The Elizabeth Cady Stanton School in Seneca Falls, New York was constructed in 1935 as a New Deal project with federal Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) funds. Sometimes mis-attributed to the Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.), the P.W.A. provided a $24,355 grant for the project,… read more
The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) developed what is now Elizabeth Field on Fishers Island, as part of what was then Fort H. G. Wright. The following projects were sponsored by the Commanding Officer, Fort H. G. Wright, U.S. Army. Description: Develop… read more
Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry states that “The majority of the original park was acquired through the purchasing of private land and County tax foreclosures (1936 & 1937)…. WPA crews built structural construction. The WPA structures included… read more
“This building was designed and carried out by the Public Buildings Branch of the Procurement Division for the Immigration Service of the Department of Labor and constitutes one unit of a large project to improve ferry facilities at Ellis Island…. read more
The Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) describes the New Deal’s extensive work on Ellis Island, which included building this new immigration building: “The New Immigration Building is one of three major New Deal-era buildings at Ellis Island created to meet… read more
The Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) describes the New Deal’s extensive work on Ellis Island, which included building this and another long covered passageway: “A system of covered passageways connected the three islands, providing sheltered circulation during inclement weather. Pipes… read more
The Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) describes the New Deal’s extensive work on Ellis Island, which included building this and another long covered passageway: “The one-story brick passageways on the west side of Islands 2 and 3 are now designated… read more
The Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) describes the New Deal’s extensive work on Ellis Island, which included building this recreation building: “The Recreation Building at the Ellis Island U.S. Immigration Station was designed and built between 1933 and 1937 as… read more
The Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) describes the New Deal’s extensive work on Ellis Island, which included building this recreation shelter: “The Recreation Shelter on Islands 2 and 3 was part of the last active phase of construction at the… read more
A new Elm Park railway station was constructed during the mid-1930s as one link in a massive grade separation project along what was then a freight and passenger railway (the North Shore Branch of the Staten Island Railway). Developed as a two-track,… read more
A federal WPA-sponsored set of alterations, repairs, and general improvements was undertaken at the old Elmhurst branch library in Elmhurst, New York during the 1930s. The building was demolished in 2012.
As of 2009, this 1938 WPA mural by William Palmer entitled “The Development of Medicine” is located in the Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens. It may have originally been installed in the Queens General Hospital (now the Queens Hospital Center)…. read more
The historic Elmira [Free] Academy (most recently the Ernie Davis Middle School) was the recipient of a large annex constructed with the assistance of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. “[I]n 1938 an annex was built on the north side… read more
The WPA was responsible for the demolition of Elmwood Music Hall in Buffalo, NY in September 1938. The building, which previously served as an armory, was located at the northeast corner of Elmwood Avenue and Virginia Street. “The building was… read more
The Eltingville station of the Staten Island Railway was redeveloped during the late 1930s, as one link in a large grade crossing removal project sponsored by the Public Works Administration (PWA). Work included construction of a new station house on Richmond Avenue, which is still… read more
Emery Park in South Wales, New York was one of a number of parks in Erie County improved ca. 1936 by the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA). The old incinerators are among the historic stone structures that remain from the WPA… read more
The WPA photo shown here shows the new Firemen’s Building constructed for the Erie County Fairgrounds. The building remains in place today and “houses antique fire engines and other artifacts” (www.ecfair.org)
Originally the Erie County Jail, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office in Buffalo, New York was constructed with federal Public Works Administration funds (Docket No. 1282-D). Construction began February 1937 and the building was completed in 1938. According to a local… read more
New York’s 15,000-square-foot Essex Street Market, located along the east side of Essex Street between Rivington and Delancey Streets, was constructed with the assistance of the Work Projects Administration (WPA). The market opened in 1940. It was “one of eight… read more
An enormous mural called The Evolution of Western Civilization is located in the library of the former Evander Childs High School. The Federal Arts Project (FAP) of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) commissioned the mural cycle in 1935 and it was completed… read more
In 1937 Romuald Kraus completed this sculpture entitled “Alma Mater” for Evander Childs High School with funding from the WPA’s Federal Art Project (Archives of American Art).
