New York Sites

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 municipal buildings in New Rochelle including this (in fact, including New Rochelle firehouses #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, and #6), was described by the WPA in its project rolls: "Work includes performing carpentry, masonry, and sheet metal work; excavating and constructing walls; painting, placing tile, and roofing." WPA Official Project No. 665-21-2-635.

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 municipal buildings in New Rochelle including this (in fact, including New Rochelle firehouses #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, and #6), was described by the WPA in its project rolls: "Work includes performing carpentry, masonry, and sheet metal work; excavating and constructing walls; painting, placing tile, and roofing." WPA Official Project No. 665-21-2-635.

The federal Work Projects Administration worked to improve New Rochelle's, New York's Fire department Station #4 (Company #4 firehouse) during the 1930s. Station #4, which was built in 1911, is still in use today. One WPA project, which involved numerous municipal buildings in New Rochelle including this (in fact, including New Rochelle firehouses #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, and #6), was described by the WPA in its project rolls: "Work includes performing carpentry, masonry, and sheet metal work; excavating and constructing walls; painting, placing tile, and roofing." WPA Official Project No. 665-21-2-635.

Sayville's Suffolk County News reported that Central Islip, New York's new $63,000 fire house would be constructed with the PWA bearing "45 per cent of the cost of construction, or approximately $28,192." The Central Islip Fire Department writes: "Construction began on the new Fire House at #96 Carleton Avenue in April of 1937 – this building was completed in a short period of time, and the Department moved to this new location on October 16, 1937." Construction began on a fire house to replace the 1937 structure in 1988, and "the official move from the 1937 Fire House to the new building...

The WPA constructed the firehouse on 51st Street in Woodside, Queens.

The historic former fire station in Williamson, New York was constructed with the aid of federal Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) funds. The facility was constructed four three months in 1936. PWA Docket No. 7122

New York's historic First Avenue Retail Market Market was one of eight similar markets constructed with the assistance of the federal Work Projects Administration (WPA). These structures were built in order to replace the informal pushcart markets common on New York City streets at the time. The building now houses an art gallery: Theater for the New City.

The First Houses public housing development was constructed by the WPA in 1935. It is decorated throughout the courtyard and on the walls here and there with small animal statues and carvings. The New York Landmarks Preservation Foundation plaque at the site says: "The paved courtyard is enlivened by freestanding and applied animal sculpture, designed by artists associated with the Works Progress Administration." One artist involved was Adolf Wolff, who created a statue of a monkey.

The WPA Guide to New York City reported that: "On Avenue A and Third Street, three blocks east of the Bowery, rise the FIRST HOUSES, the first project of the NY City Housing Authority, opened in 1935. Of the old slum tenements which formerly occupied this space, some were torn down and others were completely rebuilt by WPA labour, using the old materials. Unfortunately the attempt to utilize old structures has forced the new ones into a dull scheme. Bathrooms, sound-proofed partitions, gardens, and playgrounds promote the health and comfort of the occupants, who pay five to seven dollars a room...

First Park playground, named for its location at the intersection of East First St. and First Ave. opened in 1935. The New York City Parks Department calls the park a "typical product of the W.P.A. (Works Progress Administration) initiative to create recreational areas in the City." This was just one of hundreds of playgrounds built by the New Deal in New York City. Based on press releases in the New York City Parks Department archives, researcher Frank da Cruz explains here that almost all New York City Parks Department projects were constructed with New Deal funds and/or labor.  Federal funding for...

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted improvement work, ca. 1936, at what is now known as the Essex County Fish Hatchery in Crown, Point, New York.

The historic Flatbush Station post office on Church Ave. in Brooklyn, New York was constructed with federal Treasury Department funds and is still in use today. "It was built in 1936, and designed by consulting architect Lorimer Rich in the Colonial Revival style, for the Office of the Supervising Architect of the United States Department of the Treasury. The building is a symmetrical, two-story, red brick building with a gable roof and a large one-story rear wing." (Wikipedia) The building became listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

The federal Work Projects Administration put many men to work starting in 1935 with a $197,000 street repair and maintenance project, along what were then dirt roads, throughout the borough of Brooklyn, New York. Roads improved included: Flatlands Ave.: E. 108th St. to Fairfield Ave. Fairfield Ave.: Flatlands Ave. to Pennsylvania Ave. Fairfield Avenue no longer exists as such: a New York City law passed in 1956 changed the name of what was then Fairfield Avenue, which extended from Louisiana Ave. east to the Brooklyn-Queens border, to Flatlands Avenue. (CUNY) Thus, the WPA project in question improved what is now the stretch of Flatlands...

