Maine Sites

The Flanagan Center alternately also referred to as the Rockland Recreation Center was built in 1935 by the Works Progress Administration. It is a red brick and granite building with a small playground in the back. "Our indoor facility is located at 61 Limerock Street in Downtown Rockland, Maine and offers many Youth Programs and Adult Programs. It consists of a lined gym floor for both basketball and volleyball, a new Weight Room, and a game room. The game room, which is located on the lower level, has a concession stand, many table games, arcade games, board games, and a living...

Lower Rolling Dam bridge is a 29 foot concrete T-beam over the Rolling Dam Stream. It was one of 26 bridges that were badly damaged or destroyed by a 500 year flood in March 1936. A 1936 Annual Report by the Maine Highway Commission notes that the reconstruction of these bridges were U.S. Works Program Flood Relief projects and were handled under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Public Roads, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Labor was provided to some by the Works Progress Administration. At some point in the past, the bridge was abandoned when Route 24 was changed and...

The community notes in the Independent Reporter of February 4, 1934 mentions New Deal help in this very rural plantation of 114 (1930 census). "School at the Roosevelt schoolhouse reopened Monday, after a vacation of two weeks. The CWA workers have been making some much needed repairs on the schoolhouse." David Baker and P. Tripp are mentioned as visiting from the Greenville CCC camp.

The W.P.A. worked to develop Route 111 in York County, Maine. W.P.A. project information: “Route 111” Official Project Number: 65‐1‐11‐2165 Total project cost: $69,800.00

In response to the foot dragging of Portland city officials on creating affordable housing for the influx of military related industry in a city with a severe lack of modern housing, the Federal Housing Authority of the Federal Works Agency ordered the construction of 550 units, 200 of which were in Sagamore Village. Designed by John Howard Stevens and John Calvin Stevens II, it featured Colonial Revival houses with a community center, playground, & school.

The WPA helped with work on the Sandy River Road according to the town reports. An unspecified PWA funding for a road is mentioned. 1936 Sandy River Road, WPA ..........$1,250.00 Refund, Solon Lumber Co. 3rd Class roads, PWA ....$57.33 Refund, Horace Reed, 3rd Class roads, PWA Amount raised at town meeting....$1,250.00 Payroll: Albert Blaisdell, Bowman Hardware, Henry Desmond, W.F. French, Miller and Jones, New England Metal Culvert Co. Proctor and Bowie, Milford Tibbetts ...$1,360.20 1937 Amounts Raised at Annual Town meeting Sandy River Road (WPA) $1,250.00 1939 Fredrick Smith, use of car, time spent in WPA certification, cash paid for out of town expenses, postage, tolls, and assembling payrolls (road)...

"Sanford Town Engineer, Earnest Gallant, oversaw initial construction of the runways in 1930 on land owned by Lela H. Goodall Thomurg..." William Campbell, President of the Goodall Worsted Company, founded Sanford Airways in 1931. After several improvement were made during the 1930s and early 1940s, funded primarily by New Deal agencies, the Sanford Airport was leased to the Navy in 1942. By then it boasted three lighted, paved, 3,000-foot runways... . Sanford Regional Airport is now overseen by an Airport Advisory Committee of the Town of Sanford and a part-time airport manager."   (https://www.someoldnews.com) W.P.A. project information: "Construct municipal airport" Official Project Number: 165‐1‐11‐38 Total project...

The original Sarah Mildred Long Bridge was constructed as a federal Public Works Administration (PWA) project. It was a "lift bridge that carries the US 1 Bypass over the Piscataqua River between Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Kittery, Maine. The bridge a double deck truss bridge, with the U.S. 1 Bypass road deck above and a railroad bed below ... Completed in 1940, the bridge the second to carry motor vehicle traffic between Maine and New Hampshire at Portsmouth, and replaced a river crossing dating from 1822. The bridge was the direct result of the work of the Maine-New...

The Schoodic Peninsula is "located four miles (6 km) east of Bar Harbor, Maine, as the crow flies and contains 2,266 acres (9 km2), or approximately 5%, of Acadia National Park." Following a deal with John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and the National Park Service to move a Navy radio facility from Mount Desert Island to Schoodic Point in 1935, the CCC was involved in the construction of the United States Navy base NSGA Winter Harbor, the 4 mile Schoodic Park Loop Road, a new causeway bridge, demolishing older buildings in Lower Harbor to create a cleared area at Frazer Point,...