Today’s NYC Parks website explains: “The City of New York acquired the property for this park in January 1941. At that time, the park was divided by 60th Street, which cut through the property. The City then assigned Evergreen Park… read more
“‘In the Bronx, the reconstruction of an outfall sewer under Exterior Street near Broadway developed into one of the big engineering jobs at the NYC WPA. This sewer had been laid in the bed of the old Harlem River after… read more
According to the NYC Parks Department: “In 1935, the City of New York acquired this property and it underwent renovations performed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s (1882-1945) Works Progress Administration (WPA). In addition to removing the deteriorating music halls, carousels,… read more
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) worked to develop Fair Haven Beach State Park during the 1930s.
Originally constructed as Fairport’s library, what is now Fairport Historical Museum was constructed with Works Progress Administration labor during the Great Depression. The building also houses an example of New Deal artwork.
The Fairport Historical Museum houses an example of New Deal artwork commissioned by the federal Works Progress Administration. “In 1937, Rochester’s WPA art project was called “the most interesting and effective outside of New York City” by the regional director… read more
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 no-longer-extant Family Court… read more
The Suffolk County News reported that the WPA conducted many improvement projects on Long Island between 1935 and 1936, among which were “repairs and painting (exterior and interior) of … the State Institute of Applied Agriculture at Farmingdale” (the former… read more
The New York Times reported in late 1941 that WPA laborers had begun construction of a new playground at 3rd Ave. and 64th St. in Brooklyn, NY. The 1.25-acre plot was to contain several recreational facilities.
Originally built as the U.S. Post Office and Courthouse and now the Federal Building and Courthouse, the building was completed as a federal Public Works Administration (PWA) project with Treasury Department funding in 1935. Construction took approximately one year (~Sept…. read more
Originally built as the U.S. Post Office and Courthouse and now the Federal Building and Courthouse, the building was completed as a federal Public Works Administration (PWA) project with Treasury Department funding in 1935. “Commissioned by the Treasury Department Section… read more
Edward Laning completed a mural entitled “The Role of the Immigrant in the Industrial Development of America” in 1938 for the Dining Hall in the Administration Building on Ellis Island with funding from the WPA’s Federal Art Project. “The mural was 10 feet… read more
The Federal Office Building at 90 Church Street was constructed between 1934 and 1935 by the Treasury Department Public Buildings Bureau, and includes the Church Street Station Post Office. It occupies the entire city block bounded by between Church Street and… read more
Ferry Point Park is a large park in the Bronx located at the site of the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge on the East River. New York City acquired the land in 1937. It was planned under Robert Moses and constructed by the… read more
The Works Progress Administration constructed the firehouse on the Henry Hudson Parkway East in the Fieldston section of the Bronx. Frank da Cruz with the Kermit Project describes the history of the firehouse thus: “The Engine 52 / Hook & Ladder 52… read more
A railway-crossing bridge carrying Fingerboard Road was built during the mid-1930s as part of a massive grade separation project along what was then the South Beach Branch of the Staten Island Railway. The line has long since been abandoned (as the line was… read more
The federal Public Works Administration provided a $182,970 grant for the construction of a new headquarters building for Rochester, New York’s Fire Department during the Great Depression. Construction began November 1935. The project was completed at a total cost of… read more
The federal Work Projects Administration worked to improve New Rochelle’s, New York’s Fire department Station #2 (Company #2 firehouse) during the 1930s. Station #2, which was built in 1926, is still in use today. One WPA project, which involved numerous… read more
The federal Work Projects Administration worked to improve New Rochelle’s, New York’s Fire department Station #3 (Company #3 firehouse) during the 1930s. Station #3, which was built in 1902, is still in use today. One WPA project, which involved numerous… read more