The Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House was constructed in 1902-1907. In the 1930s and early 1940s, federal funding was used to make several improvements to the building, including the addition of a copper apron to the dome in 1933; improvements… read more
The old Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House dates to 1902-1907 and today serves as the New York branch of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, as well as housing the New York branch of the National Archives and the records of… read more
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
The overpass carrying Union Avenue over what was then a freight and passenger railway (the North Shore Branch of the Staten Island Railway) was constructed during the mid-1930s, in conjunction with the lowering of the railroad right-of-way, as one link in a massive… read more
Sayville’s Suffolk County News reported in September 1934: “The extension of Union street from Fifth avenue, Bay Shore, to John street, Babylon, will be opened to traffic by October 1st… The extension is 3.14 miles in length and it is… read more
The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) improved roads in Black Brook, New York in 1936, including “Union Falls road running along the north side of Silver Lake.”
The federal Public Works Administration (PWA) provided funding for some construction at what was then Oceanside High School in 1935-6 (PWA Docket No. NY 3302). The structure has seen numerous large additions since the original 1934 construction. The New Deal project was likely an… read more
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) worked to restore the equestrian George Washington monument in Union Square during the mid-1930s.
The NYC Parks Department website explains that: “Although this flagstaff commemorates the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, it is also known as the Charles F. Murphy Memorial Flagpole. The intricate bas-reliefs and plaques were completed… read more
Queens’s Union Turnpike, then an “unimportant stretch less than two miles long,” was developed as a paved, 100-foot-wide artery featuring a four-foot “center mall,” as a large Works Progress Administration (WPA) project in anticipation of the 1939 World’s Fair. Work focused on… read more
The Destroyer USS Cummings DD-365 was built at the United Dry Docks shipyard in Staten Island, New York City, between 1934 and 1935. Funding for the construction of the ship came from the Public Works Administration (PWA) project (see Kermit… read more
The Destroyer USS Mahan DD-364 was built at the United Dry Docks shipyard in Staten Island, New York, between 1934 and 1935. Funding for the construction of the ship came from the Public Works Administration (PWA) project (see Kermit Project, New… read more
University at Albany, State University of New York’s Hawley Hall was opened in September 1909 as the Auditorium, one of three buildings (with the Science and Administration Buildings) on the original Western Avenue (Downtown) Campus. On December 12, 1927 the… read more
The Urban Assembly School for the Performing Arts, located on West 129th Street in Manhattan, was originally built as the Manhattanville Junior High School during the 1930s. Construction benefited from federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds as part of PWA… read more
The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted improvement on the training ship USS Illinois (later USS Prairie State), stationed off 135th Street on the Hudson River. The boat was sold for scrap in 1956. WPA project details: “Alter and rehabilitate U.S…. read more
The New York Times reported in 1941 that the WPA was to be involved with several street improvements in Brooklyn, including the “elimination of a mile-long traffic hazard on Utica Avenue between the trolley track areas.” A trolley line ran… read more
In Sept. 1941 the New York Times described a playground being constructed by the WPA in Queens at “Utopia Parkway and Seventy-third Avenue.” This site, Utopia Playground, is still in use today. New York City’s Parks Department writes: “Utopia Playground… read more
The Valley View Golf Course is a municipal course located in Utica’s extensive Roscoe Conkling city park. The course was originally built in the mid-1920s, then redesigned by famed golf architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr. with financial aid (and probably… read more
Researcher Frank da Cruz explains: “Van Cortlandt Golf Course occupies the center of Van Cortlandt Park. When it opened in 1895, it was the nation’s first municipal golf course, and the first one open to the public. Worked on and… read more
The New Deal Network’s website explains that in the 1930s, the Works Progress Administration’s (WPA) National Youth Administration (NYA) constructed a foot path in Van Cortlandt Park that divided two picnic areas within the park. The website tells us that… read more
The New Deal Network Website explains that the retaining wall pictured here was constructed in the 1930s by the Works Progress Administration’s (WPA) National Youth Administration (NYA) in Van Cortlandt Park. The photo’s caption notes that “The bridle path is… read more
The Van Cortlandt Park Parade Ground is a 43-acre field on the southwest edge of Van Cortlandt Park. Researcher Frank da Cruz explains here that it “was built in 1901 as a training area for the New York National Guard…. read more
Van Cortlandt Park’s Southwest Playground opened in 1939 as part of Van Cortlandt Stadium, a New Deal Works Progress Administration (WPA) project. A Department of Parks press release shows that the WPA (the agency involved in almost all Parks work… read more
The NY Parks Department website explains: “Constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the Van Cortlandt Stadium opened on September 22, 1939. New York City, under the direction of Moses and Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia (1882-1947), was able to secure… read more
The overpass carrying Van Name Avenue over what was then a freight and passenger railway (the North Shore Branch of the Staten Island Railway) was constructed during the mid-1930s, in conjunction with the lowering of the railroad right-of-way, as one link in a… read more
The federal Work Projects Administration put many men to work starting in 1935 with a Staten Island street repair and maintenance project along roads throughout the borough. The streets, many of which in New York City were still unpaved, were surfaced… read more
Researcher Frank da Cruz explains why this playground almost certainly benefited from New Deal programs. As the New York City Department of Parks website states, “In August of 1913, the City of New York acquired the parcel of land, bounded… read more
The overpass carrying Van Pelt Avenue over what was then a freight and passenger railway (the North Shore Branch of the Staten Island Railway) was constructed during the mid-1930s, in conjunction with the lowering of the railroad right-of-way, as one link in… read more
As with most small towns, the Vestal NY area schools were mostly small one or two room schools. “With centralization came the goal of building a high school…a goal that was realized on January 3, 1939 when the Vestal Central… read more
Originally known simply as the playground at 99 Thompson St., this was one of fourteen new playgrounds throughout New York to open in August, 1934. The labor and materials for all these playgrounds were provided by “Work Relief funds.” Given the timing,… read more
The Civil Works Administration (CWA) provided labor for the improvement of the Veterans Hospital in Wappingers Falls, New York.
The WPA installed 22-inch safety curbing on the 155th Street viaduct near what was then the Polo Grounds.
Port Chester, New York’s Village Hall was constructed with the assistance of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds during the Great Depression. The PWA provided a $58,725 grant for the project, whose total cost was $121,763. Construction occurred between Sept…. read more
Originally the post office, this building was constructed under Treasury Department supervision during the New Deal: “The Wappingers Falls Post Office is an architecturally and historically significant public building, deriving exceptional significance from the role that President Franklin D. Roosevelt… read more
The old post office, now village hall contains two Section of Fine Arts murals by Henry Billings: “The two Wappinger[s] Falls murals are located in the Town Hall, a Dutchess County Historical site, and formerly the town’s post office. The… read more
The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) improved Vineyard Road outside Ticonderoga, New York.
The Public Works Administration (PWA) gave grants to the Hyde Park Central School District to build three school buildings: Hyde Park Elementary School, Haviland Middle School (originally dedicated as the Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School but later renamed when a… read more
WPA labor worked to renovate the old Vitagraph Building, a former movie studio located at 94 4th Avenue in Bay Shore, NY, for the purpose of utilizing the structure as a “sewing room, the Old Age Security offices and other… read more
The historic Jay Volunteer Fire Department building was, Living New Deal believes, originally one of several similarly designed school buildings built in the area as part of a New Deal project. Their construction was enabled by the federal Public Works Administration… read more
“WPA work on this run is plainly visible to thousands of people who view the run under summer skies. The run has been made safer as the result of WPA work. WPA iced the run as required, manned telephone booths… read more