New Jersey Sites

In late 1935 the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) put more than 100 men to work in Bayonne, New Jersey fixing broken sidewalks. Segments repaired included: Avenue E: Eighth to 52nd streets, 12,000 square feet Avenue B from Thirty-sixth to Fifty-ninth streets, 5,000 square feet Avenue A from Seventh to Thirty-sixth streets, 8,000 square feet Fifty-eight crosstown streets, 58,000 square feet Additional sidewalk repair projects were undertaken by the WPA in Bayonne.

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed sidewalks along Morris Avenue in Springfield, New Jersey in 1936.

The oldest intact house in Atlantic County, the Somers Mansion dates to the 1720s and was "continuously occupied by the Somers family for over 200 years. In 1937, Somers family descendants deeded it to the Atlantic County Historical Society. New Jersey took ownership of the Somers Mansion in 1941, and began an extensive restoration" through the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Laborers for the WPA both renovated the extant furnishings and conducted historical restoration, including the elimination of rooms dating to the Victorian era. (ettc.net)

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) worked on a land reclamation and shore beautification project on the south shore of Perth Amboy, New Jersey. "The Dawn," a WPA publication, Oct. 1936: "Road construction and other operations by Works Progress Administration men of District 4 have transformed a mile and a half of Perth Amboy's South Shore so that the area's reclamation and development soon will be accomplished facts. The waterfront project from Second Street to Lewis Street, along Raritan River and Raritan Bay, has engaged the services of an average of 200 men for a year. The Federal Government allotted 85 per cent of...

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) worked on a land reclamation and shore beautification project on the south shore of Perth Amboy, New Jersey. The project involved "the laying of electric cables for electric standards to provide a lighting system; also the laying of hundreds of feet of pipe to carry storm water from abutting streets ninety feet out into the water so that the parkway will not be flooded."

“WASHINGTON, (AP) – The Works Progress Administration advised Senator W. Warren Barbour, N.J. Rep., today that applications from Morristown, N.J., for allocations for the proposed Speedwell dam and Speedwell Lake bottom construction projects had been approved here and treasury warrants signed for release of the money….The two Speedwell Lake projects would cost $49,614, of which $43,429 would be financed Federally and $6,185 by the town of Morristown. One job stipulates the construction of a completely new concrete dam above the Whippany River bed, and it would mean virtual recreation of the once beautiful Speedwell Lake. As a regular unit in...

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) worked to improve roads and highways in Winslow Township, New Jersey. Improvements to the 2.3-mile Spring Garden Road were part of a greater construction program to "connect eight farm roads ... into a network of feeders to the White Horse Pike and other market arteries." Federal funds: $263,631; sponsor funds: $18,505.

The Bureau of Public Roads provided funds to construct an overpass carrying Springfield Avenue over the railroad just outside Berkeley Heights, N.J. The project was undertaken as part of a larger grade crossing elimination initiative during that era. Living New Deal believes this structure is no longer extant. New Jersey Board of Public Utility Commissioners: "A "Works Program-State Highway Department" project on which the Board initiated proceedings and on October 2nd, 1935, issued an order to eliminate the grade crossing Construction started April 27, 1936, and the project was opened to traffic in January, 1937. Funds from the Bureau of Public Roads were allotted to meet the entire...

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) constructed a "concrete stadium" in Ridgefield Park.

Stanley Holmes Village (a.k.a. Stanley Village) is a 420-unit low income housing project on Adriatic Avenue that was built in 1937 and expanded in 1951. Its the oldest public housing complex in New Jersey. Atlantic City was the first municipality in New Jersey to provide public housing to its constituents. The movement to establish public housing was initiated in 1933 with the organization of the Civic Committee for Better Housing – headed by Walter J. Buzby; Mrs. Warren Somers, Commissioner of the State Housing Authority; Naomi Craighead; Robert A. Watson, Manager of the Southern Division of the State Housing Authority; B.J....

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed a pistol range at the Morristown State Police Headquarters, ca. 1937. The exact location and status of the project is unknown to Living New Deal.

New Deal funds contributed the the development of the road system in Morris County, New Jersey. State.NJ.us: In the 1930s New Deal public works funding increased the pace of bridge construction with projects that included Route 10 from 1931 to 1935; Route 23 in 1934; and the dualization of Route 6 (present US 46) from 1937 to 1941.

