The Works Progress Administration (WPA) managed an adult education program in Rochester, New Hampshire during the Great Depression. The program replaced a similar one that had been locally organized and funded. A somewhat disdainful attitude toward federal assistance is typified… read more
The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) conducted a development / improvement program at what is now known Claremont Municipal Airport. “Develop and improve municipal airport” Official Project Number: 165‐1‐13‐18 Total project cost: $118,235.00 Sponsor: War Department “Improve airport” Official Project Number: 265‐1‐13‐13… read more
“Enjoy trails and roads laid out by the CCC in the Great Depression. There are also a few ponds and marshes to check out. These trails connect to a local inn’s cross-country ski trail network.”
Attitash is a year round ski area located on U.S. Route 302 in Bartlett, New Hampshire near North Conway. It is operated by Peak Resorts. Located in the heart of the White Mountains, Attitash is home to two mountains, Attitash… read more
Municipal reports from 1935 and 1936 detail WPA work in Barnard Park: 1935 “WPA workers are engaged in making the pond into a more suitable bathing place. They also intend to finish the second tennis court which was begun last… read more
“The Bartlett Experimental Forest (BEF) is a field laboratory for research on the ecology and management of northern hardwoods and associated ecosystems. The BEF is within the Saco Ranger District of the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire. It… read more
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built “roads, trails,bridle paths, vehicle bridges, ponds for fish and waterfowl, lookouttowers, a nature observatory, shelters, picnic areas, fireplaces,campgrounds, recreational lakes, and worked on landscaping and firefighting. Today you can also find a museum devoted… read more
“Kilkenny Camp 2117, 155th Company CCC, Berlin, New Hampshire, was established May 29, 1933, as one of the camps of the White Mountain National Forest Service.” Once the Dolly Copp Camp Ground was established, the camp focussed on the Berlin… read more
A one-runway private airport north of downtown Berlin, New Hampshire. The airport was started as a CWA project. There was a slight delay during the shutdown of the program. The project was picked up and completed under FERA. DoD resources… read more
The current campground was once the site of the Swift River CCC camp #1177 built 6/19/1935. The nearby Conway Library notes an art exhibit by CCC members in 1936: “Blackberry Crossing is unique in that is was a CCC (Civilian… read more
“The Cannon Mountain Ski Area is state-owned and offers nine lifts servicing 165 acres (67 ha) of skiing (158 with snowmaking). In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps cut six ski trails, many of which were later incorporated into the… read more
“There were 17 permanent CCC camps on the White Mountain National Forest. After establishing their campsites, the men constructed ski and hiking trails, high country shelters, roads, campgrounds and parking areas. Where there was only a foot trail before, the… read more
The 1935 Town report mentions: Public Service Enterprises Fence Construction Centre Cemetery ERA Project —– $563.69 employing 13 people WPA Highway Project $260.34 WPA Sewing Project $60.21 employing 2 people
Municipal reports from 1933-1942 detail PWA and WPA work on several local cemeteries. In 1933, the PWA spent nearly $5,000 on the following: Fencing Blossom Hill Cemetery. Crematory Blossom Hill Cemetery. Drainage Blossom Hill Cemetery. Grading Blossom Hill Cemetery, Maple… read more
A town report for 1938 says that the WPA helped in the reconstruction of the Curtis and Village cemeteries (located in what is now Chester, NH), in work that employed 30 men.
