Delaware Ave. Bridge – Buffalo NY

This photo shows a “twin arch bridge” on Delaware Ave. under construction by the WPA in 1936. Google maps shows that the bridge is still standing.

Delaware Avenue Improvements – Buffalo NY

The major thoroughfare of Delaware Avenue in Buffalo, New York was improved substantially ca. 1936 by federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) labor. More than 400 men were put to work as part of this effort.

Delaware Regional Center (old School) – Masonville NY

Living New Deal believes that the former school building—now Delaware Regional Center—at 15598 State Highway 8 in Masonville, New York was constructed with the aid of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The building exhibits a 1941 cornerstone.

Department of Purchase Warehouse – Long Island City NY

A money-saving, efficiency-increasing Department of Purchase warehouse in Long Island City was constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). It is still in use by the city, presently by the Board of Education. The New York Times reported in 1938:… read more

Department of Purchase Warehouse (demolished) – Brooklyn NY

In 1937, the Works Progress Administration built a “low art moderne warehouse for the New York City Department of Purchase, directly under the Brooklyn Bridge and opposite Pete’s Downtown. Approved by the New York City Art Commission, it was designed… read more

Depew Park Improvements – Peekskill NY

The federal Work Projects Administration worked to improve Peekskill, New York’s Depew Park and Fort Hill Park during the 1930s. One project (involving either/both parks) was described by the WPA in its project rolls: “Work includes constructing comfort station, shelter… read more

Detective Keith L. Williams Park Playground – Jamaica NY

Formerly known as Liberty Park, this site was acquired by the City in late 1936. In July 1937, Parks announced that “the new playground…is the first section of a large recreational area which is being constructed to be completed. It… read more

Devoe Park – Bronx NY

Devoe Park “dates from 1915, but the playgrounds and athletic facilities were added by the Parks Department and WPA in 1935. This is one of seven NYC parks opened (or re-opened) on Friday, November 22, 1935, in a ceremony where… read more

DeWitt Clinton High School Murals – Bronx NY

The third-floor hallway at DeWitt Clinton High School contains two huge New Deal murals by Alfred Floegel, The History of the World (walls) and Constellations (ceiling). The oil on canvas murals were painted in 1934-1940. The History of the World… read more

Dome Playground – Brooklyn NY

On October 1937, Parks announced the opening of a new playground in what later became known as Dome Playground: “At Dahill Road and 38th Street, also in Brooklyn, the new playground, the wading pool section of which was opened some… read more

Domestic Relations Court Building (former) – New York NY

The federal Public Works Administration provided a grant toward the construction of the Domestic Relations Court Building located at the northeast corner of Lexington Ave. and 22nd St. Built in 1939-1940, the building now houses Baruch College’s Administrative Center and… read more

Dongan Oak Monument – Brooklyn NY

“One of several small monuments in the vicinity of what is known as the “Battle Pass” in Prospect Park, the Dongan Oak Monument commemorates events which took place in this area during the Battle of Long Island on August 27,… read more

Dorsey Street Sewer – Watertown NY

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed more than 1,000 feet of sewer line along Dorsey Street in Watertown, New York.

Doubleday Field – Cooperstown NY

“The grounds have been used for baseball since 1920, on what was Elihu Phinney’s farm. A wooden grandstand was built in 1924, later replaced by a steel and concrete grandstand built in 1939 by the Works Project Administration.”

Douglass St. Pumping Station (former) Improvements – Brooklyn NY

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) undertook a sizable public building improvement project in Brooklyn, New York beginning in 1935.  The project involved the “Improvement of Public Buildings and Offices” at more than 30 locations, including the water pumping station… read more

Downing Street Playground – New York NY

The Downing Street Playground was built circa 1935 with the help of the New Deal. The agency involved in funding or completing the work is unknown to the Living New Deal. During his tenure as Parks Commissioner, Robert Moses used… read more

Dreier-Offerman Playground – Brooklyn NY

Now a part of the much larger Calvert Vaux Park (also still referred to as Dreier-Offerman Park), this smaller playground at Cropsey Ave. and Bay 46th St. was constructed by the Department of Parks in 1934. Mayor La Guardia attended… read more

Dry Harbor Playground – Glendale NY

This playground on the edge of Forest Park in Queens is named after Glendale’s original name: Dry Harbor. The NYC Parks site explains that it was “constructed in 1934 with swings, see-saws, a wavy slide, a flagpole, and a schoolyard… read more

Dubois Avenue Yard Improvements – Staten Island NY

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) put men to work beginning in 1935 on an improvement project at the city-owned Dubois Avenue Yard. A $125,473 project involved the construction of two extensions to garage buildings at the then-Highway Department facility: one… read more

Duffield St. Public Bath Improvements (demolished) – Brooklyn NY

The federal Works Progress Administration undertook a $93,900 project starting in 1935 to modernize and otherwise improve several public (now-former) bath facilities in Brooklyn, NY. The public baths at 42 Duffield Street were constructed in 1905; the building has since been… read more

