Pennsylvania Sites

"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."

East Lampeter Township in Pennsylvania received a new school building in 1937 as part of a New Deal project; the facility was financed in part by the Public Works Administration. The PWA supplied a $50,768 grant for the project, whose total cost was $122,170. The location and status of the facility is presently unknown to Living New Deal. Interestingly, the township had intended to auction off the "little red schoolhouses," attended by local Amish children, which this facility replaced. However, the motion was blocked by a Federal judge on March 2, 1938, and the sect won the right to continue sending their children to 'simple'...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) built East Park in Connellsville, Pennsylvania between 1936 and 1940.  “In January 1936, Connellsville came together for suggestions to transform the dump back into a more recreational attraction….This transformation started in 1936 and continued until 1940. One of the first things to happen at this site was a fence being built to keep out trucks from dumping. One of the first improvements created as a playground area. By August 1939, many were starting to use the playground area for recreation and even boxing exhibitions.” “As the East Park improvements continued, they were also put on hold with...

The East Side 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 system." The...

Then known as the East Stroudsburg State Teachers College, East Stroudsburg 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 $202,000 grant for the project, whose final cost was $627,788. Primary construction work occurred between 1938 and 1939. (PWA Docket No. 1855.) Four buildings were constructed on the campus, including a gymnasium, dorm, and dining hall. The buildings are still extant.

Then known as Edinboro State Teachers College, Edinboro University benefited during the Great Depression from a large construction project enabled by the federal Public Works Administration (PWA). The PWA provided a $228,000 grant for the project, whose final cost was $719,763. Construction occurred between February 1938 and March 1939. (PWA Docket No. 1856.) Four buildings were constructed on the campus, including a gymnasium, auditorium, and power plant. The present status of these structures is unknown to Living New Deal.

Philadelphia's Edward W. Bok Technical High School was constructed with federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds between 1936 and 1938.

Originally constructed as a high school, what is now Eisenhower Middle School in Norristown, PA was built as a New Deal project: the Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $487,086 grant for the project, whose total cost was $1,114,009. Construction was completed in April 1938. "The building contains 65 rooms, including shops, laboratories, music rooms, an auditorium seating 2,011 people, a cafeteria for 600, a library for 120, and 2 gymnasiums which when thrown together make a room 88 by 112 feet. There is an outdoor theater and stage, with sloping, sodded seats of 3,300 capacity. The building is fireproof. The exterior...

Johnstown, Pennsylvania's Tribune-Democrat reported in 2012 that the Election House in Stonycreek Township, PA (in the village of Shanksville) was "constructed through President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration. It dates to about 1936 and voting has been held there since 1940." The building is located north of Corner Stone Road at the municipal park, between Rhoads Creek and the Shanksville-Stonycreek School District.

Pennsylvania State University's Electrical Engineering West 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.

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.

Originally known as "Port Erie Airport," what is now Erie International Airport was developed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the 1930s. "Besides the privately-owned airport at Fairview, a modern airport, Port Erie, was completed in 1937 by the Works Progress Administration and the city. Air mail service was inaugurated on May 19, 1938." (WPA Guide) "On January 15, 1936 the mayor, Charles R. Barber announced that the City of Erie planned to sponsor under the Work Projects Administration, ... In March of 1936 it was announced that engineers of the Federal Government were to make a survey of the field...

"The Art Gallery, also on the second floor" of the main branch of the Erie Public Library housed, among other works, "Two interesting paintings by Harry Klopp, done under the WPA Federal Art Project, are Robin Hood and The Pied Piper of Hamlin." The library has since relocated, and the current status of the paintings is unknown to Living New Deal.

The former F. L. Garrison Memorial School was constructed as a New Deal project in 1938-9. The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $269,100 grant for the project, whose total cost was $516,456. PWA Docket No. PA 1903

This red brick post office building was built in 1936 as Philadelphia's Fairmount Station post office, and is now the Fairmount carrier annex.

"Fairmount Park has several WPA buildings in its repertoire. Not sure what WPA stands for? Think back to the Depression. Works Progress Administration (WPA) was a Federal program during the 1930's which put unemployed men back to work. Thousands of men worked in our park system to build shelters, dams, trails and walls. Much of the infrastructure we find in portions of the park today stems from this massive effort. The WPA built thirteen stone and log trail shelters, guard boxes, and comfort stations throughout Wissahickon Park between 1938 and 1939." The WPA built thirteen structures along Wissahickon Creek. Two are...

The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) developed Falls Road during the 1930s.

This PWA building is the "large arena" just off Cameron St. in the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center. "The new arena is of sufficient size to accommodate all livestock judging, with several classes being judged at the same time. The building is 346 by 230 feet in plan and the arena is 240 by 120 feet, with semicircular ends. The permanent seating, which rises in an unbroken ring around the arena, accommodates 8,250. The arena itself, when the hall is being used for conventions, seats 4,250 in temporary seats, thus providing a maximum capacity of 12,500. When the hall...

The historic federal courthouse in Erie, Pennsylvania is part of a complex of buildings that serve as a courthouse of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and other federal functions. According to the website of the General Services Administration, "A U.S. courthouse constructed at this location in 1888 was demolished to make way for the existing 1938 courthouse designed by Rudolph Stanley-Brown, a Cleveland architect who was the grandson of President James Garfield. Built during the Great Depression with funds from New Deal programs, its construction provided local jobs. The building was listed in the...

Pennsylvania State University's Ferguson 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.

