Pennsylvania Sites

Shippensburg University's Shearer Hall was constructed as a Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) project in 1937. It was "named in 1941 for Simon S. Shearer, science professor and chair of the Science Department."

Then known as Shippensburg State Teachers College, Shippensburg University benefited during the Great Depression from a large construction project enabled by the federal Public Works Administration (PWA). The PWA provided a $208,000 grant for the project, whose final cost was $635,363. Construction occurred between September 1937 and October 1938. (PWA Docket No. 1803.) Five buildings were constructed on the campus: Henderson Gymnasium, Reed Operations Center, Rowland and Shearer Halls, and a power plant (since demolished).

Silver Lake Park sits in the Coastal Plain Province of Pennsylvania. "Owned by the Pennsylvania Railroad, the lake scarcely had any open water by the 1920's.  In 1927 the Pensylvania Railroad completed a survey and we believe it was them who marked the boundary with a square stone having a small hole at the top. You can find a few of these along the trails in the park. In 1935-6, the Pennsylvania Fish Commission purchased the lake which was mostly wetlands.  It was at this time that the Works Progress Administration (WPA) began work on the present lake, by then called Silver Lake. Most...

Skyline Drive was improved and a stone wall built by WPA workers along the road "from the Pagoda to McKnight's Gap," a distance of nearly three miles through a large area park.

Then known as the State Teachers College, Slippery Rock 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 $372,222 grant for the project, whose final cost was $1,123,981. Construction occurred between December 1937 and July 1939. (PWA Docket No. 1828.) Six buildings were constructed on the campus, including a science library. The present status of these structures is unknown to Living New Deal. The buildings were constructed as part of a multi-million dollar program to improve Pennsylvania’s teachers colleges. The General State Authority approved $842,000 in funding...

This is one of three subway stations along the Broad Street subway line, south of City Hall, whose construction was enabled by federal Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) funds. As a result of this project the subway was extended from Lombard South Station to Snyder Ave. Service here was inaugurated on Sept. 18, 1938.

The WPA began restoration efforts on the historic octagonal Sodom Schoolhouse, along Pennsylvania 45 east of Montandon, PA.

"WPA’s legacy is visible today in those and many other ways. Among projects in Wilkes-Barre were ... walls along Laurel Run, Mill and Solomon creeks."

Long planned, federal Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) funds enabled the development of the South Broad Street subway from its then-southern terminus at Lombard South Station to Snyder Ave., during the mid-to-late 1930s. Service along this stretch of subway was inaugurated at the three new subway stations: Ellsworth–Federal, Tasker–Morris, and Snyder, on Sept. 18, 1938. The Broad Street line was extended further south, decades later, to Pattison Ave.

The former South Canaan Consolidated School, located on Easton Tpke., was constructed with the aid of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The PWA provided a $20,950 grant for the project, whose total cost was $47,757. Construction occurred between Dec. 1937 and Jul. 1938. PWA Docket No. PA 1710

"Two Canonsburg WPA projects were authorized to begin in October 1935. One was the widening of South Central Avenue ..."

The South Mountain Reservoir was one of two giant reservoirs constructed during the mid-1930s as a New Deal project sponsored by the Public Works Administration (PWA). The reservoir is presently covered and part of a municipal park. The Morning Call: "This project, which is rapidly approaching completion, is making possible the construction of extensive water works improvements — which will assure the residents of Allentown a plentiful supply of good water. This large Public Words Administration project provided for the construction of two masonry distribution reservoirs having a combined capacity of approximately 35,000,000 gallons along with necessary extensions to the distribution...

"This project was undertaken to replace about 60 frame buildings which had been constructed at Mont Alto since 1907 and which were obsolete as well as fire hazards. Four new fireproof structures had already been built by the State with the assistance of the P.W.A. This program included the main hospital, the nurses' home, a women's-help dormitory, a garage, a kitchen and dining-hall building, the children's hospital, alterations and additions to the powerhouse, the steam distribution system, sewers, and the sewage disposal plant. The main hospital is six stories and a basement in height with a partial seventh story. It...

