Missouri Sites

Constructed by the WPA in 1938.

Constructed by the PWA circa 1939. The front of the school has been added onto extensively, covering up the original façade.  Interestingly, the original façade is just inside the existing façade and is almost identical to that of the Hughesville, MO School.  Presently, the building in Houstonia is the elementary school for the consolidated schools.  As with the Hughesville, this school is surrounded by the Osage Farms resettlement project and was constructed in the midst of the farm resettlement.  The bronze plaque is not visible.

Constructed by the PWA in 1939. Located within the bounds of the Osage Farms Resettlement project, this was original the school for Hughesville, but became the High School for the consolidated Houstonia and Hughesville District.

The Work Projects Administration (WPA) graded and graveled two miles of rural road, now known as NW 70th Road, "from Verdella to highway 43" in Barton County, Missouri. Here, the project is assigned as Liberal as the stretch of road lies within Liberal's 64762 ZIP code.

This fire lookout tower was constructed as a New Deal project in 1941, potentially by the CCC. It is in reasonably good condition though it is no longer in use and the initial stair has been removed for safety reasons.

The historic Oregon County Courthouse building in Alton, Missouri was a Work Projects Administration project. Designed by architect Earl Hawkins, the structure was completed in 1942.

The Resettlement Administration constructed the Osage Farms cooperative project across 13 miles in the northern part of Pettis County, Missouri from 1937-1943. Many of the original buildings, including a government farmhouse, still remain and are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They are now part of the Bois d'Arc Cooperative farm. The NRHP document about the properties contains the following excerpts: "The Osage Farms project area is within the easternmost four (Houstonia, Hughesville, Heaths Creek and Longwood) of a band of five townships across the northern third of Pettis County... The period of significance is 1937-1943, a timeframe during which...

Osage Hills School was built in the Osage Hills area which was developed in the early 1900’s.  It was wet whereas adjacent Kirkwood was a dry city, with alcohol establishments thriving initially in Osage Hills.  The school was built on the location of the former Meramec Highlands dance pavilion. The school was built by the firm of Bonsack & Pearce with a combination of local funds and federal matching grant funds available as part of the New Deal. The specific New Deal agency could not be identified. It was used as a school until the late 1960’s.  After going through several owners...

In 1939, the PWA funded a $33,000 addition on the south side of the original Owensville Elementary School, seen to the left of the hexagonal structure. Presently this building is occupied by a Montessori school.

"Constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the Ozark Community Building was dedicated in July of 1933. The material used for the exterior walls of the building is native fieldstone, referred to locally as “giraffe stone.” The Community Building became obsolete when the City opened the new Ozark Community Center in 2009. While the building has a sensitive owner in the Christian County Museum and Historical Society, it has now been vacant for a number of years. Several areas of its fieldstone walls are in need of re-pointing, and the roof is compromised and leaking. Lack of interior environmental control...

Encouraged by possible assistance from the federal government, voters approved a $20,000 bond issue by a ten to one margin in September 1938, as a 55 percent shared cost of the Work Projects Administration project. Earl Hawkins, of Springfield, drew plans, but when bids were received, they all exceeded the $35,000 limit. Hawkins revised the plans, and in March 1939, the contract was awarded to James Douglas for $34,950. Final costs were near $43,000 when the courthouse was completed in November 1939. Final government inspection was in June 1940. Hawkins drew plans for other southern Missouri courthouses: Laclede County, 1924;...

The length of this building faces to the east and has a new central building that is flanked by the PWA projects to the north and south.  To the south is the gymnasium and auditorium. To the north is the building labeled Grade School. The new central part of this complex replaced an older part of the public school that predated 1939. The PWA buildings have been well-maintained and are in excellent condition. All have a brick façade above a cut-rock base.

This high school was constructed after the previous high school burned in 1934 with $26,200 contributed by the federal government.  The bleachers and wall around the football field east of the school were a CCC project.

These football field bleachers were constructed of native rock in the valley by the CCC, Company 3747 which was based in Paris from 1935-1939.  During that time, their primary work was agricultural terracing and drainage improvement.

