Texas Sites

The Mission Historical Museum (formerly post office) houses an example of New Deal artwork: "West Texas Landscape," an oil-on-canvas mural by Xavier Gonzalez. The work was commissioned by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts and was completed in 1942.

Mission San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo was first established in 1720, moved to another site briefly, and then was reestablished at this location in 1740. The site is near a ready source of water, later known as the San Antonio River. Franciscan priests came on behalf of the Spanish government to establish missions among the Coahuiltecan Indians. The Mission was four miles south of Mission San Antonio de Valero (the Alamo). Three more missions would be relocated nearby in 1731. San Jose would later be known as the "Queen of the Missions" due to the ornate carvings and...

Franciscan Monks established the Spanish Mission San Francisco de los Tejas in what is now East Texas in 1690. The monks were forced by the local Indians to abandon the mission in 1693. The monks burned the mission when they left. The discovery of a Spanish cannon barrel led to the park's development near the village of Weches, where the CCC set up a reforestation camp in 1933. The Texas Forest Service developed San Francisco Mission State Forest as a tourist attraction and commemoration of early Texas history, just in time for the Texas Centennial celebration in 1936. Those individuals involved in...

The Works Progress Administration built the Mitchell Street Bridge over the San Antonio River between 1935 and 1937. The steel stringer style two-lane bridge is still in use for vehicular traffic.

Among the Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects identified as completed in an El Paso Times article from June 7, 1936 was "Montana Street widening and storm ditch improvement, $5376."

The Works Progress Administration built theMontgomery County Courthouse Wall in Conroe TX. Waxahachie Daily Light excerpt: "Construct stone wall around courthouse yard, landscape grounds; Federal Funds $2,410; sponsor's funds $1,122; workers 36."

The Montopolis Bridge is a historic Parker through truss bridge across the Colorado River in Austin, Texas. On June 15, 1935, the City of Austin suffered a devastating flood along the Colorado River. The original Montopolis bridge, built by Travis County in the late 1880s, was one of five bridges washed away by the flood. The Texas Highway Department designed the current bridge and requested federal emergency relief funds from the Bureau of Public Roads to rebuild it. Work on the bridge began on February 15, 1937. The bridge was completed on February 11, 1938 by Vincennes Steel Corporation under contract...

The Works Progress Administration built the Moorevile School in Mooreville, Falls County. The project was funded by the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works. The federal government allotted $5000 and the city matched the school district with $7000 in bonds. This wood structure is located at the intersection of FM2643 and FM499A. It housed approximately eight classrooms. The Mooreville school district had ninety-seven students in 1933; the district was consolidated with the Chilton Independent School District in 1950. The school building was converted to a community center.

The Works Progress Administration built a seven-room school and gymnasium with field stone masonry walls on a concrete foundation in Morgan Mill, Texas in 1940. The official project number was 65-1-66-218. The building is still in use as an elementary school.

Morningside Elementary School was constructed during Fort Worth's $4.5 million school building program that was supported with PWA funds. The school was constructed in 1935-36 and has received later additions. It was designed by Earl T. Glasgow and constructed by J. M. Gurley. It is still used as an elementary school. The building program included extensive landscaping that was designed by Hare and Hare and constructed under the supervision of the Fort Worth Park Department. Morningside retains its WPA-built terrace and a drinking fountain that likely dates from the same era.

" was originally created from the Morris Sheppard Dam, a project of the Brazos River Authority and the Works Progress Administration. Construction was begun in 1938 and completed in 1941. The dam is 2,700 feet long and 190 feet high. The construction is unique with buttressed arched wings on either side of the nine spillway gates rather than the usual filled concrete." (Wikipedia)

Water Supply for Big Spring TX built by the Works Progress Administration.

