New Mexico Sites

The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) conducted numerous improvement and development projects at Santa Fe National Cemetery. "Improve cemetery" Official Project Number: 165‐2‐85‐143 Total project cost: $14,833.00 Sponsor: Commanding General, 8th Corps Area, U.S. Army "Develop landing area at airport" Official Project Number: 165‐3‐85‐144 Total project cost: $16,588.00 Sponsor: Commanding General, 8th Corps Area, U.S. Army "Construct landing strips at airport" Official Project Number: 165‐3‐85‐72 Total project cost: $56,513.00 Sponsor: Commanding General, 8th Corps Area, U.S. Army "Construct and improve buildings, facilities, and grounds at cemetery" Official Project Number: 265‐3‐85‐71 Total project cost: $44,900.00 Sponsor: Commanding General, 8th Corps Area, U.S. Army "Grade, drain, and landscape grounds and improve buildings" Official Project Number: 265‐85‐8000 Total project...

"Seventy-five years ago, Democrats controlling the White House and in Congress launched a series of public-works programs unprecedented in U.S. history. ... No state benefited more from these government-funded programs than New Mexico whose Democratic governor, Clyde Tingley, was a political supporter and friend of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. ... The Santa Fe River Park includes flagstone walkways, a stone-lined acequia channel, picnic tables, limestone-block walls lining the banks and thousands of trees. The park was developed in several phases, at undetermined costs, by the Civilian Conservation Corps between 1935 and 1940. David Kammer, an Albuquerque historian, said Stephen DeBoer, a landscape architect...

"In addition to the public-works projects, Santa Fe also had more than its share of New Deal-financed art and craft projects designed to train young men and women in traditional skills while producing works of art for public buildings. Perhaps the best known of the New Deal art in Santa Fe are the six murals landscapes on canvas affixed to the walls by William Penhallow Henderson in the U.S. District Court building on Federal Place. The old courthouse, built between 1853 and 1889, recently got three more New Deal artworks scenes of Navajo life painted by Warren Rollins for a...

The historic school building in Melrose, New Mexico—part of an educational campus which continues to house the community's schools and district administrative offices—was constructed by the Work Projects Administration (W.P.A.) in 1942. A dedication plaque can be found at the west-of-building-center high school entrance along Missouri Avenue.  The facility has since been extensively remodeled.

A school facility in Springer, New Mexico was constructed by the W.P.A. Living New Deal believes it is still in service.

A former school facility in Madrid, New Mexico was constructed by the W.P.A. The building is no longer extant.

The Work Projects Administration (W.P.A.) constructed a (since-demolished and replaced) school building in Des Moines, New Mexico.

A former school facility in Sedan, New Mexico was constructed by the W.P.A. The building is no longer extant.

A former school facility in Anton Chico, New Mexico was constructed by the W.P.A. The building may be in use as part of an expanded facility that now serves as the Anton Chico Development Center.

A former school building in Bernal, New Mexico was constructed as a W.P.A. project. The location and status of the building are presently unknown to Living New Deal.

A former school building in Golden, New Mexico was constructed as a W.P.A. project. The location and status of the building are presently unknown to Living New Deal.

A former school facility in Grenville, New Mexico was constructed by the W.P.A. The building is in a state of decay.

The W.P.A. constructed a school in Hayden, New Mexico. A personal visit by the contributor in 2018 could not confirm the exact location and status of this facility.

A former stone school facility in Madrid, New Mexico was constructed by the Work Projects Administration (W.P.A.) in 1940. Located by the community's W.P.A.-built ballpark, the former school is now a privately owned.

A former school building in Pleasant Hill, New Mexico was constructed as a W.P.A. project. The location and status of this site are presently unknown to Living New Deal.

A former school building in Sena, New Mexico was constructed as a W.P.A. project. The location and status of the building are presently unknown to Living New Deal.

A former school building in St. Vrain, New Mexico was constructed as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project. A local resident informed ghost town photographer Beata Olszowka in 2017 that the structure in the featured image was the school gymnasium. The structure can be found west of Main Street, several hundred feet north of U.S. 60/84.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted school construction / extension / improvement work in Taiban, New Mexico. In 1935 the WPA allocated $2,367 for schoolground improvements at the school in Taiban. WPA Official Project No. 65-85-325. The community no longer maintains a school and the structure is no longer extant. Beata Olszowka reports: "The site of the former school in Taiban, NM is located behind the Presbyterian church," which is located at the northern end of Munger Avenue. The former school site is a couple hundred feet NNW of the church. The site "is clearly visible and recognizable using Google Maps...

A former school building in Trementina, New Mexico was constructed as a W.P.A. project. The building is located on Route 419, just northeast of the road's intersection with Route 104.

A former school building in Villanueva, New Mexico was constructed as a W.P.A. project. According to a book written in 2012, "community desirous of making school into a community center." The location and status of the building are presently unknown to Living New Deal.

A former school building in Watrous, New Mexico was constructed as a W.P.A. project. The structure was demolished ca. 2008.