A municipal report of 1934 describes CWA work on a local cemetery: Cemetery Project US.Govt.Funds on C.W.A. Project Paid for labor $1,556.50 Stone furnished $57.00 Total $1,613.50 The town constructed a wrought iron fence, the CWA’s share was the granite… read more
The historic and stately City Hall building in Dover, New Hampshire was constructed with the assistance of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The PWA provided a $78.780 grant for the project, whose total cost was $302,847. The building, which… read more
Nashua municipal reports for 1934 document that a project to paint the old city hall was either a CWA or FERA project. In 1936, the town decided that the old building was no longer adequate and applied to the PWA… read more
A 1938 Hampton Union article reported that: “The new Hampton Beach Coast Guard station will be the most elaborate and up to date of any in this section. The large two and one half story building will be located in… read more
“The year 1938 is most remembered for the devastating hurricane and subsequent floods, but this was also the year steps were taken that resulted in a new library building being built. Although an urgent need for expanded library facilities had… read more
This Works Progress Administration project in Exeter, NH provided employment for fourteen people and completed key repairs on a local culvert. The federal cost was $870.04
The Civilian Conservation Corps built the E. Conway Road in Conway NH. According to Langdonian, the CCC camp newsletter, “On May 23rd 1936 the company [CCC Co 152nd] moved to its present location near Chatham Center, N.H. The chief project… read more
What today is the Elm Street Junior High was the Nashua senior high school until 1975. In the Town Report for 1936, Mayor Alvin A. Lucier wrote in his summary for the year: “In the latter part of 1935, the… read more
The Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works provided funds for the construction of a “Fire Protection, Health Conservation and Parking Project” in Rochester, New Hampshire during the Great Depression. The lot currently serves as a popular staging grounds for public… read more
Following the flood of 1936 in the Merrimack Valley, action was taken by local and national leaders. In 1936, the city reported the following resolution: “Whereas, the recent flood in the Merrimack Valley caused serious damages to our industrial plants,… read more
George Yeaton was the supervisor on reconstruction efforts, undertaken by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) after the flood of 1936 on WPA Project No. 814, repairing town roads damaged by flood $428.79.
The 1936 Annual Report of the Town of Farmington N.H. reported the following WPA flood recovery projects: The year started out most discouragingly with the disastrous floods of March 12th and 19th, 1936. An idea of the damage done at… read more
The Flying Yankee train was built in 1934-1935 at a cost of $275,000 (about $5.8 million in 2021 dollars). The Public Works Administration (PWA) financed the train’s construction with a loan. The Flying Yankee’s route started in Portland, Maine and… read more
In 1935 and 1938, the WPA helped with Blister Rust control efforts. Local reports from the time give the following details: 1935 Blister Rust Control FINANCIAL STATEMENT Total cost of work $383.92 Paid by State 83.92 Paid by town $300.00… read more
The Work Progress Administration contributed funds for Blister Rust control efforts in the forests of Conway, New Hampshire in 1936. The WPA gave the town $2,382.42, covering 8,162 acres of land and 21,680 current and goosebury bushes destroyed. Twenty men… read more
“The Federal Office Building in Laconia, New Hampshire, was designed by Louis A. Simon, Supervising Architect for the Public Works Branch of the Treasury Department’s Procurement Division. Conceived and built during the Depression era as the United States Forestry Building,… read more
The Treasury Section of Fine Arts funded two oil-on-canvas murals for this building: “Pulpwood Logging,” painted by Philip Guston in 1941; and “Wildlife in White Mountains,” painted by Musa McKim in 1941.
Between 1936 and 1940, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) undertook forestry work in Farmington, New Hampshire, to clear the area of currant and gooseberry bushes. Below is a detailed list of the work undertaken: 1936 WPA funds expended: $2,550.26. Area… read more
In 1940, the Works Progress Administration provided funds to support forestry work in Haverhill, NH. Their work contributed to control of White Pine Blister Rust and provided employment for 25 local workers. “WHITE PINE BLISTER RUST CONTROL W. P. A…. read more
According to a 1935 report of the New Hampshire Forestry Commission, the New Deal assisted in the initial development of the Caroline A. Fox Research and Demonstration Forest (Fox Forest) which has been the State of New Hampshire’s forest research… read more
The original General Sullivan Bridge was completed as a P.W.A. project in 1935, designed to carry traffic over the Piscataqua River. Since closed to traffic, the bridge still stands though it has functionally been replaced by two newer spans. Plaque:… read more
Governor Wentworth Historic Site is a 96-acre (0.39 km2) protected area in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. The undeveloped property features a plaque and the stone remains of an extensive northern plantation built just before the outbreak of the American Revolution by… read more
“Hemenway State Forest/Big Pines Natural Area Consisting of glacial carved foothills, this state forest includes Great Hill, Duck Pond and the 135-acre Big Pines Natural Area. The park’s many trails provide great hiking, mountain biking, snowmobiling and cross country skiing… read more
According to a 1937 CCC Yearbook, the Tamworth NH CCC Camp Co.117 was involved in “complete remodeling of house and barn” at the Huckins Estate. After inquiring with a few local historians, Lois Sweeny of the Ossipee Historical Society located… read more
This building was originally built as a public library in 1903. During the 1930s, New Deal workers significantly improved the building. In 1970, the library moved to Court Street. The Hunt Memorial Building then housed the offices of the Nashua… read more