Oklahoma Sites

Contributor note: "Eastern Oklahoma State College was established in 1908, and has evolved over the years to becoming an accredited Junior College. It is located at 1301 W. Main Street west of the town of Wilburton. On the west side of the campus, a football gridiron and red cinder track was constructed by the WPA. Today, the track has been removed and the field is used for soccer. The grandstands are constructed of uncoursed native sandstone, and poured concrete seating. The stands measure 278 ft. by 14 ft. The stands have three tiers except in the center section which has six...

"Built in 1935 and finished in 1937, this building continues to house a unit of the Oklahoma National Guard... Construction began in November of 1935 on the Armory. The building was constructed of quaried of native sandstone. The architecture created a feel of a fortress. Relief stone work created the Seal of the United States over the doorway. Major Bryan W. Nolen of the Oklahoma National Guard, was the architect of the Eufaula Armory and the standardized plans for all the armories throughout the the state created under the WPA. Nolen created standard plans for one-unit, two-unit and four-unit armories for the...

"This WPA-constructed building stands at 500 E. Choctaw, just east of Hwy. 81 in historic Chickasha, which is located on what was once the famous Chisholm Trail. This is a large one and two-story native sandstone building built in 1940, which contains 25,000 square feet (100 x 125 ft). This building was built with a WPA appropriation of $73,439. Known originally as the Administration building, it is now referred to as the North Exhibit building. The building underwent a major renovation in 2000. Large, open courtyards, originally built to offer more light through exterior windows, were enclosed under the building's...

"The Livestock Exchange Building is located on the Grady County Fairgrounds, at 500 E. Choctaw, east of downtown Chickasha. The primary fairground buildings are this livestock arena, and an administration building to the north. The livestock building was originally constructed as an open air arena, with stalls, offices, and a grandstand. A photo of the arena as it stood for so many years is shown in the gallery. A major renovation was completed in 2000, and a roof was erected over the arena. The native sandstone walls were preserved, inside and out, and the upper walls were finished with stucco and...

New Deal work relief labor constructed the stunning stone wall on the west side of the Fairview Cemetery in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Per one source, in 1936, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) built the wall. A newspaper article from 1934 suggests the ivil Works Administration (CWA) paid laborers to develop the wall. The wall, which is approximately 1320 feet long, runs north to south along the east side of N. Harrison Avenue. The cemetery itself was established in 1897 and spans nearly 80 acres on the eastern side of the City of Shawnee. The Waymarking webpage for the cemetery wall describes it...

"The Fairview School (District 89) replaced the "Thompson School", built in 1894 which burned in 1936. This was a joint effort, with the School District supplying $1,013 and the WPA picking up the balance of $2,600. It was completed in March 1937 and operated as a one-room school until 1949-1950 when the district was annexed by the Prague and Agra school districts. This is a rectangular building constructed of native sandstone. It is currently a residence, and access to the property could not be gained. The gabled roof, once covered with asphalt, currently has a metal sheeting. The typical WPA set...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted multiple farm-to-market road construction projects, including a seven-mile project "which begins at a point 11 miles east of Marlow on Highway 29 and extends four miles south, thence three miles east." That stretch of road entailed constructing 23 bridges and culverts. Living New Deal believes this project to refer to N 2940 Road (four miles south) and E Stephens County Rd 1680 (three miles east); however, no bridges or culverts are directly visible from satellite imagery or Google Street View.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted multiple farm-to-market road construction projects, including a five-mile project "which begins at a point 16 miles east of Marlow on Highway 29 and extends five miles south." That stretch of road entailed constructing 17 bridges and culverts. Living New Deal believes this project to refer to N 2990 Road (a.k.a. 16 Mile Road South); however, no bridges or culverts are directly visible from satellite imagery or Google Street View.

The historic Federal Building and Post Office in Duncan, Oklahoma was constructed with federal Treasury Department funds. The building was constructed between 1933 and 1934, and it is still in use today.