Dunbar Playground – Bronx NY

Dunbar Playground is named after African American poet Paul Dunbar. It was opened by the New York Department of Parks on September 23, 1935. The department press release stated that the playground would be “equipped with a wading pool, shuffle… read more

Dunn Field – Elmira NY

The construction of Dunn Field during the Great Depression was enabled by a federal Public Works Administration (PWA) grant. Construction occurred between 1938 and 1939. The ballpark is still in use today. (PWA Docket No. [W]1619)

Dutch Gardens – New City NY

The historic Dutch Gardens in New City, New York, part of Courthouse Park, were constructed between 1935 and 1938 with federal Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) labor. This was significant as the only W.P.A. outdoor construction project to be designed and… read more

Dyker Beach Golf Course – Brooklyn NY

The Dyker Beach Golf Course first opened in 1897. It was redesigned by Jon Van Kleek in 1935-1936. On May 7, 1936, the Department of Parks announced that the Dyker Beach Golf Course had been “thoroughly reconstructed with new tees… read more

Dyker Beach Park – Brooklyn NY

Dyker Beach Park, located just south of the Dyker Beach Golf Course and north of the Belt Parkway was assembled in eight stages between 1895 and 1934. In 1942, the WPA and the Department of Parks completed extensive work on… read more

Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Improvements – Port Jefferson NY

What is now-Earl L. Vandermeulen High School was improved by the WPA between 1935 and 1936. According to the Suffolk County News, these improvements included “concrete walks, pavement, and drains on grounds of Port Jefferson High School and athletic field.”

East 222nd Street Improvements – Bronx NY

The federal Work Projects Administration put many men to work starting in 1935 with a Bronx street repair and maintenance project along roads throughout the borough. The streets, many of which in New York City were still unpaved, were surfaced with… read more

East 93rd Street Improvements – Brooklyn NY

The federal Work Projects Administration (WPA) undertook several road improvement projects along roads in Brooklyn, New York. One such project involved the removal of malls and other repair work along the modest stretch of East 93rd Street from Lenox Rd…. read more

East Fifth Street Paving – Oswego NY

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) paved East Fifth Street in Oswego, New York in the vicinity of East Utica St. in 1938.

East Hampton Airport – East Hampton NY

The WPA approved funds for the construction of a municipal airport in East Hampton, NY in 1936. Work on the airport began Oct. 1936 and was completed by mid-1937. The project, as reported by Sayville’s Suffolk County News, “will employ… read more

East Harlem District Health Center – New York NY

Then constructed as the East Harlem Health and Teaching Center, what is now known as the East Harlem District Health Center was built with federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The PWA supplied a $239,000 loan and $343,700 grant for… read more

East Lincoln Avenue Sewer Tunnel – Mount Vernon NY

The National Archives photo caption for this picture of sewer tunnel work,  records the project as a “…tunnel for sanitary sewer – 42 feet under East Lincoln Ave,” in Mount Vernon City, Westchester County, New York.

East Main Street School (former) Improvements – Amsterdam NY

The federal Work Projects Administration worked to improve the former East Main Street School in Amsterdam, New York during the 1930s. WPA work included the modest contributions of “painting walls, ceilings, windows, doors, and cornice” as well as varnishing. The… read more

Eastern Boulevard Paving – Bronx NY

The federal Work Projects Administration put many men to work starting in 1935 with street repair and maintenance projects that improved roads throughout the Bronx. An approximately half-mile stretch of what was then Eastern Boulevard (now the Bruckner Expressway) between Middletown… read more

Eaton Grade School (former) – Eaton NY

The historic former Eaton Grade School building in Eaton, New York was, Living New Deal believes, originally one of two similarly designed school buildings built in the Town of Eaton as part of a New Deal project. The PWA provided a $185,625… read more

Edward Gould Playhouse Mural – Dobbs Ferry NY

The Edward Gould recreation center in Dobbs Ferry, New York received a  New Deal mural, commissioned by the Public Works of Art Project (PWAP), in 1934. The location and status of this work is unknown to Living New Deal.

Edward R. Andrews Elementary School – Morrisville NY

Originally the Morrisville[-Eaton] Central School, what is now known as Edward R. Andrews Elementary School was constructed during the 1930s with federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The building was designed by Carl W. Clark of Cortland, NY; Kraft & Detor… read more

Eighth Lake CCC Camp & Campground – Inlet NY

Eighth Lake is one of the Fulton chain of lakes in the southwestern portion of the Adirondack Park in  upstate New York.  State route 28 passes along the lakes as it crosses the park.  The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) established… read more

Elementary School – Dryden NY

Dryden Elementary School was originally constructed as the Dryden Central Grade & High School during the 1930s. The building was financed in part with federal Public Works Administration funds (Docket No. NY 1257 [A-D]). The building has since been expanded.

Elementary School – Freeville NY

Freeville Elementary School in Freeville, New York, was the Central Grade School. Construction of the school was enabled by federal Public Works Administration funding (PWA Docket No. NY 1257[-B-D]), which gave a grant of $137,025 to the school district for… read more