Pennsylvania Sites

Harrisburg's 19th Street Armory was constructed in 1937-8 as a New Deal project. The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $28,752 grant for the project, whose total cost was $89,050. PWA Docket No. PA 1807.

The federal Civil Works Administration improved 4th Avenue— "ashing" the road—in Greenville, Pennsylvania between 1933 and 1934.

Pennsylvania State University's Ag Engineering building was one of a dozen buildings constructed on the campus during the Great Depression as part of a massive construction project enabled by the federal Public Works Administration (PWA). The building is still in use today.

The W.P.A. helped to develop what was then known as the Allentown–Bethlehem–Easton airport, now Lehigh Valley International Airport. Wikipedia: "The airport hangar served as the passenger terminal; the first terminal building at the airport was built in 1938 as a Works Projects Administration (WPA) project."

The Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) supplied funds to enable additions to what was then the Allegheny County Home and Hospital, later Woodville State Hospital.

"The construction of this hospital plant was begun in 1929 but work was discontinued in 1931 due to financial difficulties. It was resumed in 1935 with the aid of the P.W.A. and when completed covered most of a site of 4 1/2 acres and included a 20-story hospital building, a 9-story nurses' home, and a power-house supplying the entire institution. The hospital building contains 1,200 rooms of which 162 are for private patients, and it increases the total bed capacity of the institution by more than 50 percent. In the plan, all of the departments which are related in service permit...

"The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) provided jobs to people willing to work towards reforestation of cut-over timber land and was the progenitor organization of the Allegheny National Forest. A number of CCC camps and CCC associated property types are located within the  Forest including planted red pine plantations, including the first such effort at reforestation by the CCC in the United States." (https://www.fs.usda.gov) "The second CCC camp in the country opened on the Allegheny National Forest. These newest enrollees came to the Forest from Pittsburgh, the hard coal region around Scranton, south Philadelphia, and the deep South. They were immediately put to work...

Pittsburgh's then-new Allegheny River Road (as extended through Oakmont and Verona) was one road paved as part of New Deal efforts: the Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $212,472 grant for one Allegheny County highway improvement project undertaken in 1937, whose total cost was $466,667. PWA Docket No. PA 1366 STEEL: "Unstated tonnage, construction of county road, Oakmont-Verona boroughs, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania; estimated cost, $472,160. Federal allotment of $212,472 granted." Pittsburgh Press: "Among the six miles of roads to be paved by PWA are the Allegheny River Blvd. extension, Ingomar Road, Buttermilk Hollow Rd., General Logan Blvd. to South Park, and part of the Ohio River Boulevard through...

Refurbishing of Reading, Pennsylvania's former Angelica Dam was made possible by the WPA. The dam was damaged in 2001 and is no longer extant.

The Anthony Township Building in Anthony Township, Pennsylvania was originally constructed as a consolidated school by the Work Projects Administration (WPA). The semi-fireproof brick and tile building featured "four large class rooms, health room, boys and girls inside flush sanitary toilets, drinking fountains," among other things.

Refurbishing of Reading, Pennsylvania's Antietam Dam, which created the Antietam Reservoir, was conducted by the WPA.

The Pennsylvania National Guard armory building at W Allen St. and 15th St. in Allentown was originally constructed in the late 1930s as a New Deal project. The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $40,000 grant for the project, whose total cost was $122,779. Primary construction occurred in 1936-7. PWA Docket No. 1847.

The Clearfield Armory was constructed in 1937-8 as a New Deal project. The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $29,118 grant for the project, whose total cost was $91,324. PWA Docket No. PA 1810.

The Coraopolis Armory was constructed in 1938 as a New Deal project. The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $34,908 grant for the project, whose total cost was $105,572. PWA Docket No. PA 1850.

The Lewisburg Armory was constructed in 1937-8 as a New Deal project. The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $28,726 grant for the project, whose total cost was $88,543. PWA Docket No. PA 1852.