New Deal funds contributed the the development of the road system in Morris County, New Jersey. State.NJ.us: In the 1930s New Deal public works funding increased the pace of bridge construction with projects that included Route 10 from 1931 to 1935; Route 23 in 1934; and the dualization of Route 6 (present US 46) from 1937 to 1941.

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed curbs and sidewalks along what was then State Highway Route 4-N (now State Route 71) from Church St. to Wreck Pond. The sidewalks were four feet wide and curbs were six inches wide and 20 inches deep.

State.NJ.us: The last major grade elimination was in 1940-41 when a three-span encased steel stringer bridge (0512150, Dennis Township) over the PRSL was built as part of the South Dennis bypass (now NJ 83), a New Deal works project providing local employment (Dorwart, p. 222).

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) worked on a land reclamation and shore beautification project on the south shore of Perth Amboy, New Jersey. As part of the project State Street was widened five feet on either side from Lewis Street to the shore.

Hudson County sponsored multiple park-related federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects in northern Bayonne, New Jersey during the Great Depression. Among them was construction of a 36-inch storm sewer for County Park (now the Stephen R. Gregg Park), which employed 50 men.

The Steuben House is a longstanding historical and architectural landmark in Bergen County NJ. Its style recalls the Bergen Dutch community. The house was occupied for military purposes during much of the American Revolutionary War, including by General Washington. During the 1930s, New Deal workers renovated the house, helping preserve the historic structure up to this day: "On June 20, 1938, a crew of WPA workmen began a $20,000 renovation of the Steuben House (the New Jersey Historic Sites Commission contributing $3,000 and the WPA supplying $15,800 worth of labor to the project). A new oil heating system, a bath and lavatory...

The bridge carrying what was then known as Ocean Highway (presently known as County Road 619) over Great Channel was constructed as a Public Works Administration (PWA) project, part of the largest New Deal construction effort in Cape May County, New Jersey. The bridge, alternatively known as the Great Channel Bridge or Stone Harbor Bridge, is still in use today. State.NJ.us: "In 1934 the county government created the Cape May County Bridge Commission as a means to apply for Federal Emergency Administration Funds to build bridges on the Ocean Highway and to bring to completion the promotional tourist route from Atlantic City...

“Completion of the third of a series of WPA projects in Morris Plains was announced today by District Director J. Francis Moroney. The third project consisted of the construction of 220 feet of 24-inch storm sewer on Canfield place and Dayton road, and 50 feet of 12-inch sewer, connecting with two catch basins, needed to carry off surface water, before permanent improvements of curbing and paving could be undertaken. Plans have been made for these improvements for the past three years, but work has been delayed due to lack of funds for drainage work. The project employed an average of...

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed storm drains in Atlantic City ca. 1935-6.

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed storm sewers in Manville, New Jersey in 1936.

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) graveled "2.1 miles of Pennsauken streets at a cost of $11,552 to WPA for labor and only $1,337 to the township for materials" in 1936. Furthermore the WPA conducted a "drainage and excavation project" involving the resurfacing of 13.9 miles of streets; "WPA cost, $322,271; township cost $25,577."

South Amboy, New Jersey leveraged funds and labor provided by the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) to undertake the paving of nearly all the city's roads in 1936. Prior to this development, most of the community's roads were still unpaved.

A 10'-span stone arch bridge on Strotz Road, in Asbury, New Jersey, was widened by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The structure is located approximately 400 feet north of the intersection with White Oak Dr..

The federal Works Progress Administration worked to develop and beautify Sunset Park in Asbury Park, New Jersey ca. 1936. Work involved the construction of an island in the middle of Sunset Lake. WPA N.J. Project No. 5-51.

A 9'-span stone arch bridge on Sweet Hollow Road, south of Bloomsbury, New Jersey, was widened by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). It is located approximately 1,000 feet north/east of the intersection with Myler Road.

The Public Works Administration (PWA) was a primary funding source for the construction of the Teaneck Armory. "Completed in 1936 at a cost of nearly $1 million, the Teaneck Armory -- with its 37-foot-high arching roof -- has played a valuable role not just in the current war on terrorism, but also during peacetime. Sitting on 13.66 acres, the brick-and-stone structure was built by Depression-era laborers. They each spent only two days a week on the job because the government stretched the project to keep people employed as long as possible."   (https://www.teaneck.org/) The WPA was involved in a minor capacity at the site, constructing...