A school construction project in Grand Lake Stream, Maine was constructed as a New Deal project, with Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The location and status of the facility is unknown to Living New Deal. PWA Docket No. ME 1094

A former Mattawamkeag school building opened in 1939. Constructed as a New Deal project, the facility was built with Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The PWA provided a $27,000 grant for the project, whose total cost was $59,264. Unfortunately, "the solid two-story brick structure was leveled by fire in May 1971." PWA Docket No. ME 1121

An article dated Jan. 11, 1934 speaks of New Deal assistance for the town, including the construction of a new athletic field: “Madison High School is to have one of the finest athletic fields in the state of Maine, thanks to the personal efforts of First Selectman James H. Thorne. Mr. Thorne saw the need of a modern athletic park at the local high school and through his efforts the Government has consented to forward more CWA funds to this town for the purpose of improving Alumni field. Several thousand dollars will be expended and about fifty men will be employed...

Annual town reports of 1933 and 1934 describe extensive work by Federal Agencies in repair of school facilities in this picturesque small coastal town. Until the construction of Consolidated School in 1939, most were the typical one- or two-room schools. 1933 The town selectmen in the Warrant said: "35 To see if the town will vote to authorize and instruct the selectmen and treasurer to make application for and borrow from the government under the provisions of the National Industrial Recovery Act funds for the construction of the school building proposed in Article 33." "SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT I herewith submit my annual report as superintendent of...

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) carried out improvements on the ground so fthe Grammar School in Canaan ME. According to a Report of Superintendent of Schools, “One of the very pleasing innovations of the past year was the grading of the school grounds at both the grammar and primary schools. I wish to extend personally my thanks and appreciation to Mr. Horace Bean for his fine spirit of cooperation in this enterprise. He, personally aided in every way, and only through his keen interest and participation in the project would it have been possible to use the CWA funds for this work....

The town report for 1935 reported: "Mrs. Stevens has been very helpful in securing projects for the schools. If it hadn’t been for the financial aid given the town by these projects we wouldn’t have been able to have made so many extensive repairs. With the help of the C. W. A. lumber that the town had we have put a double roof on the Central Building/ The labor for the most part was labor that worked out back taxes. The double roof has prevented the snow from melting and backing up under the shingles. During the summer it was thought best...

The school superintendant said that in 1939: "During the past year a considerable amount of repair work has been done. In addition to the work done at Town expense, the N. Y A. has done painting and varnishing at the High School building. A summary of the more important improvements is as follows: All windows not provided with storm sash, also outside door at the High School, fitted with all metal weatherstrip, guaranteed for the life of the building; completion of inside paint and varnish job throughout High School; fence around Village school lot, and a considerable amount of grading on the...

The Independent Reporter often covered the ongoing work of the New Deal at providing relief for the unemployed on work in Skowhegan. In 1933-1934, the CWA and then FERA carried out extensive improvements to the local junior and senior high schools, including grading the schools' grounds and other landscaping, building roads, constructing a new athletic field and re-painting and cleaning the school interiors. The High School moved onto the island in 1869. In 1919, a new High School was constructed across the river from the island and the Junior High moved into the old High School. In the 1980's a new...

A 1940 WPA report on the activities of Professional and Service Projects in Maine mentioned the completion of a mural for the former Cape Elizabeth High School. Dorothy Higgins of the Cape Elizabeth Historical Preservation Society Cape happened to locate a picture of it in the 1941 High School year book. "The high school has been remodeled several times and no one at the Cape Elizabeth Historical Preservation Society knows what happened to this mural." It depicts a map of the town flanked by small illustrations of historical buildings.

A few New Deal projects helped relieve the effects of the Depression in this very small coastal town. Population 135 (1930 census) Pronunciation of Arrowsic is Ah-row-sick. 1933 Repair of Schoolhouse (CWA) : town share $50 School Superintendent report “The re-modeling of the entrance to the North School room has made a wonderful change in the appearance of the interior of the building. The additional floor space is much appreciated when community events are held in the schoolroom. We take this time to thank the Senior League members for their generous donation of $40.00 to help in the expense of the project. A...