A substantial infrastructure development project was undertaken in downtown McKeesport as part of a New Deal project, sponsored by the Public Works Administration (PWA). According to the Pittsburgh Press the project involved: "Raising and paving of Fifth Avenue and adjacent streets and alleys, approximately 3380 feet long, grant of $388,350, total estimated cost $863,000. The project provides also for elevating a number of houses to conform to the new street grade line." The eventual total cost was listed as $849,659, and the project also involved sewer construction. PWA Docket No. PA 1504

The Work Projects Administration (WPA) worked to develop and improve Fort Indiantown Gap in Pennsylvania. Work, approved in the fall of 1940, included "improvements to the landing field, construction and improvement of buildings and installation of sewer and electric lines."

Fort Necessity National Battlefield in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, preserves the site of the Battle of Fort Necessity. "In 1935-37, a Civilian Conservation Corps camp was located at Fort Necessity. The Corps constructed barracks and other support buildings at the site of the present day administration and maintenance facilities. The Fort Necessity Memorial Association had hoped the CCC would repair and restore the tavern, but very little, if any, of this work was actually done by the Corps. The Corps planted trees, constructed small dams, built bridges, culverts, picnic areas and roadways. The buildings were razed, but many of the other structures...

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.

The FDR Park Golf Course was constructed as a WPA project in 1936.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) conducted improvement work: "repainting and papering" at what was the Franklin Fire Company on Park Street in Towanda, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania State University's Frear North Laboratory 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.

"During the Great Depression in the 1930s, the Federal government purchased much of the land used for charcoal production as part of a national project to reclaim marginal lands. This project provided jobs and improved local economies by developing recreation sites called recreation demonstration areas. Two Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps were built at French Creek and operated until the early 1940s. The camps built two dams, two group camps, several tent camping areas, beaches, roads, picnic areas, and started the restoration process for the historic core of Hopewell Furnace." "The National Park Service built five Recreation Demonstration Areas through CCC and...

General Logan Boulevard, a.k.a. "the old Weyman-Baptist Rd., which links Overbrook with the South Park sector, has been re-christened," or, the "road from Saw Mill Run Boulevard to South Park," was one road paved as part of New Deal efforts, sponsored by the Public Works Administration (PWA). The road in question is likely what have since become Provost Road and Brownsville Road. 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 Haysville and Glenfield."

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) conducted a sewer project on George Street in York, Pennsylvania.

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) companies 385 and 1355—both African American units—restored, improved, and maintained Gettysburg National Military Park between 1933 and 1942. CCC projects in and around the battlefield included: road, trail, and fence construction; tree planting and maintenance; tree and stump removal; firefighting; snow shoveling; and utility pipe installation (presumably for water, sewage, or drainage). “The CCC also reconstructed the XII Corps earthworks on Culp’s Hill and provided manpower for the 75th anniversary commemoration of the battle in 1938” (James J. Campi, Jr., Hallowed Ground, 2013).   The CCC worked with the National Park Service (NPS) to plan projects with...

Construction of Shenandoah PA’s Girard Park began in September of 1936 with the support of funds from the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA allocated $93,000 for the development of the sixteen-acre park, with the rest of the cost to be shared with the city of Shenandoah. According to a contemporary report in Parks & Recreation magazine, Girard Park “was first designed for a bandstand but the newest plans call for children’s playground equipment, which will probably place the park cost at more than the anticipated $134,000.” The public park has played a central role in the community life of Shenandoah since...

A grade separation project was undertaken in Millvale, in 1938-9, as part of a New Deal project sponsored by the Public Works Administration (PWA). The PWA provided a $76,050 grant for the project, whose total cost was $163,052. PWA Docket No. PA 2023. The project likely occurred in the vicinity of William Penn Highway / E Ohio Street / Grant Avenue.

Coudersport, Pennsylvania received a new school building during the 1930s with the aid of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. Construction occurred between May 1936 and January 1937. The school is no longer in use and is now known as the Gunzburger County Office Building. PWA Docket No. W1108

"AT THE park's entrance is a 20-acre tract known as HARPER MEADOW, which was filled in and landscaped by WPA under sponsorship of the Friends of the Wissahickon, to serve as a picnic ground and a recreation spot. The plot which is named in honor of William Warner Harper, of Andorra, "a lover of nature in all its forms," was formally dedicated in the spring of 1937."

"WPA’s legacy is visible today in those and many other ways. Among projects in Wilkes-Barre were the retaining walls along North Main Street and Hazle Avenue ..." The exact location of the along Hazle Street of the wall is unknown to Living New Deal.

Shippensburg University's Henderson Gymnasium—originally known as Alumni Gymnasium and later Jessie S. Heiges Gymnasium—was constructed as a Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) project in 1938.

The Public Works Administration (PWA) sponsored the following: "Projects approved for Mercer County include alterations and addition to Hickory High school ..." The location and status of this facility is presently unknown to Living New Deal. PWA Docket No. PA 1953.

"In 1935, the National Park Service purchased Hickory Run to create a national recreation demonstration area. These areas were placed near large urban centers to provide fresh air recreation for lower class urban dwellers. In 1936, Works Progress Administration workers arrived and began building roads, trails, fire roads, water lines and the group camps. In 1939, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) established Camp NP-6. The CCC camp was adjacent to the current campground by the CCC Dam. A playground and open field now occupy the site where 200 young men had their camp. In 1945, the Hickory Run National Recreation Demonstration...

The high school in Berlin, PA was built in 1936-7 as a New Deal project: the Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $99,000 grant for the project, whose total cost was $222,713. The facility has been dramatically expanded. PWA Docket No. PA 1099