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) employed fifteen laborers to conduct flood control work for two thousand feet along Owego Creek. The activity involved timber cribbing and diking "to protect the banks washed out in the July and March floods." The WPA photo above shows WPA workers filling in back of the dike "...with stone and shale rock" (WPA).  

Now part of the Carrie Palmer Weber Middle School complex, what was then known as the Flower Hill Elementary School in Port Washington, New York was improved by the federal Work Projects Administration during the 1930s.  One modest project undertaken in 1938 involved repairs to the building's walls, ceilings, and plastering. Other schools in Port Washington were similarly improved. WPA Official Project No. 665-21-2-219.

Between 1934 and 1938 the WPA funded extensive construction and improvement projects at Floyd Bennett Airport. "Work completed by the WPA significantly modernized the airport facilities. By 1938, federal funds spent on airfield construction far outweighed funds contributed by New York City. During the four years the WPA worked on projects at Floyd Bennett Airport, the federal program spent approximately $4.7 million. During the same period, the city of New York contributed just over $339,000." (Cody) WPA projects in New York included "the laying of concrete runways and the erection of a machine shop at Floyd Bennett airport." Floyd Bennett Field...

Floyd Bennett Field received a  New Deal mural, commissioned by the Public Works of Art Project (PWAP), in 1934, and possibly in subsequent years by the Federal Art Project. The location and status of these works is unknown to Living New Deal.

"The Flushing Armory is a historic National Guard armory building located in the Flushing section of the New York City borough of Queens. It is a brick and stone castle-like structure built in 1905–1906, designed to be reminiscent of medieval military structures in Europe. ... Throughout the armory's history it has been used for the National Guard, as a homeless shelter, and a gymnastics center. It is currently used by the New York City Police Department's Queens North Task Force." The WPA provided resources to conduct repairs at the Flushing Armory (14th Infantry Armory) in Flushing during the 1930s.

Flushing High School was built in the early 20th century. In 1938, the school received four murals funded by the WPA's Federal Art Project.

What is now Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, often known simply as Flushing Meadows, is a large park in Queens containing a wide variety of athletic facilities, a botanical garden, a museum and more. The site, which used to be a dumping ground, was first developed as a park in the late 1930s under the direction of Robert Moses in order to serve as the site for the 1939 World's Fair. In December 1938, the Department of Parks published a press release describing many of its ongoing projects, including this one: "In addition to the projects already listed, city funds have been secured for...

The federal Works Progress Administration worked to conduct repairs and alterations to several civic buildings in Queens as part of a $300,464 project begun in 1935. Buildings improved included the historic Flushing Town Hall on Northern Blvd., which at the time was serving as a local courthouse.

The Forest Ave. bridge, which spans a creek between Lyon Street and Lakeview Street, was completed in 1940 with funds and labor provided by the Work Projects Administration (WPA).

The Forest Hills Station post office was built in 1937.  It was designed by Lorimer Rich consulting architect to the Office of the Supervising Architect of the Treasury Department, Louis Simon. The single story, flat roofed building is done in Modern or International Style, clad with reddish brown terra cotta above a base of granite. (Wikipedia) Professor Andrew Dolkart of Columbia University School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation says, admiringly, that the "Forest Hills Station is a simple, Modern design. It is basically two cubes that have collided... It is mystery...just how the government chose to fund this project, at a time when most...

The terra cotta bas relief sculpture mounted above the front entrance to the Forest Hills Station post office on Queens Boulevard is titled, "The Spirit of Communication".  It was created by Sten Jacobson under the federal Treasury Department Section of Fine Arts program and installed in 1938.

On July 16, 1935, the Department of Parks announced that the Forest Park Golf Course in Queens had been "entirely rebuilt with new greens and tees in line with the most modern golf architecture." A later press release confirmed that this, and work on other golf courses, had been done with "relief funds provided by the C.W.A., T.E.R.A. and W.P.A." The course is still popular and has been named the "best New York City golf course" by Golf Guides USA.

In September 1941, the WPA completed the reconstruction of Victory Field in Forest Park in Queens. The press release announcing the completion of the work described the project: "This 12 acre athletic field dedicated to the unknown soldier of the first World War, replaces the former inadequate facilities which consisted of a cinder running track overcrowded with dirt surfaced baseball diamonds. The new development will provide a well rounded recreational area for the use of all the residents of this section of Queens. The entire field is enclosed by double fencing consisting of an outer wrought iron picket fence separated from a...

