North Carolina Sites

Sheep-Harney Elementary School was built in 1940 as a project of the Works Projects Administration. It was constructed on the site of an earlier school as S.L. Sheep Junior High School, and named for an educational leader in Elizabeth City. It is a building noted for its exceptional Art Deco details.

"In 1936, through a federally financed work program, the National Park Service bought portions of the land surrounding Singletary Lake for a recreational demonstration project. One of two projects in North Carolina, the federal government purchased the land at an average cost of $4.51 per acre. The land was managed by the Resettlement Administration until 1939, and during this period resettlement workers and local residents constructed Singletary Recreation Center, which included an office, maintenance building and recreation facilities. In addition, using local talents and materials, an infirmary building, ten cabins, a dining and recreation hall, and a workshop—a fully operational group...

"Development of land in what is now South Mountains State Park began in the 1930s when Camp Dryer, a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp, was established at Enola. Those employed at the camp constructed forest service roads, cleaned stream beds and built a forest observation tower. The Lower and Upper CCC roads are still in use as trails at the park today."

The mural "Harvesting Tobacco" by Roy Schat was commissioned by the federal Treasury Section of Fine Arts funds. Originally created for the then-new Whiteville post office, the work was completed in 1941. Since the post office's relocation the mural is now on display at Southeastern Community College in Whiteville, NC.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) and Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) provided labor for the renovation of Asheville's old Station 5 firehouse, in Biltmore Village. The building, which served as a fire station until 1975, is now privately owned. "Under project No. 11B-B4-24, the Biltmore fire station, just out of Asheville, Buncombe County, was completely renovated. The truck room has been enlarged to accommodate two trucks, the living quarters for the firemen have been replastered and redecorated, and the old and unsanitary plumbing has been brought up to date. These improvements were much needed to bring this fire station up to...

The Civil Works Administration (CWA), Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA), and Works Progress Administration (WPA) each conducted road repair / improvement projects in Boone, North Carolina. As of June 1939 three miles of streets and sidewalks has been "finished in Boone" by the WPA. The News and Observer quoted Boone's mayor, W. H. Gragg: "We decided to start a project to improve the streets in the residential section, which were in very bad condition. Many of them could not be traveled in winter-time and all very dusty. The project included surfacing one and one-fourth miles, building culverts, grading and building other streets....

Numerous municipal improvement projects were undertaken in Lenoir, North Carolina as part of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) projects during the 1930s. A street improvement project was undertaken in the city with work occurring between September 1934 and January 1935. The PWA supplied a $31,000 loan and $12,724 grant toward the $42,786 eventual total cost of the project. (PWA Docket No. NC 6327)

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted road improvement and paving work in Chadbourn, North Carolina.

This bas relief "Cotton and Tobacco" by Paul Rudin was completed with the help of Treasury Section of Fine Arts funds in 1939. The Daily Record Newspaper office was previously the town's post office.

Construction of Tillery Farms began in 1935 in Halifax County, North Carolina as an experimental farm resettlement that included segregated sections for black and white farmers, possibly the only New Deal-era planned community of its kind. The project was constructed on fertile land along the banks of the Roanoke River, near the small settlement of Tillery. Eventually it grew to consist of more than eighteen-thousand acres, with homes for more than two hundred farm families. Built on land carved out of nearby plantations, it also included a community center, cooperative store, grist mill, potato curing house, and an assortment of...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed a town hall in Hemp, North Carolina—since renamed Robbins. The location and status of the building, which was dedicated on July 24, 1937, is unknown to Living New Deal.

The Scotland Neck Historic District contains multiple buildings constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). "A one-and-one-half-story brick Colonial Revival-style building was constructed in 1939 on East Eleventh Street through the cooperative efforts of the Town of Scotland Neck and the WPA to serve as the town hall and fire station (#198). The building was utilized in this capacity until the early 1980s."