Teaneck High School had been completed in 1928, but the PWA funded the addition of the school's 'junior wing' in 1936.

"Teaneck is a rapidly growing residential community in the metropolitan area of New York City. The former library building became inadequate. Alterations were made to the present building and two end wings were added. The old portion is shown in the middle of the photograph. The wing at the left is divided by low shelving into three spaces for delivery, reading, and reference. The lower portion of the walls is covered with continuous book shelving. The wing at the right contains the children's room, document vault, toilets, and the librarian's room, office, and kitchenette. The exterior walls are brick with wood cornices...

A set of four murals, “History of the Printed Word”, was painted by local artist Robert Martin and unveiled in 1937. The murals were funded by the WPA’s Federal Art Project. "The four oil-painted canvas murals are attached to the walls and depict monks lettering parchments, men working on an early printing press, bookbinders in the 18th century and a (then) contemporary newspaper press" (Teaneck Virtual Library).

The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $99,470 grant for construction of the Town Hall for Harrison, New Jersey. The building bears a 1936 cornerstone. Completed in 1937, the total cost of the project was $313,245. PWA Docket No. NJ 1168

"The new municipal building replaces an old and obsolete structure which was inadequate in size and had no proper facilities for the storage of records. Some of the municipal offices were in temporary buildings, some in rented quarters and there were no garage facilities with the result that the city-owned automobiles had to be stored in public garages. The new building houses all of the city departments. The basement contains a garage, storage space, and a block of six cells. On the first floor are the police headquarters, courtroom, and offices for the mayor, clerk, treasurer, and others. The second...

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) renovated Kearny Town Hall ca. 1936.

A cooperative community founded under the New Deal's Resettlement Administration: "The town of Roosevelt was established by the federal government—one of the many planned cooperative communities created under President Roosevelt's New Deal during the Great Depression. Originally called Jersey Homesteads, the name was changed shortly after President Roosevelt's death. Among these planned towns, Roosevelt was unique for three reasons: it consisted of a triple cooperative of industry, farm, and retail; the settlers were all Jewish garment workers from New York City; the flat roofed architecture and other features of the homes were inspired by the European Bauhaus movement. Another interesting, though...

The bridge carrying what was then known as Ocean Highway (presently known as County Road 619) over Townsends Inlet was constructed as a Public Works Administration (PWA) project, part of the largest New Deal construction effort in Cape May County, New Jersey. The bridge is still in use today. State.NJ.us: "In 1934 the county government created the Cape May County Bridge Commission as a means to apply for Federal Emergency Administration Funds to build bridges on the Ocean Highway and to bring to completion the promotional tourist route from Atlantic City to Cape May. The Ocean Highway bridges, five movable spans and...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) undertook a tree-planting project throughout Irvington, New Jersey beginning in 1936. The WPA planted 700 trees in the city at a total cost of $15,844.50, with the WPA supplying $12,132.

Multiple New Deal agencies: the CWA, FERA, and WPA, worked to restore the historic Trent House in Trenton, New Jersey between 1934 and 1936. "The WPA work consisted of cleaning and pointing the brick on the Trent House and caretaker's home, painting work, building a wall surrounding the property, laying walks on the grounds, installing shutters inside the Trent House, and grading the grounds. WPA funds for the work were $9,081.89. The late J. Osborn Hunt was the architect of the work until his death, and he was succeeded by Samuel Mountford.

Twenty boys of the federal National Youth Administration (NYA) worked on the athletic field and in a machine shop at Trenton Central High School.

Four images "crafted of square tiles square tiles that frame the vestibule beneath the clock tower," collectively titled "Youth Carrying the Heritage of the Past into the Future," are located at Trenton Central High School. NJ.com, 2014: "The mosaics were designed for the school by muralist Monty Lewis. The work was commissioned through the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Art Project and completed in 1941."   Additional Contributor note (January 2019): "The school building closed in 2014 and has been torn down.  The mosaics were removed and stored.  They will be installed in the new Trenton Central High School building that is being errected on the...