The Williamsport Armory was constructed in 1937-8 as a New Deal project. The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $16,000 grant for the project, whose total cost was $47,896. PWA Docket No. PA 1822.

The former Ligonier Armory was constructed in 1937-8 as a New Deal project. The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $20,282 grant for the project, whose total cost was $63,948. The structure was demolished in the 2000s. PWA Docket No. PA 1835.

The former Tunkhannock Armory, which one article identifies as being on West Street*, was constructed with the aid of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The PWA provided a $28,392 grant for the project, whose total cost was $84,956. Construction occurred between Dec. 1937 and Jul. 1938. *Wyoming County Press Examiner: "Arrangements have been completed for groundbreaking ceremonies of the new Tunkhannock Armory on West Street." Living New Deal believes the old armory to be the privately-owned structure at 55 West Street (see photo); the site is consistent with the following description of the property (PA.us): Beginning at an iron pipe monument situate...

The Work Projects Administration (WPA) constructed Armory Road, which connects the armory in Sunbury, Pennsylvania to Mile High Road.

"Sarah Brock wished the Arthur Brock mansion demolished and in 1937 this work was completed under a work order from the WPA." The mansion was located in what is now known as Coleman Memorial Park; its exact location within the park is unknown to Living New Deal.

Among a set of 26 WPA projects approved for Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in Sept. 1935 was "grading and landscaping athletic field" in Mount Lebanon. The Federal government allocated $11,970 for the project and local sponsors contributed $2,336. The exact location of the field is unknown to Living New Deal.

"Harrison Construction Company was awarded a PWA contract in December 1935 to relocate a 2.3 mile section of Babcock Boulevard in McCandless and Pine Townships to eliminate dangerous curves."

"WPA’s legacy is visible today in those and many other ways" in Wilkes-Barre. "Travel was made easier when the East End Boulevard was straightened out and crucial highway links in the Back Mountain and West Side areas were constructed, all by WPA workers."

Bardo Gymnasium, now a part of the Pennsylvania College of Technology, was originally built as part of Williamsport High School. Sometimes mis-attributed to the WPA, the gym was constructed in 1936-7 with the assistance of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. PWA Docket No.  PA 1080.

Bedford Dwellings was the first of Pittsburgh Housing Authority’s construction of low-cost housing. Dr. B. J. Hovde, the administrator, announced the contract would be awarded to Ring Construction Company with the low bid for the 420 units at $1,173,000. The completed project was proposed to cost $2,560,000 and cover a 20-acre site on Bedford Avenue. Low bidders on plumbing work was Moss and Blakely, heating was George H. Soffel and Company, and electrical was Sargent Engineering Company. Lumber and millwork was awarded to Atlas Lumber and Supply Company. Bedford Dwellings were ready for occupancy March 1, 1940 and able to...

In conjunction with what was known as the Ridge Avenue Connector, "the high speed electric rail transit line which connects the Ridge Avenue—Eighth Street—Locust Street Subway in Philadelphia with a terminal near the Broadway Station of the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines in Camden, is the largest of the completed Public Works Administration projects in Pennsylvania," as of 1937. Work involved development of a rail line across what is now the Ben Franklin Bridge.

A WPA project in Reading, Pennsylvania involved "washing all of the exterior of the old 19-story county courthouse" and painting its interior. The project provided work for 19 laborers during the summer of 1939.

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) provided funding toward the paving of previously unpaved roads in Scranton, Pennsylvania. "The costliest job ... was the paving of Birch Street from Pittston Avenue to Crown Avenue, at an estimated cost of $63,469."

Then known as the Bloomsburg State Teachers College, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania benefited during the Great Depression from a large construction project enabled by the federal Public Works Administration (PWA). The PWA provided a $184,604 grant for the project, whose final cost was $584,097. Construction occurred between January 1938 and July 1939. (PWA Docket No. 1866.) Four buildings were constructed on the campus, including a gymnasium and shop/storage building. The present status of these structures is unknown to Living New Deal.