The Transylvania County Library in Brevard, North Carolina houses a 1941 Section of Fine Arts mural commissioned for the city's old post office: "Good News," painted by Pietro Lazzari. The medium is glazed tempera. The mural remained in its original location, which served as a post office until 1972 and then the now-former Transylvania County Library building, until 2006.

"As matured, the 250-acre enclave, which was divided into about 40 blocks, was notable for having a high concentration of the city’s most stylish apartments, as well as stately new churches and schools. An oak canopy shaded the streets, thanks to a 1930s Works Progress Administration planting project." (trinitypark.org)

Between 1936 and 1938, workers with the Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed this 9 hole golf facility and clubhouse.

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro's Alumni House was constructed as part of a federal Public Works Administration (PWA) project during the 1930s. "The Alumni House was built and furnished for about $155,000, which included a Public Works Administration grant of $31,400. Every dollar received was used to its fullest. The design. The materials. Even the core skeleton of the building." (UNCG.edu)

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro's Spencer Hall was extensively renovated as part of a federal Public Works Administration (PWA) project during the 1930s. "In 1938 came a thorough-going modernization and improvement ... It was ... the ready availability of the New Deal's Public Works Administration funds that provided the critical stimulus. The changes were, in fact, considerable, at least as to interior details, amenities, and appointments. Not the least of them was the end of the old oaken washstands, with the bowl and pitcher for the morning ablutions with water fetched hither from elsewhere. And scarcely less momentous was...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed a six-room elementary school building in Valle Crucis, North Carolina. A plaque on the building dates the construction to 1935 to 1937. It was one of many educational facilities constructed by the WPA in Watauga County. The school has since been enlarged.

The Works Progress Administration worked to improve the former Watauga County Courthouse in Boone, North Carolina by painting the building. The structure has since been demolished and replaced.

The Watauga County Courthouse complex in Boone, North Carolina "includes a Works Projects Administration funded building as part of its annex." The striking stone building "was completed in 1939 and housed the Watauga County Library from 1946 through 1997." The building is located at the southwest corner of Queen Street and North Water Street. The News and Observer explained: With county functions becoming greater, Watauga found itself with insufficient space in which to house the public health officer, the county agent, the home demonstration agent, the public welfare department, school superintendent and other governmental agencies. The new county native stone structure now provides...

Two New Deal work relief programs: the Civil Works Administration (CWA) and Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) were responsible for a massive project to improve and expand the water supply for Asheville. In addition to a dam and accompanying facilities at the North Fork / Burnett Reservoir, the project included extensive pipe work. Asheville Citizen-Times: "Begun Under CWA In 1933, Resumed By FERA In 1934 With completion of the North Pork water line project by forces of the North Carolina Emergency Relief administration recently, the supply of water from the North Fork watershed has been doubled. The project consisted of the removal of eight...

A substantial waterworks construction project in Burgaw, North Carolina was enabled by federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds during the Great Depression. The PWA provided a $34,500 loan and $13,500 outright grant to the community for the project, whose total cost was $49,619. Construction occurred between June 1935 and March 1936. PWA Docket No. NC 7103.

A substantial waterworks construction project in Elizabethtown, North Carolina was enabled by federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds during the Great Depression. The PWA provided an $36,000 loan and $13,544 outright grant to the community for the project, whose total cost was $50,649. Construction occurred between July 1934 and June 1935. PWA Docket No. NC 5048.

A substantial waterworks construction project in Granite Falls, North Carolina was enabled by federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds during the Great Depression. The PWA provided a $41,500 loan and $16,830 outright grant to the community for the project, whose total cost was $59,053. Construction began in January 1934. PWA Docket No. NC 1222.

