• City Hall - Nashua NH
    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 for assistance. The federal grants came through, and work on the new city hall and police station commenced in 1937.
  • Elm Street Junior High - Nashua NH
    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 City Government accepted the offer of the Federal Government of a grant of two hundred and seventy thousand dollars toward the construction of a new senior high school. That this structure was vitally needed admits of no question. Work has proceeded speedily and efficiently, and we have every reason to believe that the building will be totally completed within the next...
  • Hunt Memorial Building Improvements - Nashua NH
    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 School Department until 1991. Since renovations in 2011, the building has been rented for events. Municipal reports from the 1930s detail New Deal work on the site: In his town summary of 1934, Mayor Lucier wrote: "This has been a year of much needed repairs both inside and outside the building. Here, again, federal aid stepped in and grateful thanks are due the...
  • Municipal Road Improvements - Nashua NH
    A huge amount of road, street, and sidewalk infrastructure work employed hundreds of the unemployed all throughout the life of the New Deal by the CWA, FERA, and WPA. Town reports throughout the 1930s document such work in Nashua, NH. In 1934, 23 projects were "completed in whole or in part by C. W. A. and F. E. R. A. funds, to an amount of many thousands of dollars." This work included projects on North Hollis Road, Bloods Crossing Road, Charlotte Avenue, East Dunstable Road, Ferry Road, East, Conant Road, Hills Ferry Road, Removal of Carbarn on Kinsley Street. In 1935,...
  • Nashua Airport at Boire Field - Nashua NH
    Nashua Airport at Boire Field is a public use airport located northwest of Nashua. Municipal reports from the 1930s detail New Deal assistance building the airport. A 1934 report explained that local authorities had been authorized to buy land, which was "acquired to be developed as a C. W. A. Project, and to be used as an Airport." Work on the project by the CWA and FERA began that year. The 1935 report stated that with FERA support a "modern brick hangar and administration building" were erected. More of the landing field was prepared. In 1936, the WPA began helping with...
  • Parks and Recreation Work - Nashua NH
    1933 Mayor Alvin Lucier in his inaugural address listed 4 major projects done in cooperation with Federal Relief agencies. 3. PARKS AND COMMONS AND RECREATION FACILITIES. This project was designed to further develop the Artillery Pond project and includes some building. This would bring nearer to realization a well thought out plan for the development of an area particularly well suited by nature for a recreational center. It also includes work to be done at the South Common and at the swimming pool at Field's Grove. 1934 Mayor Lucier in his annual report wrote: "No less than seven Federal programs have directly affected our people. During...
  • Road Improvements - Nashua NH
    From 1933 to 1934 the CWA was involved in taking up track within the city from the defunct interurban electric trolley, the Bay State Railway Company. The BSRC went bankrupt in 1919, but sections still survive today in the MBTA transportation system. In his report summary of 1933, local Mayor Alvin Lucier wrote: "CAR TRACK REMOVAL AND STREET REPAIRS. This contemplated complete repair of over six miles of streets now occupied by car tracks, as well as a complete rebuilding of the southwesterly end of Allds Street; this project further provided for covering Commercial Street, at present roughly paved, with a hot top...
  • Water and Sewer System Improvements - Nashua NH
    Municipal reports from Nashua's local governments documented extensive New Deal work on the cities water and sewer systems during the 1930s: 1933 Mayor Alvin Lucier reported: "As we take over the reins of government today, we do so with abiding faith that it shall continue its progress. Such is the pledge that we make to the people who have chosen us as their representatives. Although he was against mortgaging our city's future by bond issues, Mr. Sullivan saw a duty to co-operate with President Roosevelt's program started last summer, when the federal government provided over three billion dollars for public works in...