bridge repairs (likely from the 1936 flood). The town share was $3,220. Both the WPA and PWA helped with "Summer Roads."

Municipal reports from 1939 and 1940 document several thousand dollars worth of WPA aid and labor for local road construction projects: 1939: Trucks $ 407.15 Culverts 167.90 Hand Labor 4.00 Gravel 116.65 Materials and Supplies 48.21 Total Expended $ 743.91 Forward $ 743.91 1940: Appropriation $ 1,062.00 Rec'd State of Maine 2,516.99 R. Albert Est. Refund dynamite 18.60 Total Available $ 3,597.59 and 26 people employed on the project.

Excerpts from the Annual Reports of the Officers of the Town of Bethel: 1933 TOWN AND GOVERNMENT C. W. A. PROJECT FOR BETHEL By contract with the C. W. A., Government to furnish an average of 30 men, 6 trucks, foreman and timekeeper, at a cost of $4,740.00 The Town to furnish gravel and two trucks at a cost of, estimated $860.00 Total amount for project, $5,600 00 To Feb. 1st, 1934, C. W. A. has paid for labor, $3,174 00 Town has contributed $541.23 $3,715 23 Still available from C. W. A. Fund, $1,884.77 When making this contract to give work to unemployed, we were mindful...

The initial Civil Works Administration (CWA) work in Lubec involved street construction. Excerpt from Bangor Daily News: "CWA Work Progressing (From Our Regular Correspondent) LUBEC -- Work on the C.W.A. project, the extension of the Can Plant road to join Monument street, and the widening of Eureka Street, is progressing nicely, and a lot of dynamiting has been done the past few days, so that there is now a good two-car road, with an almost solid rock foundation as far as the work has progressed. Nearly 50 men are employed on the job. It is stated that the present wage scale of 40 cents...

The community notes of the Independent Reporter, January 11, 1934 mention CWA work: "The CWA road project above town is progressing slowly. The next four weeks will be spent in blasting the ledge at the bottom of Mill Hill. The ledge will be hauled to Austin Stream where it will serve as a breakwater near the home of Eli Carpentier."

In 1934, the C.W.A. completed 2,000 feet of repair work on the East Blue Hill Road employing 26 men. The E.R.A. did construction work on the North Blue Hill Road employing 44 men. Total on both projects paid by C.W.A. and ERA $6,060.61 Total on both projects paid by town $263.48

1933: LOCAL C. W. A. PROJECT NO. 98. MEN R. N. Blance, Foreman and Certifying Officer Work began Dec 1, 1933. Not completed Amount received from Federal Civic Works Adm to Feb 5, 1934 $3,303. 75 Amount paid by town to Feb 5, 1934 ................. 186.48 1934: LOCAL C. W. A. PROJECTS R. N. Blance, Director and Certifying Officer, authorized by the State and Federal Departments No 98, Men Work began Dec. 1, 1933; work ended March 30, 1934. Amount received from Fed Civic Works Ad’m ... $4,038.75 1935: C., W. A. ACCOUNT TRANSFERRED TO W. P. A. Project 262-B and OP65-11-1012 Town Share $273.99 1936: W. P. A. PROJECT NO. OP65-10-1112 Farm-to-Market Road Repair GOULDSBORO POINT. Town’s Part...

"The Works Progress Administration or WPA set up shop in 1936 at Stevens Corner, the intersection of Beach and Youngtown Roads, in the former Stevens farm. The WPA was meant to provide employment for needy workers on public works projects. The men worked on a variety of projects including a rock retaining wall in Sleepy Hollow, granite bridges on Ducktrap, Youngtown and Tanglewood roads, and general repair of bad spots on roads throughout town. The WPA had a garage at their Stevens Corner headquarters where they stored tools and other equipment. After some theft occurred, Kenneth Calderwood was hired as night...

Streets got some help from the New Deal as part of the cities effort at tackling the pervasive unemployment in the city. Only 1933 and 34 town reports were available. 1933 Road Commissioner "On account of frost ruining many of our streets and roads for the lack of proper ditches or drainage the entire city was ditched by the relief crews. I feel that there will be some relief from heaving of our thorofares by so doing." Spring Street, and Water Street were constructed with concrete. Gilman Street was extended up to the area of Mayflower Hill that Colby College was being built on. Project...

Many projects were launched in town during the Depression in an effort at reducing relief rolls. The following CWA and FERA projects were reported in the Independent Reporter: Aug 24, 33 - Road projects announced. $5,000 for the Middle Rd. $60,000 for Somerset County. 30 hours a week with a minimum wage of $12 is set. Sept. 8, '33 - 30 men and two trucks employed on Middle Rd. One mile of road is the goal. Oct. 19 '33 - Federal funds used up. 200 feet is completed by borrowing $400 from State funds. Nov. 23 '33 - 600 county men are to be...

The Robert LaFleur Airport is a small general aviation airport in Waterville. It was originally opened in 1931. A 2011 history of the airport explains the federal involvement in its development. In a 1933 town report, Mayor Thayer explains that: "In order to secure improvement for the airport— a very desirable improvement for the community—the City has entered into an agreement of lease, with option to purchase, with the owners of the airport, this condition being precedent to any activity by the Civil Works Administration. This contract will not involve any expense to the City of Waterville but will result in...