This building was originally part of the St. Louis Municipal Auditorium complex and was then known as the Kiel Opera House. The rest of the complex was later demolished, and this building became the Peabody Opera House. It was begun in 1932 primarily with bond funding, but it was completed with additional funds from the PWA.

This brick building was constructed by the PWA in 1938. Note the strong similarity to the high school in Ste. Genevieve, MO, now used as an ancillary building. The PWA building is still standing at the coordinates marked on our map, but now appears to be part of a larger complex containing the Perryville High School and Middle School.

Single story school with a brick façade that currently houses the elementary school for North Nodaway R-VI school district.

This auditorium and gymnasium space was added to the backside of the Piedmont Elementary School by the Works Progress Administration. It features extensive native rock work, similar to that of the Carter County Courthouse in nearby Van Buren.

Plattsburg High School was completed in 1937 with funds and labor provided by the federal government, after a design by the architectural firm of Felt & Kriehn.  The funding almost surely came from the Public Works Administration (PWA), but Works Progress Administration (WPA) labor may well have been involved; this needs further confirmation.  

This WPA school is in reasonably good condition and is presently being used as a hunting retreat. The native rock building has a plan very similar to the abandoned school in Gipsy with the entry at a corner and a large open space under the opposite eave.

The historic Bethany post office was constructed with Treasury Department funds in 1939. There is an ornate screen above the door and torchieres flanking the entrance.

The historic post office in Bowling Green, Missouri was constructed in 1936 with Treasury Department funds. The building is still in service. From contributor Charles Swaney: "The entry to this post office is atypical and offset to the west side of the building. It has a brick façade with concrete accents that are depressed lines and circles symmetrically above the windows. The information stone is also atypically in the center of the south façade rather than at the end of the wall.  There is no mural in this post office."

The historic post office in California, Missouri was constructed in 1938 with Treasury Department funds. The building is still in service.

The historic post office in Canton, Missouri was constructed with Treasury Department funds in 1939. The building, which houses an example of New Deal artwork, is still in service.

The Cassville post office was constructed in 1938 with funds provided by the Treasury Department. It is also the site of Edward Winter's 1941 mural, "Flora and Fauna of the Region," painted for the Treasury Section of Fine Arts.  

The historic post office in Charleston, Missouri was constructed in 1937 with federal Treasury Department funds. The building, which houses an example of New Deal artwork, is still in service.

The historic post office in Clinton, Missouri was constructed in 1940 with federal Treasury Department funds. The building, which houses an example of New Deal artwork, is still in service.

The historic post office in Dexter, Missouri was constructed in 1940 with federal Treasury Department funds. The building, which houses an example of New Deal artwork, is still in service.

The historic post office in El Dorado Springs, Missouri was constructed in 1940 with Treasury Department funds. The building is still in service.

The Eldon post office was completed in 1940 with the assistance of funds provided by the federal government. It is also the site of Frederick Shane's 1941 mural, "Picnic, Lake of the Ozarks," painted for the Treasury Section of Fine Arts and available for view in the lobby.

The post office was onstructed by the Treasury Department in 1936.

Constructed by the US Treasury Department in 1936.

The post office in La Plata, Missouri was constructed with federal Treasury Department funds. The front wall below the roofline has stone bas reliefs depicting three forms of post office delivery:  train, air, and ship.

The historic post office building in Maplewood, Missouri was constructed with federal Treasury Department funds and completed in 1940. The building is still in use today.

The historic post office in Marceline, Missouri was constructed in 1936 with federal Treasury Department funds. The building, which houses an example of New Deal artwork, is still in service.

Built by the US Treasury Department in 1937.

Constructed by the US Treasury Department in 1937.

The historic post office in Palmyra, Missouri was constructed with Treasury Department funds in 1940. The building, which houses an example of New Deal artwork, is still in service.

Constructed by the Treasury Department in 1937.

The post office in Pleasant Hill was constructed with funds provided by the Treasury Department in 1937.