Pennsylvania Sites

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) conducted the following work at the former Ridge Avenue school in Darby, Pennsylvania: "grade the grounds on the Tenth street side of the Ridge avenue school grounds and ... enlarge the cement court to the Tenth street fence and the line of the property of the Friends' Meeting." The school, which was located at the western corner of Ridge Ave. and N 10th St., is no longer extant.

CWA retaining wall project at the River Street ramp of the Hill-to-Hill Bridge was approved in 1933 and construction began in January 1934. In addition to the retaining wall, the roadway was rebuilt "to provide proper drainage" (Projects, 1935, p. 18). Northampton County experienced delays in a number of CWA projects approved in 1933, and the Hill-to-Hill Bridge work was one of the two (other was City Hall project in Easton) that were priority resumptions when others were delayed. River Street is located on Sands Island.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) and Works Progress Administration (WPA) each worked to develop Riverside Park in Greenville, Pennsylvania during the 1930s.

"In 1941, WPA workers built the visitors' center, a fountain and stone entrance walls at Riverview Park on the North Side, a project spearheaded by Griswold. Out-of-work Pittsburghers also made drainage repairs, paved roads and improved entrances in Riverview Park, Ms. Rademacher said."

Among a set of 26 WPA projects approved for Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in Sept. 1935 was the "completion of work on Natrona Heights road No. 2." The Federal government allocated $56,798 for the project and local sponsors contributed $17,493. The exact road identified in this story is unclear to Living New Deal.

Road improvement/development work was undertaken in Archbald, Pennsylvania with the aid of New Deal funds. The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $35,550 grant for one project, whose total cost was $64,499. PWA Docket No. PA 1919

Among a set of 26 WPA projects in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania approved in Sept. 1935 was "completion of the Monongahela-Elizabeth Road, Forward township." The project was to be completed at a cost of $6,380 to the Federal government, with $2,914 contributed by local sponsors. The road in question is likely Bunola Road.

Among a set of 26 WPA projects approved for Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in Sept. 1935 was the "construction of brick gutter and grade street crossings" in Glassport, PA. The Federal government allocated $4,780 for the project and local sponsors contributed $1,230.

Among a set of 26 WPA projects approved for Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in Sept. 1935 was the "construction of gutters and drains; grading road in Skyline boulevard, Renziehausen park" in McKeesport. The Federal government allocated $13,080 for the project and local sponsors contributed $2,115.

Among a set of 26 WPA projects approved for Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in Sept. 1935 was "increasing width of roadway in Snowden township." (Snowden is an unincorporated community within South Park Township.) The Federal government allocated $3,688 for the project and local sponsors contributed $1,865.

The monumental Moderne-style Robert N. C. Nix Federal Building, sometimes known as the William Penn Annex, was constructed under the auspices of the federal Public Works Administration (PWA) between 1937 and 1941. Its exterior features multiple examples of New Deal artwork. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. However, according to Mary Manfredi, the building is not listed on the Philadelphia Register and "it is not legally protected from alterations or demolition."    

The four large granite bas reliefs installed along the side of the William Penn Annex/Robert N. C. Nix Federal Building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania were carved by Edmond R. Amateis. They are collectively titled "Mail Delivery – North, South, East, West," and were created in 1941 with funding from the Treasury Section of Fine Arts.

The two large granite reliefs "Law" and "Justice", as well as two large stone eagles, were carved by Donald De Lue. They were commissioned by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts in 1940. They are installed around the exterior of the William Penn Annex/Robert N. C. Nix Federal Building.

During the early days of the New Deal, Public Works Administration (PWA) funding helped to complete a new Robert Packer Hospital facility after a devastating fire: "... the hospital received a Public Works Administration loan of up to $420,000 to complete the new hospital." The following is part of a story that ran in The Towanda Daily Review upon the opening of the new hospital building: The Times-Tribune: “This new building which is opened to the public today is the consummation of the dream friends of Packer Hospital have had for many years necessitated by, and subsequently constructed after, the serious fire of May...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) completed improvements on Route 307, heading south from Scranton toward the Poconos, and to New York City. The project also included work on the scenic overlook with a parking lot located on the side of Route 307, at the coordinates noted below. Contributor note: A family member worked on the WPA project that improved Route 307.

"Stone retaining walls that line streets and highways throughout the region -- along Route 611 in Easton, Spruce Street in Tamaqua and Carlton Avenue in Bethlehem -- were WPA projects." The precise location of these walls along Route 611 in Easton is presently unclear to Living New Deal.

Shippensburg University's Rowland Hall was constructed as a Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) project in 1939. "Built as the campus training school," the building "was dedicated to President Albert Lindsay Rowland in 1941."

"The bandshell, originally called the Municipal Music Pavilion, was ... under the Works Progress Administration (WPA)." "A souvenir program from the 1940 dedication provides the history and details of the original construction.  The project was proposed to Johnstown City Council in 1937 by a local community association who later agreed to raise funds for the required sponsor’s share for a WPA project.  After Council’s approval, community representatives visited a recently completed bandshell in Hagerstown, MD, and subsequently established the Johnstown Music Pavilion Committee.  For the proposed pavilion, the sponsor’s share was to be only $5,000, but with modifications and additions...

The Works Progress Administration built sidewalks on S. Canal Street in Sharpsburg PA.

Mcall.com article: Union Terrace, Jordan Park, Fountain Park and the Lehigh Parkway in Allentown and Saucon Park, Monocacy Park and Franklin Park at Sand Island in Bethlehem were built under WPA and its precursor ...   "Probably it would have taken 50 years of slow progress to accomplish what has been done under WPA in two years," Robert J. Wheeler, then-secretary to the Allentown Planning Commission, told The Morning Call in 1937.