Mother Neff State Park is located on the Leon River west of Moody, Texas in Coryell County and is administered by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The park consists of 259 acres of donated land. The park was constructed by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Company 817 between 1934 and 1938 and opened to the public as a state park in 1937. The park's initial 6 acres were donated by Mrs. Isabella Eleanor Neff, mother of Governor Pat Morris Neff in 1916. Upon her death in 1921, Governor Neff deeded 250 acres and Mr. Frank P. Smith deeded 3 acres. The CCC...

President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Muleshoe Migratory Waterfowl Refuge by executive order on October 24, 1935. In 1940 the name was changed to the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge. The original tract purchased for the refuge was 738 acres. The refuge is currently 6,440 acres. One of the primary purposes of the establishment of the refuge was to provide land that could be used to feed birds and thus reduce damage to commercial crops in the area. This would also decrease bird deaths by farmers protecting their crops from destruction. Additional benefits of building the refuge included providing a necessary link...

With WPA support, a school lunchroom was added to the Munday school for African Americans. Two women were certified to prepare and serve 40 meals a day, at a cost of five cents each. The school's PTA raised the money for the equipment.

Harlingen, Texas's historic Municipal Auditorium was constructed as a federal Public Works Administration (PWA) project during the Great Depression. The building, which has been extensively modified on multiple occasions, is still in use today. The PWA supplied a $60,000 loan and $23,700 grant toward the $87,089 total cost of the project. Work occurred between July 1935 and December 1936. (PWA Docket No. TX 4724)

Two Civil Works Administration murals were installed at the Municipal Auditorium Murals in San Antonio TX. Titled, "Texas Basket Maker Indians at their Daily Tasks," the murals were painted by Harry Anthony De Young and Gilbert F. Neumann. The murals for the auditorium walls were removed in 1935 by the mayor after the American Legion complained they had communistic symbols.  

In 1939, civic leaders in Greenville successfully submitted an application to the federal government to obtain funding through the Public Works Administration for a new municipal building. The white brick facade of the building, designed by local architect William R. Ragsdale, fused Art Deco and Modern styles. The lower floor housed offices for city government and civic organizations, such as the chamber of commerce. The jail and fire department used the building also. The upper floor was the municipal auditorium. Eckert & Fair Construction Co. of Dallas built the structure for $148,700. Upon completion, the building was dedicated on October 24, 1939,...

Two-story stone Art Moderne governmental building; symmetrical facades with recessed quadripartite windows; central entrance bay behind stepped recess with decorative metalwork around entrance and above central second-story window; central stepped parapet. A WPA project designed by architect Louis Wirtz, the building exemplifies one period of architecture in Seguin.

City Hall and auditorium erected 1940-1942. Rock building with clock tower.

Among the Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects identified as completed in an El Paso Times article from June 7, 1936 was a "Municipal Golf Course Clubhouse, $14,945.72." The golf course in question and the status of the facility are presently unknown to Living New Deal.

"The Gym is one of only two remaining WPA Project Gymnasium in Texas and has been fully restored to its original appeal. The Gym offers 7200 sq. ft. of space for reunions, business meetings, trade shows and family activities. Included are food prep areas, restrooms, with large showers and a refinished Theatrical Stage. Ample parking is available."   (https://www.quanahnet.com) The gym is also apparently now the site of the Pease River Cowboy Church.

"In 1935, the WPA came to Laneville, a crossroads community in southern Rusk County, and began building rock fences, bridges and other needed projects."

"In September 1936 a devastating flood swept down the South Concho River, inundating much of the city of San Angelo. Among the many properties lost or severely damaged were the city's parks and its public swimming pool. Plans were made to rebuild the parks and construct a new municipal swimming pool, but a bond election held in 1937 to finance the project was defeated by the voters. Once it was determined that the federal government would assist with Works Progress Administration funds and labor for the project, a new bond election was held and passed by sixty-six votes. Work on...

Sweetwater Reporter reported in Sept. 1938 that Albany, TX received $9,945 in PWA grants toward the improvement of the community's schools.