Among the 26 WPA projects in Allegheny County approved in Sept. 1935 were two allocations for improvements to South Park, which lies about 10 miles south of downtown Pittsburgh. The allocations were approved for "construction of a grandstand," for which the Federal government allocated $40,057 and local sponsors supplied $39,981; and "construction of picnic tables, shelters, and ovens," for which the Federal government allocated $26,118 and local sponsors supplied $18,604.

Philadelphia's historic Southwark Station post office was constructed in 1936 with federal Treasury Department funds. The building, which houses an example of New Deal artwork, is still in service.

Philadelphia's historic Southwark Station post office contains two Section of Fine Arts murals by Robert E. Larter. The oil on canvas murals were painted in 1938 and entitled "Iron Plantation Near Southwark - 1800" and "Shipyards at Southwark - 1800." : In 1938, the Section of Fine Arts commissioned the 26 year old artist Robert E. Larter to paint two oil-on-canvas murals on opposite ends of the post office’s interior. They are respectively titled “Iron Plantation Near Southwark – 1800″ and “Shipyards at Southwark-1800.” The shipyard mural is inaccessible to the public, since the post office built a wall of mailboxes two feet...

An addition to Pennsylvania State University's Sparks Building was constructed 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.

What is now the Spring Cove School District Building in Roaring Spring, PA was built in 1936-7 as a New Deal project: the Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $70,650 grant for the school construction project in Bradford, whose total cost was $159,117. PWA Docket No. PA 1027

Constructed with U.S. Treasury Department funds in 1937.

"Philadelphia artist Walter Gardner (1902-1996) painted “The Streets of Philadelphia” in 1937 for the Spring Garden Post Office, one of many across the country built as part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal.  The painting depicts a bustling street scene with workers unloading goods in front of the Merchant Exchange on Dock Street.  Murals like this one represent an important chapter in American history, when federal policies encouraged the production of art “for the masses” to combat the economic and social challenges wrought by the Great Depression.  Gardner was an English-born painter who emigrated to Philadelphia as a teenager and studied...

A project involving "some alterations and equipment for the Spring Hill elementary school" was undertaken in 1936 as part of a New Deal project, sponsored by the Public Works Administration (PWA). The PWA provided a $24,083 grant for the project, whose total cost was $58,781. PWA Docket No. PA 1156

"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 Squirrel Hill Station post office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was constructed in 1938 with federal Treasury Department funds. The building, which houses a New Deal mural in its lobby, is still in use today.

The post office contains a 1942 Section of Fine Arts mural entitled "History of Squirrel Hill." The oil on canvas mural was painted by Alan Thompson.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) worked to improve Johnstown, Pennsylvania's Stackhouse Park during the Great Depression.

A sizable retaining wall and pedestrian staircase were constructed by the W.P.A. on the north side of Union Street, between S. 10th St. and S. Poplar St.. An inscription on the Union Street retaining wall west of the staircase entrance declares: "Constructed by the Works Progress Administration and the City of Allentown, 1937."

"The stone steps that run from Union Street down to Martin Luther King Boulevard in Allentown were built by WPA." mcall.com, 2011: "he stairway from Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, once Lawrence Street, stretches from Fountain Park to the Union Street retaining wall, which is 50 feet high and two blocks long. Homes clung to the hillside at Lawrence Street, just steps from the barbed-wire factories that once occupied the open field. "For them, it was very difficult to get up and down that hillside," Whelan said. So the WPA built stairs." The staircase features one entrance on Martin Luther King Boulevard (at S 10th St.),...

"The new Finance Department Building of the State capitol group at Harrisburg makes possible the gathering into one building of related units of the State government which were formerly widely scattered. The monumental character of the structure and the use of stone for the entire exterior was dictated by its position opposite the Education Building at the northeast end of the Capitol Plaza. It provides quarters for the departments of the auditor general, revenue, and State treasurer. It has a volume of approximately 6,800,000 cubic feet and its estimated cost is $4,736,270. It is expected to be completed toward the close of 1939."

Referring to projects accomplished by the Public Works Administration, The Indiana Gazette writes in 1937: "Five combination garage and office buildings at Allentown, Carlisle, New Castle, Bedford and Greensburg, have been built for the State Highway Department. These modern structures will house the road equipment used by the Highway Department and will provide adequate office space for its maintenance forces." This building, identified by Lehigh County assessment details as being constructed during the 1930s, is still being used by the Transportation Department (now PennDOT).

