Syracuse Sites

Syracuse's Central New York Regional Market was built during the Great Depression. Its construction was enabled by funds provided by the federal Public Works Administration (PWA). The PWA supplied a $450,000 loan and $486,728 grant for the project, whose final cost was $1,124,783. Construction started in December 1935; the market opened in 1938. PWA Docket No. NY 5438.

Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) laborers landscaped and conducted other work at Columbus Circle in Syracuse, New York. Work concluded in 1936.

The federal Work Projects Administration (WPA) conducted major work in and around Ley Creek during the 1930s. A 1940 WPA report described its efforts: "Ley Creek was the largest WPA project in upstate New York. Ley Creek was formerly a sewage filled drainage ditch twisting five and a half miles through the northern section of Syracuse, where some 30,000 persons lived. A constant menace to health and the development of the city, the creek has been enclosed in a monolithic sewer and a sewage treatment plant erected. There are seven lateral sewers totalling three miles in length and forming the basis...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) photo (pictured) is dated to 1938. It describes significant work on a Syracuse sewer line beneath Midland Avenue: "WPA workmen excavated 23 feet underground through the highly residential section of Midland Avenue to replace a sanitary sewer line that was in serious danger of collapse."

Syracuse's 275-acre New York State Fairgrounds site was built during the Great Depression. Its construction was enabled by funds provided by the federal Public Works Administration (PWA). The PWA supplied a $264,907 grant for the project, whose final cost was $589,408. Construction primarily occurred during 1937. PWA Docket No. NY 539.

The gazebo bandstand and pool in Upper Onondaga Park in Syracuse, New York were renovated by the Works Progress Administration. They remain in use to this day. Further information is needed about the exact time period of the renovation project.

These WPA archive photos show WPA electricians, mechanics, and workmen installing a new power plant and field lights at Syracuse Municipal Airport. The airport closed down in the late 1940s.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) photo pictured here describes the project shown above as a "general view of activities on the mammoth treatment plant that is being constructed by WPA in conjunction with the new two and one half million dollar Ley Creek sewer system."

Syracuse's old College of Medicine building, now Weiskotten Hall of State University of New York Upstate Medical University, was built during the Great Depression. Its construction was enabled by funds provided by the federal Public Works Administration (PWA). The PWA supplied a $825,000 loan for the project. The building's cornerstone was laid by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on September 29, 1936. The building was dedicated November 22, 1937. SYR.edu: "A loan of $825,000 was given to SU for construction of a Basic Sciences building for the College of Medicine by the federal Public Works Administration (PWA). In 1949, Syracuse was selected by...