Waco, Texas's Municipal Stadium was constructed in 1936 as a federal Public Works Administration (PWA) project. The stadium is located at the northwest corner of S. 15th St. and Dutton Ave. The PWA provided a $39,000 loan and $16,000 grant; the total cost of the project was $58,133. Construction occurred between May and October 1936. (PWA Docket No. TX 6075)

The Abilene Reporter-News discusses a WPA project undertaken in 1936, one which helped to unify downtown Abilene: "One of the most practical projects, still affecting thousands of Abilenians each day, was the raising of the railroad tracks in downtown Abilene in 1936 and the building of underpasses. The underpasses allowed motorists and pedestrians access between the city’s north and south sides without waiting for trains to pass."

Sweetwater Reporter reported in Sept. 1938 that Ballinger, TX received $92,395 in PWA funds for street improvements. "The project is to provide new paving for principal business and residential streets in Ballinger and resurfacing and extension of other paved streets."

The Meridian Tribune reported in Februady 1935 that the PWA was in the final stages of approving a street paving project in Clifton that was expected to begin "not later than March 1."

The Works Progress Administration built the municipal swimming pool in Navasota, Texas between 1935 and 1936. The complex includes the main swimming pool, a wading pool and a bath house. The bath house was originally built as a single story structure. A second story was added in the 1960s.

The Mexia Weekly Herald reported on March 29, 1935 that work on two PWA projects in the town of Fairfield, Texas had begun, including "the water and sewer system for the newly incorporated town."

The city of Claude, TX received funding from the PWA for its sewage and water systems -- including a new sewage disposal unit, new pipes and wells.

According to The Crosbyton Review, PWA assistance to the tune of $6,654.61 helped the town of Crosbyton develop its waterworks.

The Sweetwater Reporter noted that the PWA provided a grant (matched by a locally approved bond issue) to the town of Aspermont, TX "in the construction of a municipal waterworks system."

The Borger Daily Herald reported that in June 1938 the PWA gave a $35,363 grant with $42,000 in loans to Lefors, Texas for construction/improvement of the town's waterworks.

The WPA constructed this "arch hollow type dam" in what is now Murphy Park in Taylor, TX, during the mid-1930s.

"There is a Work Projects Administration plaque, dated 1938-1940, on the front of the building, and the school's cornerstone references the WPA and the dates 1939-1940. A Texas Historical Marker at the rear entrance (which is the main entrance today) elaborates: " 'Murphy was originally called Old Decatur after the hometown of founder C.A. McMillen. In 1888 the town was renamed Murphy after William Murphy donated land to build a train depot and a post office. The Federal Works Project Administration (WPA) built Murphy School in 1939, which because of consolidation lasted only until 1950. The city purchased the building and...

The Murray Common School was built in 1935 at a cost of $5,000, and was constructed in two months. The school building was still in use as a community center in 1972, however, the rock structure was demolished at some point after that. Workers from the Newcastle area were transported to Murray in a Ford Model T pickup truck owned by B. C. "Slats" Wooldridge. The project is not documented as to agency, however there was a CCC camp in nearby Graham which constructed other school buildings in the area.

"At the time of the Texas Centennial Exposition at Dallas in 1936 certain of the buildings constructed were made permanent, and one of these was the Museum of Natural History. The structure is two stories in height and 71 by 224 feet in plan. The spacious entrance lobby connects with numerous exhibition halls containing cases in which are shown specimens of the plant and animal life of Texas. The building is semifireproof. The frame is reinforced concrete and the exterior walls are stone. Texas shell stone is extensively used on the interior, with bases of marble...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed what is now the Museum of the Big Bend in Alpine, Texas in 1937. sulross.edu: "Originally constructed in the late 1930s, the Big Bend Memorial Museum served first to house and museum and later as the Student Union Building. In 2002, Emmett and Miriam McCoy donated to SRSU its largest private contribution commitment which launched a fund-raising campaign to renovate and restore the native rock building to once again serve as the home of the Museum of the Big Bend. In honor of these benefactors, the renovated facility is named the Miriam and Emmett McCoy Building." "For...