The historic Elk City, Oklahoma Federal Building / post office was constructed with federal Treasury Department funds. The building was completed in 1936 and now houses the Elk City Board of Education.

"This WPA filtration plant is located in historic Randlett Park. The Park was originally established before statehood in 1907, and has been added to and improved over the years. Randlett Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The park is located at the highest point of town, alongside the Washita River. In 1904, a hydroelectric facility wth dam, waterworks and turbines was built along the banks of the river. The plant was enlarged with the construction of this "new" plant building, with a WPA appropriation of $78,808 and construction began in 1940. This is a two-story brick power plant... A...

The Works Progress Administration built the Fire Department in Cordell, OK. Contributor note: "Cordell Fire Department is located in a two-story stone building at 203 E. Clay Street. The stones are laid randomly, and there is a continuous concrete lintel above the second floor windows. A WPA shield on the building shows that it was constructed in 1941. The building has a flat roof. Second story windows are not boarded and we assume that level is still in use. The entrance consists of a single recessed door and window under a cloth awning. The remaining windows are singles and doubles. Access to the...

The Public Works Administration helped to fund the construction of the former Muskogee Fire Department Fire Station 3, located on West Okmulgee Ave. The 3-bay fire station has two large bays for fire trucks and a smaller bay to the west. It features a white Deco/Moderne design, replete with a curved wall with windows on the east side, concrete lettering above the doors, a flat roof, and horizontal striping of contrasting dark color. It presently houses the Muskogee Habitat for Humanity store and offices. PWA Docket No. OK 1279

"Built as Fogarty Junior High in 1938-39 by the WPA, the school is currently Fogarty Elementary. This one and two-story building was constructed in 1938-39 as a WPA project. It faces west and is addressed as 902 N. Wentz. The building is constructed of multi-toned light colored brick, with portions of the ground level native stone. Above one of the entrances, metal lettering reads: FOGARTY JUNIOR HIGH. It is currently an elementary school... A bronze WPA shield is mounted on the wall by an entrance, above the cornerstone. The shield reads: USA / 1939 / WPA / Oklahoma..." The cornerstone is engraved with...

This rock wall and the concrete stone seating steps that are built into it were constructed by the Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1940. The rock wall is approximately three feet high and it surrounds a playing field. They are intact, but heavily overgrown with grass.

Between 1935 and 1939, the WPA performed structural renovation and historic restoration work at this site.  

The Works Progress Administration built the Fort Gibson School and Gym in Fort Gibson OK. The School/Church is presently abandoned.

This rural WPA school is still standing but is no longer in use: "Four Mile School is shown as Marlow, OK, however, it is located in a rural area four miles south of Rush Springs, and northeast of Marlow. It is located just south of the intersection of 1590 Rd and 2880 Rd... This is a most unusual WPA school and we haven't encountered a poured concrete school previously. The building is reminiscent of a jailhouse (which we're sure children of the 1930s considered it). The building was constructed in 1937 with a WPA appropriation of $7700. The style is listed as...

The Franklin Hall dormitory building at OPSU was improved with W.P.A. funds and labor. "By the 1920’s, the dormitory housed only male students, usually forty of them, and was called The Boys’ Dormitory. In 1935, the state legislature and WPA funds allowed funds for some badly needed remodeling. One year later, remodeling provided additional bathroom facilities in the building." Sometimes known as "the white building," the building still stands at the eastern corner of Sewell St. and College Ave.

Frederick's Municipal Swimming Pool building was reportedly built by the WPA in 1935. “The Frederick WPA-built school," writes Marjorie Barton, "is an example of how proper maintenance can preserve WPA buildings.”

This culvert is L-shaped, with the Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) shield showing the year as 1938. The tunnel is concrete and about 2 ft. high by 5 ft. wide. It runs east-west. A paved roadway crosses the culvert into Fuqua Park, site of the WPA armory which is now Stephens County Historical Museum.. The culvert is operational today and handles run-off at the Park entrance.  