This large, lush Brooklyn park dates back 150 years. NYC Parks explains that "Another series of renovations made in the 1930s further enhanced the classical design of the park. Parks architect Gilmore D. Clarke regraded the grounds, added new trees and shrubs, replaced the winding paths with more formal walks, remodeled the playgrounds, and created new spaces for athletic activities." These and other activities were announced in several Department of Parks press releases at the time. In May 1936, a new playground was opened in the northwest corner of the park. In October of the same year, the children's garden in...

The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) developed conducted improvement work at what was then Fort H. G. Wright. The following projects were sponsored by the Commanding Officer, Fort H. G. Wright, U.S. Army. Description: Improve buildings, facilities, and grounds Official Project Number: 165‐2‐15‐99 Total project cost: $31,871.00 Description: Improve roads, buildings, and facilities Official Project Number: 265‐2‐15‐23 Total project cost: $72,732.00

The WPA undertook several projects to improve Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, New York during the 1930s and early 1940s. One project called for the WPA to repair and reconstruct buildings; improve the "water and lighting installations" as well as "sewer installation and other utilities" at; and "improve the roads and grounds" at the base.

The federal Work Projects Administration worked to improve Peekskill, New York's Fort Hill Park and Depew 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 building, and fireplace; performing masonry, carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work; installing water pipe, drinking fountains, and edging around running track; painting and roofing; removing stone wall." WPA Official Project No.: 665-21-2-540.

The federal Work Projects Administration worked to improve the facilities at Fort Lafayette, located in an island off Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, during the early 1940s. One project involved "removing and replacing deck, sheathing, stringers, camps, bracing, fenders, and piles; improving baffles, painting, grading, filling," and performing other related work. "Upon the close of the War, Fort Lafayette no longer had a role in military operations, and fell in to a state of disrepair. In 1948, the Fort was transferred to the City of New York. It was demolished in 1960, and in its footprint was built a colossal tower rising...

The WPA performed structural renovation and historic restoration work at this site in 1937.    

The WPA undertook several projects to improve Bayside, New York's Fort Totten during the 1930s and early 1940s. One project called for the WPA to repair and reconstruct buildings; improve the "water and lighting installations" as well as "sewer installation and other utilities;" and "improve the roads and grounds" at the base. Much of the grounds now serves as a city park.

Fort Tryon Park was built during the Depression era with the goal of providing public green space for upper Manhattan. John D. Rockefeller Jr. donated the land and provided most of the financial support for the construction of the park’s amenities. The infrastructure within and around the park was completed with work relief labor at the cost $300,000. The work consisted of building roads, storm drainage, and lighting. It was likely completed with the aid of the Civil Works Administration (CWA), the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA), or the Temporary Emergency Relief Act (TERA) The New York City Park Department Report to August 1934 states...

The WPA undertook several projects to improve Staten Island's Fort Wadsworth during the 1930s and early 1940s. One project called for the WPA to repair and reconstruct buildings; improve the "water and lighting installations" as well as "sewer installation and other utilities" at; and "improve the roads and grounds" at the base.

The Fort Wadsworth railway station was rebuilt as a concrete structure 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 station was located between Fingerboard Road and the intersection of Tompkins Ave. and Lyman Ave. Long since abandoned (as the line was discontinued in 1953), the structure has since been demolished. The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $1.46 million grant for the $6 million grade crossing elimination project, which included work elsewhere in Staten Island and even in Manhattan. PWA Docket No. NY 4926.

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted work on the fish hatchery shown in the WPA photo above. The caption notes the location of this hatchery as being in Fortsville, New York. Fortsville is a hamlet located in the town of Moreau in Saratoga County. The Living New Deal does not know the current status or location of this project.  

In November 1935 the WPA approved the provision of labor for the construction of curbs and gutters along Foster Avenue in Sayville, NY.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) assisted in the paving of what was then Fourth Avenue (now Park Ave.) from 14th St. to 23rd St.

The WPA funded the removal of 33 miles of trolley tracks in New York City (The Encyclopedia of New York City: Second Edition). This image shows "WPA workers removing old street car tracks on Fourth Avenue . Picture shows 16th Street facing South" c. 1936 (WPA).