Public Works Administration (PWA) funded the construction of an athletic field at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania in Bloomsburg PA. Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, then known as the Bloomsburg State Teachers College, benefited during the Great Depression from a large construction project enabled by the PWA. The agency provided a $184,604 grant for the project, whose final cost was $584,097. Construction occurred between January 1938 and July 1939. (PWA Docket No. 1866.) Four buildings were constructed on the campus, including a gymnasium and shop/storage building. The present status of these structures is unknown to Living New Deal. According to the Bloomsburg University Archives, "The...

Public Works Administration (PWA) funded the construction of the Centennial Gymnasium building at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania in Bloomsburg PA. Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, then known as the Bloomsburg State Teachers College, benefited during the Great Depression from a large construction project enabled by the PWA. The agency provided a $184,604 grant for the project, whose final cost was $584,097. Construction occurred between January 1938 and July 1939. (PWA Docket No. 1866.) Four buildings were constructed on the campus, including a gymnasium and shop/storage building. According to the Bloomsburg University Archives, "During the Depression the only money available for campus construction was from...

Public Works Administration (PWA) funded the construction of the Navy Hall at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania in Bloomsburg PA. Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, then known as the Bloomsburg State Teachers College, benefited during the Great Depression from a large construction project enabled by the PWA. The agency provided a $184,604 grant for the project, whose final cost was $584,097. Construction occurred between January 1938 and July 1939. (PWA Docket No. 1866.) Four buildings were constructed on the campus, including a gymnasium and shop/storage building. The present status of these structures is unknown to Living New Deal. According to the Bloomsburg University Archives, "Navy Hall,...

Public Works Administration (PWA) funded the construction of a shop/storage building at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania in Bloomsburg PA. Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, then known as the Bloomsburg State Teachers College, benefited during the Great Depression from a large construction project enabled by the PWA. The agency provided a $184,604 grant for the project, whose final cost was $584,097. Construction occurred between January 1938 and July 1939. (PWA Docket No. 1866.) Four buildings were constructed on the campus, including a gymnasium and shop/storage building.  According to the Bloomsburg University Archives, "The Shop and Storage building was built in 1938 to house the majority...

Public Works Administration (PWA) funded the construction of the Tennis Courts at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania in Bloomsburg PA. Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, then known as the Bloomsburg State Teachers College, benefited during the Great Depression from a large construction project enabled by the PWA. The agency provided a $184,604 grant for the project, whose final cost was $584,097. Construction occurred between January 1938 and July 1939. (PWA Docket No. 1866.) Four buildings were constructed on the campus, including a gymnasium and shop/storage building. The present status of these structures is unknown to Living New Deal. According to the Bloomsburg University Archives, "A set...

"In 1935, the National Park Service created the Blue Knob National Recreation Demonstration Area to provide recreation to the people of Altoona and Johnstown. The Works Progress Administration employed local workers to build cabins, hiking trails and roads. Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Company 2327 arrived in October of 1939. After building Camp NP-7, the young men aided in creating the park recreational facilities. World War II ended the CCC. On September 26, 1945, the National Park Service transferred Blue Knob to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and it became Blue Knob State Park." "Since the CCC years, facilities of the park have...

The historic Wilkinsburg Borough Building—also home to the public library—was built in 1939 as a New Deal project: the Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $130,014 grant for the project, whose total cost was $407,643. PWA Docket No. PA 2209

The historic Emmaus Borough Hall was constructed between 1938 and 1939 with the assistance of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The PWA supplied a $41,422 grant for the project, whose total cost was $87,141. PWA Docket No. PA X1902.

Towanda's historic Borough Hall building was constructed in 1934 as a New Deal project: the Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $7,283 grant for the project, whose total cost was $25,866. PWA Docket No. PA 2005

The historic Ambler Borough Hall was originally constructed as the community's post office ca. 1937. An example of New Deal artwork constructed for the building has since been relocated.

What is now North East's New Deal Borough Hall was originally built as the North East post office during the mid-1930s by the US Treasury.