A December 1933 newspaper article reported that: “The public schools in Bingham will close Friday for a vacation of four weeks. All school activities have been postponed until after the recess. In accordance with the Civil Works program extensive repairs are to be made during that time. At the High school a crew of local men will have four weeks of work in remodeling the entire interior plan of the building. The Junior High room will be made into a larger main room by the removal of the dressing rooms. The English rooms will be made larger and painting and redecorating will...

From the Annual Report of the Municipal Officers of the Town of Bristol Maine: "Improvements on school grounds The Selectmen very kindly approved two special school projects under the Civil Works Administration. Under this plan marked improvements were made on the school grounds at the high school building and also at the Round Pond school building. This was in addition to the repairs made on school grounds in other parts of the town under the special appropriation granted at the last town meeting. Grounds We were all very much pleased to see the alders disappear last fall thru the work of the CWA. If...

The only annual town report available, 1933 mentions federal help for the small town of 1,112 (1930 Census) in rural Washington Country. "The appropriation suggested for repairs is to enable the town to take advantage of a C. W. A. project, already approved. Under the terms of this project, six painters and two carpenters will be supplied two days a week until the work is finished or until the time for the project expires. It is hoped to have all buildings painted throughout, to build a toilet at the grammar school and to take care of all other necessary repairs...

The 1934 - 1935 town report mentions Federal help in this island community of 349 (1930 population): "All school buildings have been cleaned and, under the F. E. R. A. project, both buildings have been shingled, and the outside trimmings at the Islesford school have been painted. It was hoped that under another project the interior of our schools could be painted and other necessary improvements made. It is possible that this may materialize later. In closing, I wish to heartily thank the superintending school committee and citizens for their support during the year." The town share was $606

1934 Report of Superintendent of Schools: "At West Farmington, Farmington Falls, Fairbanks School and the Red School, grading was done, the labor for which was paid by the Federal Government, but the material was furnished by the School Department. This is responsible for most of the deficit in the Repair Account. In addition to grading the grounds at the Red School, a new fence was built and the roof of the schoolhouse was shingled." The Red School House survived and was moved to the county fair grounds in 2007.

Schools were one of the many work programs that helped reduce welfare rolls in the depths of the depression in this industrial city. Out of $239,193.23 distributed by the Civil Works Administration (CWA), "Nearly all of our public schools have been painted and varnished 12 rural schools are also to be painted." The 1934 town report, under Federal Emergency Relief Project From Dec 1933 up to Feb. 1935 specifies the schools. "5. Painting and varnishing the interior of City Schools. Martel, Pettingill, Coburn, Frye, Dingley, Wallace, Jordan, and Lewiston High School. Exterior and interior painting of the twelve suburban schools, with general repairs such...

In the November 1, 1934 issue of the Independent Reporter, the community notes mentions that the Kew brothers were engaged in painting the Lincoln School building with the help of a CWA grant, both interior and exterior getting much needed work. Marilyn Sterling-Gondek of the Old Canada Road Historical Society, who helped Living New Deal locate the building, mentions that it was rebuilt in 1906 and used until 1960.

Much work was accomplished in the resort community of Rangeley (1930 pop. 1,472) by the New Deal in the improvement of education facilities and child support. 1933 FEDERAL AID FOR THE SCHOOLS Nursery School Project The Federal Government is paying the salary of the Nursery School teacher and is also paying for the dinners for these children. 15 children are now in attendance at this school. This school is provided for the children of those families who are on relief or eligible to relief. The Federal Relief Administrator has also loaned the Nursery School some blankets. Milk Project for Underweight Children The town is now...

According to town reports, needed repairs were conducted on the former school system of Searsport by CWA, FERA, & WPA. Of the school houses mentioned, only one on Mt. Ephraim St. survives as an apartment building. 1933 "There were three projects of grading school grounds entered under the C. W. A. which the Selectmen have engineered. This work will certainly improve the looks of the buildings and also make it possible for the children to play on the school grounds, instead of in the street. Much credit is due the Selectmen for the interest that they have shown in these projects. The...

Like other rural Maine towns, St. Albans got help with its one room school houses from the New Deal. "A substantial improvement in the physical condition of the school buildings has been made during the past year as the result of the W. P. A project. At the Village a new ceiling was put on and the interior of the building painted. The entrances were changed, making for much greater safety. The Five Corners, Merrill and Lang school buildings were painted on the inside and the Hopkins was painted an outside coat and shingled and the chimney topped out. A new...