This PWA courthouse was built from 1934-1936. A 1939 survey of PWA works described the site: "This new four-story and basement structure, with a partial fifth story, replaces an old courthouse which was destroyed by fire. The basement contains offices for the justice of the peace, an assembly room, ladies' parlor, and the necessary utility rooms. The first floor is occupied by the offices of the county treasurer, clerk, assessor, recorder, county engineer, auditor, and superintendent of schools. The district and county courtrooms, with offices for the judges, reporter, and attorneys, are on the second floor. The third floor contains the jury...

This courthouse contains a series of oil murals depicting the region in the 19th century. The murals were painted by Ruth Monro Augur under the auspices of the WPAs Federal Art Program: "Ruth Munro Augur, nationally known muralist, was forced on WPA rolls during the Depression because her commissions fell off so badly. She worked for $57.50 a month while painting the murals. She officially began on Dec. 1, 1935, but a great deal of tedious research was necessary before the artist could begin to apply paint to the canvas. Every detail had to be correct and the artist was handicapped by...

Public elementary school in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. Cornerstone says 1936 so assume that was completion date. The building has been added onto a few times and is still in use as an elementary school. The district's architect says it "has good bones" so the district is implementing a $5.5 million expansion and complete renovation to continue serving up to 500 students for years to come. "The entrance is accessed by two wide sets of concrete stairs, with 7 and 9 steps. The stairs have brick sidewalks. The north and south sections of the building are slightly projected. The building architect and...

"The Garvin County building was WPA-constructed. The cornerstone shows the date of 1941. Above the entrance, is the date 1942. The building is in excellent condition and houses several community headquarters, including the 911 services, the Red Cross, Big Five Community Services Employment/Training, and the Delta Community Action Foundation... The entrance faces south and has a wide stone surround. Engraved above the entrance is "GARVIN COUNTY / 1942"..."   (https://www.waymarking.com)

L shaped building on the north side of Gate, Beaver County. A description is contained in the NRHP listed below in Sources.

"In 1939, the WPA constructed tennis courts (no longer in existence), rock retaining walls, concrete footbridges, and stone drainage ditches. The retaining wall has vertical piers at the top, which served as parking ‘curbs’ for street level parking.”   There is a “WPA shield engraved on a rock in the drainage ditch area.”

“Because the private Goodland Academy was consolidated with an adjacent public school district in the 1930s, the Presbyterian-sponsored orphanage that was founded in the nineteenth century was given WPA funds to add buildings to its campus. A grade school building, gym/auditorium, a shop building, and a hospital were added. The school and gym are still used as intended. The buildings are unique in that  pieces of white quartz are used in a decorative manner throughout the stone work of the buildings. Although (as of 2012) Goodland is planning additional construction, the old buildings will be retained. Administrator David Dearinger estimated that...

"The rock wall on the east and south sides of Gracelawn Cemetery on Danforth was completed in 1940 as a WPA project. Appearing to have been constructed out of leftovers from other projects (smile) it is extremely unique and fascinating."   (https://www.waymarking.com)

This modest stone schoolhouse was built by the WPA in 1938. It is still in use, although a 1985 Oklahoma Landmarks Survey of the site reveals that by then it had already been altered with extensions: "Originally a four-room school house, the Grand View building is rectangular and constructed of uncut and uncoursed native stone laid in a random rubble pattern. Window jambs and corners have been squared with poured concrete. The roof is hipped with two interior chimneys; a small intersecting hipped roof extends as a cover to an enclosed entryway on the east front. Window openings extend to the...

These grandstands were constructed in 1939 by the Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA). They once belonged to Gray High School. Today Idabel Middle School uses them. On the side is a bronze WPA shield showing the year 1939.