A former school building in Pleasant Hill, New Mexico was constructed as a W.P.A. project. The location and status of this site are presently unknown to Living New Deal.

The W.P.A. constructed a stone perimeter wall around the former school grounds in Hayden, New Mexico. A personal visit by the contributor in 2018 could not confirm the exact location and status of this structure, as the only apparent stone-walled property in the community did not appear to surround a former school facility.

A former school building in Dunlap, New Mexico was constructed as a W.P.A. project. The building is no longer extant; the only shell of a building still remaining in this former community is the old church.

A former school facility in Mt. Dora, New Mexico was constructed by the W.P.A. The building is no longer extant; only an accompanying rock wall remains.

A school / gymnasium facility in Maxwell, New Mexico was constructed by the W.P.A. Living New Deal believes the building is still in use on the village's educational campus.

A former school / gymnasium building in Wheatland, New Mexico was constructed by the WPA. The buildings are not in use, and in a state of disrepair.

A former school building and gymnasium in Encino, New Mexico were constructed as a W.P.A. project. "The high school and gymnasium built by the WPA between 1936 and 1939 were recently torn down due to safety issues."

A New Deal agency, most likely the W.P.A., constructed a school and gymnasium in Folsom, New Mexico. The facilities are now privately owned.

The historic school building in Melrose, New Mexico was constructed by the Work Projects Administration (W.P.A.) in 1942. Furthermore, the W.P.A. constructed a masonry wall along most of the perimeter of the school campus. A W.P.A. stamp can be found in the top of the part of the wall in front of the district administrative entrance.

The W.P.A. constructed a school gymnasium in Quemado, New Mexico. The facility is no longer extant.

The Work Projects Administration (W.P.A.) constructed a stone perimeter wall at the school campus grounds in Des Moines, New Mexico. Though the original school building has been replaced, the wall surrounding the campus is still there.

"The Shuler lobby is the permanent home to eight WPA murals dating to 1933-34 by artist Manville Chapman. The murals show scenes depicting the history of Raton and the surrounding area from early settlements in the 1840s through the era when the Shuler was built into the 1920s. The WPA murals are in outstanding condition and are maintained by a grant from the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. The Titles: #1 Cheyenne Village - 1845 AD #2 Wooten Toll Gate - 1868 AD #3 Willow Springs Ranch - 1870 AD #4 Clifton Station - 1875 AD #5 Maxwell's Mansion 1865 AD #6 Elizabethtown - 1883 AD #7...

The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) constructed sidewalks around Socorro, New Mexico.

"The New Mexico Veterans' Center (formerly Carrie Tingley Hospital) was partially funded with WPA funds in 1937. The buildings were left vacant in 1981 when the Hospital moved to Albuquerque. In 1983 the Veterans' Administration and the New Mexico Legislature provided funds for renovation of the buildings and the establishment of the New Mexico Veterans' Center. The Sierra County Court House and the Community Center are two other WPA buildings in T or C. " -Phyllis Eileen Banks

"Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Area is an oasis in the desert featuring a 150-foot waterfall. The natural setting of rock cliffs, cascading water and riparian vegetation along with historic structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps attracts many visitors to this unique spot. Sitting Bull Falls is located in the Lincoln National Forest, Guadalupe Ranger District, about 42 miles Southwest of Carlsbad, New Mexico. Drinking water fountains, modern restrooms, rock cabanas, picnic tables, grills and trash bins are provided for visitors. Sidewalks provide easy access to the waterfall with a viewing deck near the falls for handicapped visitors who are...

"Socorro County (New Mexico) Court House, located at 200 Church Street (at the foot of Court Street) in Socorro, New Mexico. According to a plaque inside the entrance, the Court House is a Works Progress Administration building erected in 1940." (Wikipedia)

The WPA allocated $57,584 toward improvements to what was effectively the entire length of New Mexico State Route 20 leading from U.S. 60 in Fort Sumner to U.S. 285 leading from Roswell.  The project entailed the "grading and drainage of 45 miles of state road No. 20." The project was approved in 1935. WPA Official Project No. 65-85-895(?).

"Carlsbad Project, New Mexico - The Alamorgordo Dam is being constructed on the Pecos River to supply additional storage for the Carlsbad Project. It is an earth and rock fill type of dam with a maximum height of 135 feet and a volume of 1,700,000 cubic yards. The storage capacity of the reservoir will be 115,000 acre feet. Construction of the dam was started in May 1936 and the river was diverted through the completed outlet outlet tunnel in November. The dam is to be completed by January 1938. Wilfred W. Baker is engineer." "Sumner Dam and Lake lie 250 miles...

Sumner Lake State Park is located northwest of Fort Sumner and contains  large reservoir created by the Sumner Dam in the 1930s. The CCC, the WPA and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation constructed the dam between 1935 and 1939. Other CCC structures in the vicinity include five rock bridges (along the east side of the lake) and two bunkers near the dam built in 1939.