Ithaca Sites

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed retaining walls along Cascadilla Creek in Ithaca, New York during the 1930s.  The channelized creek lies between North and South Cascadilla Avenue, and the historic photograph shown here was likely taken somewhere between Cayuga and Tioga Streets. The walls are still in good shape, working to control flooding along the creek.

The Cayuga Medical Center is home to eight sculptures, completed by six Works Progress Administration (WPA) artists in the late 1930s. The sculptures are between two and three feet tall and depict animals. They were originally installed at the children's playground at the Herman M. Biggs Memorial Hospital, north of the current Cayuga Medical Center. The sculptures were recently cleaned and restored under conservator Kasia Maroney.    

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) enrollees constructed the Arboretum at Cornell University Arboretum in Ithaca, New York between 1935 and 1941.   “Before becoming an arboretum, the area was part of a working farm, and served as a pasture for the Cornell Department of Animal Science’s herd of Black Angus cattle. In 1935, 200 men from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) set up camp south of Cascadilla Creek and worked in what is now the arboretum for six years. Through all seasons, they cleared and graded the land, constructed stone walls, built roads, and planted trees. By 1941, they had built four...

The federal Work Projects Administration worked to improve Cornell University in Ithaca, New York during the 1930s. One project, which cost $5,397 (of which the WPA acontributed $2,321) was described by the WPA in its project rolls: "rovide for added fire protection and additional heating facilities ... including installing water and storm lines; placing valves, hydrants, and fittings; constructing storm tunnel;" and performing related work.

The federal Work Projects Administration worked to improve the grounds of the Veterinary College of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York during the 1930s. The school was then located at "its original site at the southeast corner of East Avenue and Tower Road until 1957, when it moved to its present site at the east end of Tower Road." (Cornell). One project, which cost $17,266 (of which the WPA contributed $9,937) was described by the WPA in its project rolls: "rading and seeding; constructing walks, drives, parking areas, walls, curbs, fences, and storm sewers; and performing appurtenant and incidental work including removing...

The U.S. Treasury Department funded an addition to Ithaca, New York's former main post office (now Ithaca's Town Hall) during the mid-1930s. The project was completed in early 1936. Ithaca's Downtown Station post office continues to occupy a corner of the old building.

Formerly known as Enfield Glen State Park, New York's Robert H. Treman State Park was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) between 1933 and 1941. From 1933-1941, "...the men of Camp SP-6, Company 1265 were, according to the late local historian Neil Poppensiek, “trucked to work sites in Enfield Glen (later Robert H. Treman), Buttermilk Falls, and Taughannock Falls State Parks. There they excavated flagstone and did masonry work, blasted, excavated fill, graded, planted trees, shrubs and grass, built roads, bridges, and water systems, erected park buildings, and – after the disastrous floods of July 1935 and August 1937 –...

Originally known as Southside House, Ithaca, New York's Southside Community Center was constructed by the federal Work Projects Administration during the 1930s. The WPA reported in 1940: "For many years the only community center was a ramshackle building. This has been replaced with a modern stone and brick structure which serves as a meeting place for the Girl and Boy Scout troops, Cultural Congress (minors), two women's clubs, a home bureau unit, Parent-Teachers Association, Christmas club, which distributes clothing and baskets at Christmastime; Men's forum and other organizations. The center is a fitting contribution by WPA to one of the...

A water main construction project in Ithaca, New York was undertaken during the Great Depression with the aid of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The PWA supplied a $12,447 grant; the total cost of the project was $27,742. Work occurred between October 1935 and May 1936. (PWA Docket No. NY 1052)