According to local resident Sidney Winslow who was a worker on CWA/MERA projects on this small island community (population 1,843 1930), some work was accomplished on the school system. "1934 July 1. This new ERA project on the schoolhouses calls for new gutters on the Washington Building and two coats of paint. Two coats of paint on the White Schoolhouse and also two coats on the Granite Island School building also, general repairs on inside and out of the latter building. Repairs are being made on the ball ground and the school ground of Washington building. Fine followed by cloudy Sunday,...

During 1933 and 1934 much-needed repairs were undertaken to the school system. From the annual reports of the city of Waterville: 1933 "School Superintendent: Through the efforts of the city officials, funds from the Federal government have been made available for much needed work in the building that would otherwise have remained undone for many years. During the summer months the corridor, auditorium, and gymnasium walls and ceilings were cleaned and refinished with washable paint. Early in the fall the balcony was removed from the end of the gymnasium. This permits of a regulation basketball surface, 60 ft. long and 3-5 ft....

In 1934 the E.R.A. helped in a school repair project No. - 05 - 43 - BL - 01 "This year the Grammar Building had its three class rooms painted two coats. One of its chimneys was built higher so that the stove that keeps the toilets warm would have a better draft. The front of this building had two coats of paint, and some work was done on the foundation. All of the seats and desks at this building were refinished so that they are as good as new. The outside of the high school building had two coats of...

The 1934-35 town report mentioned: "Toilets were built at Wiswell Hill and Clewleyville as E. R. A. projects. The town paid for the material, the Federal Government for the labor. Cost at Wiswell Hill for material $127.26 Cost at Clewleyville for material 118.30" The town of Holden had 8 one room school houses. Earlier reports complained about the deplorable condition that the toilet facilities at the schools were in.

According to the 1933 and 1934 town reports, a significant amount of work in the city of Belfast was accomplished by the New Deal, particularly improvements, addictions and new construction for the town schools. 1933: Superintendent of Schools Under the C. W. A. the brick walls in the High School have been scraped and repainted with a sealer and two coats of paint. We are also maintaining a school for illiterates in the City under the Emergency Relief in Education. Milk is also being provided from the Federal Fund. 1934 Under the newly formed School District construction was started December 3rd, of a new...

The New Deal was involved in improvements to the school system in the small mill town of Brownville and Brownville Junction. According to the 1933 town report, the town paid its share of $1,064.32 for materials for a Civil Works Administration (CWA) school project. The school superintendent reported that the  CWA requested a school project and school officials asked for an enlargement of the Brownville Junction High gymnasium. The CWA paid for all labor and $626.00 for materials. May 1934 was the planned completion date when the CWA was liquidated. Its reported that under Federal Emergency Relief, 65 pupils were receiving...

The Sebasticook Bridge is a 194 foot Polygonal Warren through truss with all verticals over the Sebasticook River on Pleasant Street in Clinton Maine. It was one of 26 bridges in March 1936 severely damaged or destroyed by a 500 year flood. A state highway commission report notes that the reconstruction of these bridges were U.S. Works Program Flood Relief projects and were handled under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Public Roads, U.S. Department of Agriculture. All bridges were placed under construction in 1936 with labor being provided on some by the Works Progress Administration. Construction was by the...

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) built sewers on Johansen, Oakley, and Sherwood Streets in Portland, ME, in 1934. A photo courtesy of the Maine Memory Network depicts the sewer construction by CWA crews in 1934.

As part of the initial Civil Works Administration (CWA) jobs effort in Dover Foxcroft was the construction of 4 sewer lines on Fairview, Morton, Harrison Avenues and Pearl St. $12,618 was spent by the CWA and 90 men were put to work in the town in December on various public works.

The 1934 town report noted that "Sanitary sewers were constructed with E. R. A. labor the full length of Harbor and Bell Streets, on Union between Harbor and Bell and on Bay View from Harbor to Allyn."

The Bangor Daily News covered some extensive sewer line construction in the northern town of Fort Kent in the initial CWA jobs program of 1933. December 4: "OVER 100 EMPLOYED ON CWA SEWER PROJECT More than a hundred men are now digging ditches for the new sewer project as Fort Kent's share of the federal relief program. Most of the men selected had been receiving direct aid from the town. The sewer lines will run through Pleasant, Elm, Center and Market streets, the Center street line intersecting Main Street near the Fort Kent Drug Co. The number of feet of pipe...