The Works Progress Administration built the Libby City Hall in the mid-1930s. Today the two-story brick building serves as the Police Department. The following excerpt is from “ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT PROPOSED PLAN OF MINING AND RECLAMATION TROY PROJECT – ASARCO… read more
The W.P.A. constructed a Civic Center in Billings, Montana, ca. 1935-8. The exact location and status of this facility is unknown to Living New Deal. Official Project Number 65‐91‐6550
Clean lines, formal monumental openings, and restrained revival details mark the 1939 Great Falls Civic Center as a municipal Art Deco style building. The Works Projects Administration provided most of the funding for the building. The Depression-era federal jobs program… read more
The W.P.A. constructed an armory in Lewistown, Montana in 1936. “The history of the Civic Center starts with its construction in 1936, just prior to World War II. It was built under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) with the understanding that… read more
The $100,000 civic center and armory in Livingston, MT was constructed by the WPA. The facility is still open for public recreational use today. W.P.A. Official Project Number: 65‐91‐6554
In 1938 the WPA allocated funds for the construction of a new school building in Columbus, Montana. The location and current status of the structure in question is unknown to Living New Deal.
The Lodgepole Community Hall was dedicated in November 1936 in a ceremony the Harlem News called an interesting mix of “Indian tribal tradition and modern governmental activity.” In fact, that mix can be seen in the hall itself. Works Progress… read more
The WPA allocated $16,326 at the end of 1938 to make improvements to the Phillips County Fairgrounds in Dodson, Montana. Gary Winthorpe: “These fairgrounds were actually completed in 1942, not 1939 [as Living New Deal originally posted]. They continued to… read more
The Big Timber Pioneer newspaper reported in 1938: “The irrigation project for the Dawson county fairgrounds is under way. WPA workmen are laying pipe and building a house for installation of pumping equipment on the Yellowstone river with a capacity… read more
The WPA worked to improve roads throughout Deer Lodge County, Montana. $221,502 were allocated for such projects in July 1938 alone.
A baseball stadium “built in 1940 by the WPA, Denton Field was built to the specifications of professional minor league baseball. Today, the ballpark is still up to code for the Pioneer League. Today, the ballfield and grandstand, remains in… read more
The WPA allocated $18,689 for “Dornblaser athletic field improvement” at the University of Montana in Missoula. The stadium housed Montana Grizzlies football home games, and is not to be confused with the newer recreation center that bears the same name…. read more
“The far more substantial East Bridge on the Yellowstone River, which connects Lockwood and Billings, was built with WPA funds in 1935 and served for 58 years before it was replaced in 1993.”
The WPA allocated $895 for reconstruction work on what was then the gym for the high school in Richey, Montana. The structure is now the gym for Richey’s elementary school.
The Big Timber Pioneer newspaper reported in 1938: “Without warning, the old abandoned Elk’s Temple at Helena recently sagged and partially collapsed into one of the city’s principal streets. … WPA crews under an emergency project … [razed] from behind… read more
A large allocation of WPA funds for school construction and improvement projects for the state of Montana was issued in late 1938. The allocation included funding for school building improvements in Ennis, Montana. The structure in question is most likely… read more
The historic federal building in downtown Billings, Montana was originally constructed in 1913-4. The building was expanded in 1932 and again in 1940, the latter impacting the “rear central and southern portions of the building” and bringing with it an… read more
The oil-on-canvas mural entitled “Trailing Cattle” was painted by Leo J. Beaulaurier in 1942. The mural was commissioned as part of a 1940 expansion of the 1914 building. NRHP: “”The post office also contains a mural at the east end… read more
Montana’s Big Timber Pioneer newspaper reported in 1937: “Work of constructing a running track and fencing the high school athletic field, being done by WPA labor, will be resumed late this month after a winter shutdown.” The old Fergus County… read more
Big Timber’s Pioneer newspaper reported that the “riprapping of Firemen’s island” was one of several projects in the community that was attributable to the New Deal (and in this instance, the WPA). Work on this project commenced November 1935. Riprapping… read more