A sanitary sewer construction project in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania was undertaken during the Great Depression with the aid of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The PWA supplied a $55,800 grant for the project, whose total cost was $121,391. Work occurred between December 1938 and August 1939. (PWA Docket No. PA X2116)

Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) workers constructed sanitary sewers in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

Saucon Park was one of numerous parks in Bethlehem, PA developed by New Deal agencies during the Great Depression. Mcall.com article: Union Terrace, Jordan Park, Fountain Park and the Lehigh Parkway in Allentown and Saucon Park, Monocacy Park and Franklin Park at Sand Island in Bethlehem were built under WPA and its precursor ...   "Probably it would have taken 50 years of slow progress to accomplish what has been done under WPA in two years," Robert J. Wheeler, then-secretary to the Allentown Planning Commission, told The Morning Call in 1937. " compares the WPA work to what the ancient Egyptians achieved when they...

A project: "traffic separation for Saw Mill Run and West Liberty Ave.," entailing the construction of a bridge on Saw Mill Run Blvd., was undertaken in Pittsburgh as part of a New Deal project sponsored by the Public Works Administration (PWA).

"Construction for Kutztown State Teachers College's Schaeffer Auditorium began in 1938 by the General State Authority with funding from the Public Works Administration. Schaeffer was part of a large construction program announced by KSTC president Dr. Quincy A. W. Rohrbach who led the school from 1934-1959. The program included the construction of the portico on the north entrance to Old Main, a greenhouse for the study of plant germination and conversion of the existing chapel to a dining hall. During construction Rohrbach would have to fight to keep the government contractors from painting over Schaeffer's copper dome. Construction crews felt the...

11 WPA bridges exist on the Lake Trail. Just above Panther Hollow Lake, two small streams emerge from the bifurcated Hollow. Nearly a dozen small bridges cross the two streams. One of these branches extends northward to the Tufa Bridge below the Visitor Center. This trail suffers from neglect and flood damage and is nearly impassable. The other stream flows from the east from the area near Barlett Dr. Higher on the sides of this hollow are the Upper and Lower Panther Hollow Bridle Paths. Along the stream, the Lake Trail links the Bridle Path to Panther Hollow Lake. Today, the...

Schlegel Park in Reading, Pennsylvania is one of many local parks that was improved by the WPA during the New Deal. WPA workers constructed a new field house in the park.

The original component of what is now Blain Elementary School was built in 1936 as a New Deal project: the Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $18,090 grant for the project, whose total cost was $43,376. Perry County Times: "he most prominent building in Blain is the red brick school. It also stands out in the minds of many who attended Blain High School, Blain Junior High and Blain Elementary. The original brick building was built in 1936 and housed 12 grades for children in Blain Borough." PWA Docket No. PA 1293

A school building was constructed in Sunbury as a New Deal project. The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $88,730 grant for the project, whose total cost was $201,354. PWA Docket No. PA 1607. Living New Deal believes it's the original construction of what's now Shikellamy High School.

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed a school in Kistler, Pennsylvania. The structure has since been destroyed by fire.

Among a set of 26 WPA projects approved for Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in Sept. 1935 was "painting and repairing school buildings" in Millvale. The Federal government allocated $24,004 for the project and local sponsors contributed $6,061.

Among a set of 26 WPA projects approved for Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in Sept. 1935 was "repairing plaster and and repainting interior of school building" in Tarentum. The Federal government allocated $1,478 for the project and local sponsors contributed $500. The location and status of the building in question is presently unknown to Living New Deal.

Among a set of 26 WPA projects approved for Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in Sept. 1935 was "improvements and repairs at Josephine and Chicora streets school building" in East McKeesport, PA. The Federal government allocated $4,600 for the project and local sponsors contributed $2,557. The precise location and present status of this project is unknown; Josephine St. and Chicora St. in East McKeesport do not intersect.

According to Greenville's Record Argus the federal Civil Works Administration painted the interior of two schools in Titusville, Pennsylvania in 1934. More information is needed to verify the exact location of these projects.

The historic Scotland School for Veterans' Children (SSVC) received a federal Public Works Administration (PWA) grant for the construction of one of more buildings on its campus. The PWA grant amounted to $228,000 of the eventual $748,952 cost of the project. Construction occurred from Dec. 1937 to Sept. 1939. Abandoned for several years after "cuts closed the 185-acre campus in 2009," in "2013 the Winebrenner Theological Seminary finalized a $1.8 million dollar deal to purchase and rehabilitate the campus," and as of 2017 what is now known as Scotland Campus was up and running. The identity, location, and current status of any...

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) provided labor to construct the Sea Scout Base at Riverside Park in Greenville, Pennsylvania between 1933 and 1934. The exact location and current status of the facility is unknown to Living New Deal.

The former Second Ward School in Bradford, PA, located at the northwest corner of Congress and Elm Streets, was built as a New Deal project. "The new Second Ward School was financed under the Public Works Administration, Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal of 1933.  It was part of an extensive building program which saw eight other schools (Bradford Senior High School, School Street Junior High, Earl J. Hyatt, West Branch, Hobson Place, Lee Driver, M.J. Ryan, Custer City, Fourth Ward, Third Ward and Lincoln) constructed in the Bradford area since 1925." The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $184,150 grant for the school...

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) completed a project "painting the second ward school building," in Mauch Chunk (now Jim Thorpe), Pennsylvania in Jan. 1934. The second ward of the city was known as Upper Mauch Chunk. The location and status of the school is unknown to Living New Deal.

The federal Civil Works Administration (CWA) constructed sewers in Grove City, Pennsylvania.

The WPA furnished labor for the construction of sewers and gutters in Sharon, Pennsylvania. Greenville's Record-Argus reported that some such work occurred during 1940.