A waterworks construction project in Hickory, North Carolina was undertaken with the aid of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The PWA supplied a $126,000 loan and $43,180 grant toward the $156,413 total cost of the project. Work occurred between May 1935 and April 1936. (PWA Docket No. NC 6609)

Numerous municipal improvement projects were undertaken in Lenoir, North Carolina as part of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) projects during the 1930s. A waterworks construction project was undertaken in the city with work occurring between October 1934 and February 1935. The PWA supplied a $37,000 loan and $15,212 grant toward the $52,029 total cost of the project. (PWA Docket No. NC 6375)

A substantial waterworks construction project in Murfreesboro, North Carolina was enabled by federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds during the Great Depression. The PWA provided a $45,000 loan and $12,831 outright grant to the community for the project, whose total cost was $57,381. Construction occurred between December 1934 and May 1935. PWA Docket No. NC 7109.

A large waterworks construction project in Rocky Mount, North Carolina was undertaken with the aid of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The PWA supplied a $183,000 loan and $100,486 grant toward the $356,192 total cost of the project. Work occurred between August 1934 and December 1935. (PWA Docket No. NC 4783)

A waterworks construction project in Spruce Pine, North Carolina was enabled by federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds during the Great Depression. The PWA provided an $11,000 loan and $4,051 outright grant to the community for the project, whose total cost was $14,746. Construction occurred between June and July 1935. PWA Docket No. NC 5385.

A waterworks construction project in Hickory, North Carolina was undertaken with the aid of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The PWA supplied a $43,000 loan and $16,384 grant toward the $59,006 total cost of the project. Work occurred between May and December 1935. (PWA Docket No. NC 7410)

A major waterworks construction project in Tarboro, North Carolina was enabled by federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds during the Great Depression. The PWA provided a $202,300 loan and $77,719 outright grant to the community for the project, whose total cost was $284,132. Construction occurred between February 1935 and April 1936. PWA Docket No. NC 4340.  

Multiple waterworks construction projects in Wilmington, North Carolina were undertaken with the aid of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds during the 1930s. (PWA Docket No. NC 1276, 1303)

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted projects to extend the water system to places not previously served by said, in Boone, North Carolina.

Relief workers from the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) helped carve out and construct the Waterside Theatre at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site on Roanoke Island. The theater has undergone renovations and changes over the years but is still very much in operation. Waterside Theater is home of the long-running play “The Lost Colony," written by Pulitzer Prize-winner Paul Green, a native of North Carolina.  The story of the mysterious lost colony of Roanoke has been running consistently, though not entirely uninterrupted, since 1937.  WPA Federal Theater Project (FTP) actors took part in the original performances. As FTP historian...

"The Webster Rock School is an historic rock Works Progress Administration school located on NC 116 in Webster, North Carolina, USA. In 1990, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It once served as Webster High School and Webster Elementary School. ... The old Webster Rock School is being used as the Southwestern Child Development Center, and by the Family Resources Center for Jackson County. The old Gym/Auditorium is sometimes used for community events."

This post office was constructed with New Deal funds in 1939.

The McKee Building on the campus of Western Carolina University was built in 1938-39 as part of a six-building expansion of what was then Western Carolina Teacher’s College. The North Carolina General Assembly appropriated $110,000 for a new training school for teachers in 1937. An additional $90,000 came from a Public Works Administration grant. The brick structure has been refurbished and it currently houses several academic departments at Western Carolina University. Some of the original woodwork and chalkboard remain. It is named for Gertrude Dills McKee, first woman elected to the N.C. Senate. She served in Raleigh from 1931-1948 and was also...

Federal funds / labor were utilized on an erosion control project along Wilkinson Boulevard in Charlotte, North Carolina during the early years of the Great Depression.

"In 1934, under the Resettlement Administration, federal and state agencies united to buy 5,000 acres of this submarginal land to develop a recreation area. The Civilian Conservation Corps, as well as the Works Progress Administration, helped construct the site while providing much needed jobs. Four camps along with day-use and picnic facilities were built and the park opened to the public in 1937."

The William H. Robinson Science Building at North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina, was constructed as part of a federal Public Works Administration (PWA) project during the Great Depression. A National Register of Historic Places nomination form states that the building bears a plaque stating that the building was "designed by Federal Works Agency architect John M. Carmody."