St. Joseph Sites

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) refurbished an old factory and turned it into a neighborhood center, primarily serving impoverished children. The idle Muchenberger Center resides at what had been the corner of 5th Street and Sycamore Street before highway development in the area. News Express Now: "Between 1936 and 1938 Works Progress Administration workers worked with a local architect to modify the building and grounds to turn it from a factory into a recreational center." Today, the building is barely noticeable, tucked at the end of a long driveway north of Hickory Street between a highway interchange cloverleaf and the train tracks.

Constructed by the Treasury Department in 1938.

The post office contains a series of frescoes by artist Gustaf Dahlstrom. The murals were funded by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts in 1941. This large set of frescoes was executed by a master of the technique and depicted the rich history of St. Joseph, MO. Blacks are prominently represented, though it is primarily in stereotypical rolls of laborers and singing and dancing. There are some significant condition issues and partial repairs. Gustaf Dahlstrom was born in Gotland, Sweden and immigrated to the United States. He lived primarily in Chicago and worked at the Field Museum documenting wildlife displays.

News-Press NOW: "Rosecrans Field got a large hangar, thanks to the WPA; it survived until the 1993 flood led to its demolition."

Originally constructed as St. Joseph Fire Station Number Five, what is now the St. Joseph Fire Museum was constructed with federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The building bears a Federal Works Agency plaque on the right side of its front façade. Note that the building's construction is sometimes mis-attributed to the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Roadtrippers.com: "The St. Joseph Fire Museum contains a collection of historical firefighting equipment, including fire trucks, used to protect the residents in St. Joseph since 1865. Much of the collection is restored to original condition. Located in the former St. Joseph Fire Station Number Five,...

Originally constructed as St. Joseph Fire Station Number Seven, the building at 919 Corby Street was constructed with the aid of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The station was moved across the street from an earlier firehouse just across N 10th Street. According to a 1988 article in the St. Joseph News-Press: "According to the brass plaque beside the double bay doors, Station 7 was built by the Federal Works Agency, Public Works Administration, in 1939."