[The newspaper] Big Timber Pioneer reported that the federal government allotted $1,144 for the construction of a new log schoolhouse in the former town of Flesher, Montana in Lewis and Clark County. Originally assigned to three WPA laborers, the project… read more
The W.P.A. conducted development work at Fort Harrison in Montana. W.P.A. project info: “Construct building and improve grounds” Official Project Number: 165‐1‐91‐4 Total project cost: $591,019.00 Sponsor: Montana State Armory Board “Construct recreation hall and rest room” Official Project Number:… read more
The W.P.A. conducted development work at Fort Missoula in Montana. W.P.A. project info: “Construct additions to buildings” Official Project Number: 13‐3‐91‐160 Total project cost: $103,566.00 Sponsor: War Department “Construct additions to buildings” Official Project Number: 13‐3‐91‐35 Total project cost: $125,000.00 Sponsor:… read more
“The Fort Peck Dam on the Missouri River in northeastern Montana, approximately 20 miles southeast of Glasgow and near the town of Fort Peck, is being constructed by the Army Engineers under the supervision of the District Engineer. The primary… read more
When President Roosevelt authorized the Works Progress Administration construction of the Fort Peck Dam in 1933, the “instant” town with a population of 10,000 created a need for social and recreational diversions in this remote area of Montana. The Army… read more
Big Timber’s Pioneer newspaper reported in 1936 that the “grading of Fourth avenue” was one of several projects in the community that was attributable to the New Deal.
“Chain Lakes Project – Montana – Contract for the construction of Fresno Dam across the Milk River has been awarded but no work will be done until the spring of 1937. The dam, for storage and flood control purposes, is… read more
“Practically every two-lane highway in Eastern Montana was built with the help of WPA funds, said Jon Axline, a historian with Montana’s Department of Transportation. … Other examples include Highway 87, from Billings to Roundup, and the old Frontage Road,… read more
Montana’s Big Timber Pioneer newspaper reported: “Started Oct. 6, WPA crews established a record here when they completed the $26,000 “G” street pedestrian subway weeks ahead of schedule. The new 92-foot concrete subway connects with a long railroad underpass.” The… read more
Jim Jenks writes: “Designed in the Moderne style” popular at the time, “Gallatin County’s 1936 courthouse at 311 West Main Street was one of several federally financed projects that brought jobs and civic improvements to Bozeman during the Great Depression.”… read more
The WPA undertook projects to improve roads throughout Gallatin County. Montana’s Big Timber Pioneer newspaper reported that $16,503 was approved for such work in July 1938 alone.
Now known as “The Garfield Resource Center,” the WPA allocated funds toward the remodeling of what was then known as the Garfield School. Work began in 1935.
The Glacier County Courthouse in Cut Bank, Montana was constructed with WPA assistance in 1938.
“Glacier National Park is a national park located in the U.S. state of Montana, on the Canada–United States border with the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. The park encompasses over 1,000,000 acres (4,000 km2) and includes parts of two… read more
“ The Cut Bank Ranger Station in Glacier National Park was one of the first buildings built in Glacier by the National Park Service. Built in 1917, the design is in keeping with park hotel structures built by the Great… read more
“Glacier National Park is located in the U.S. state of Montana, bordering the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. The park encompasses over 1,000,000 acres (4,000 km2) and includes parts of two mountain ranges (sub-ranges of the Rocky Mountains), over… read more
“The Headquarters Historic District of Glacier National Park comprises the administrative and housing buildings near West Glacier, Montana on the west side of the park. The area contains a mixture of styles, ranging from National Park Service Rustic to more… read more
Montana’s Big Timber Pioneer newspaper reported: “Work started recently on a clubhouse at the Kalispell golf course, according to Mayor J. P. Bruckhauser. The building. 70 feet by 38 feet, will be built by WPA labor at a cost of… read more
[The newspaper] Big Timber Pioneer reported in late 1935 that among eight WPA projects then being undertaken in Musselshell County were (unidentified) improvements to Goulding Creek Road.
The WPA worked to improve roads throughout Granite County, Montana. The agency allocated $119,458 for such projects during August 1938 alone.