Gray Horse (also spelled Grayhorse, Greyhorse) is an Osage Indian ceremonial town in Osage county, Oklahoma. The WPA constructed a school for the town in 1939. "Designed by A.J. Love, architect of many public structures in north east Oklahoma in the early part of 20th century, this was one of, if not his last, designs. Consisting of four class rooms and a large gymnasium/auditorium, it was built with a combination of quarried sandstone, native field stone, and limestone, with liberal use of arched entryways. The combination is striking, even after years of abandonment. The school operated until 1962, when is was...

"Greenville School is a ten-room school built in 1937-1938 by the WPA. It is a long, flat-roofed building constructed of rusticated and coursed native sandstone from the local area. "The larger window units have been covered with wood paneling, leaving just a small one-over-one window. A shield on the front wall reads 'USA 1939 WPA Oklahoma' but it appears to be a replica and not the original shield. "The website below shows photos of the building as it appeared in 1985, revealing the window units to be triple 9-over-9 windows."

"This 1939 WPA constructed school is located on county road E590, northwest of Inola. The Gregory area is a 3-square mile area considered a Census-designated place, and not an official town. The school appears to be in good condition, and occupied, but it does not appear to be used as a school at this time. The playground equipment in the yard is quite old and in disrepair. "This is a rectangular building with a gabled composition shingled roof. It is constructed of cut, coursed and rusticated native stone. The ribbon windows are set in groups of three. The centered entrance has...

From Waymarking.com: "This gymnasium was constructed in 1935 as a WPA project. It is a rectangular building constructed of coursed and rusticated native sandstone. The building is no longer in use, and is heavily overgrown with vines and plants. It appears on the Oklahoma Historical Society's Region 3 list under the town of Okmulgee."

This gymnasium was constructed in 1941-2 by the Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA). It is a one-story red brick building on South Main (Highway 81). The Hennessey grade school was attached to this gymnasium on the north side, but has been torn down. The wall of the old classroom building has the cornerstone showing 1941, and above that is mounted a bronze WPA shield showing 1941-2. More information is needed to determine whether or not this gymnasium is being used today.

"Halliburton was founded in 1919, and is one of the world's largest providers of products and services to the oil and gas industry. It employs more than 75,000 people, in approximately 80 countries. Named for this high-profile presence in Duncan, Halliburton Field was constructed as a WPA project in 1941, with an appropriation of $19,311. It is located at 17th and Pine. Stone and concrete walls and bleacher foundations, as well as ticket offices and locker rooms show the distinct use of native stone in Oklahoma WPA projects. The tall announcer's booth on the west wall has been added at a...

The WPA constructed this simple stone schoolhouse in 1938. It is still in use today. A 1985 Oklahoma Landmarks Survey of WPA projects described the structure in detail: "This school of twelve to fourteen rooms in a single-story, rectangular (200' x 60') structure constructed of uncut native stone in buff and auburn colors with beaded masonry in a random rubble. The roof is flat with parapets. The front doors are recessed behind square entryways outlined in concrete. The windows on the front have continuous lentils and sills... Few structures in Hanna can compare to it in scale. The strategic placement of the...

"This project consisted of several buildings, walls and structures to provide an athletic field for the local high school. The area consists of 65 acres, five buildings and seven miscellaneous structures. Visitors enter the field from the south, through a 24 ft. wide archway which reads "HARMON FIELD." The arch is supported by two stone-covered posts... Flanking the entry on the east and west of the ticket booths are two stone field houses. Originally, these were dressing rooms, but are now used as rest rooms. These buildings and the ticket booths have buff-colored, rough-cut native stone blocks from the ground to...

"Alice Harn Park is located at 13th and Shartel. The land was donated as a gift to the children of Oklahoma City in 1910. The park is a green belt - a long strip with two circular ends, much like a barbell. At the south end of the park, a native stone wall has been constructed. The wall is approximately four feet high and twelve feet long, with a center section which rises another three feet. The wall and bench area are accessed by wide, two-tiered stone steps. Facing this wall are two large semi-circular stone benches. To the south of...