Referring to projects accomplished by the Public Works Administration, The Indiana Gazette writes in 1937: "Five combination garage and office buildings at Allentown, Carlisle, New Castle, Bedford and Greensburg, have been built for the State Highway Department. These modern structures will house the road equipment used by the Highway Department and will provide adequate office space for its maintenance forces." The PWA building is the the still-active PennDOT facility on Donohoe Road.

Referring to projects accomplished by the Public Works Administration, The Indiana Gazette writes in 1937: "Five combination garage and office buildings at Allentown, Carlisle, New Castle, Bedford and Greensburg, have been built for the State Highway Department. These modern structures will house the road equipment used by the Highway Department and will provide adequate office space for its maintenance forces." Pennsylvania Dept. of Transportation and the county highway department are housed at a facility at 1800 Wilmington Rd. This was the building constructed with PWA funds.

Referring to projects accomplished by the Public Works Administration, The Indiana Gazette writes in 1937: "Five combination garage and office buildings at Allentown, Carlisle, New Castle, Bedford and Greensburg, have been built for the State Highway Department. These modern structures will house the road equipment used by the Highway Department and will provide adequate office space for its maintenance forces." The Carlisle facility has since been replaced. The former building is presently in use by the school department.

Construction of a Highway Department facility in Media was undertaken as part of a sizable a New Deal project; the then-Department of Highways and Public Works Administration (PWA) provided the funds for the building's construction in 1937-8, along with many similar structures in other parts of Pennsylvania. The location and status of this building is presently unknown to Living New Deal. The PWA provided a $59,400 grant for the project, whose total cost was $136,751. "Construction of 19 new garage and office buildings in as many counties has just been completed by the Department of Highways ... marking another forward step in the drive to...

Construction of a Highway Department facility in Scranton was undertaken as part of a sizable a New Deal project; the then-Department of Highways and Public Works Administration (PWA) provided the funds for the building’s construction in 1937, along with many similar structures in other parts of Pennsylvania. The location and status of this building is presently unknown to Living New Deal. The PWA provided a $54,642 grant for the project, whose total cost was $127,163. "Construction of 19 new garage and office buildings in as many counties has just been completed by the Department of Highways ... marking another forward step in the drive to develop...

Construction of a Highway Department facility in Washington, PA was undertaken as part of a sizable a New Deal project; the then-Department of Highways and Public Works Administration (PWA) provided the funds for the building’s construction in 1937, along with many similar structures in other parts of Pennsylvania. The location and status of this building is presently unknown to Living New Deal. The PWA provided a $85,950 grant for the project, whose total cost was $216,139. "Construction of 19 new garage and office buildings in as many counties has just been completed by the Department of Highways ... marking another forward step in the drive to...

Construction of a Highway Department facility in York was undertaken as part of a sizable a New Deal project; the then-Department of Highways and Public Works Administration (PWA) provided the funds for the building’s construction in 1937, along with many similar structures in other parts of Pennsylvania. The location and status of this building is presently unknown to Living New Deal. The PWA provided a $73,174 grant for the project, whose total cost was $167,694. "Construction of 19 new garage and office buildings in as many counties has just been completed by the Department of Highways ... marking another forward step in the drive to develop maximum...

Pennsylvania State Route 917 in Washington County was developed from a dirt road as a WPA project. A WPA laborer who worked on the project told Washington, PA's Observer-reporter: "There was an old stone quarry on the old Jacobs Farm (near the road). The workers would dig up the stones at the quarry, break them with sledgehammers and then haul them to the road. Those stones became the base for Route 917."

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) undertook a modest project to paint the since-demolished Charles Steele School in Northumberland, Pennsylvania. The school had been located at the western corner of Orange St. and 6th St.

An addition to Pennsylvania State University's Steidle Building was constructed 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 federal Civil Works Administration constructed numerous storm sewers in Greenville, Pennsylvania between 1933 and 1934. According to Greenville's Record-Argus, these "projects include the Bentley avenue, Short street, Brockway, Lever-Morgan, Shady, Rooney, Main, Canal and Bessemer street storm sewers."