Town reports for Manchester, Vermont reveal that federal funds and labor went toward the development of a local airport in 1934. 25 men were put to work on the project. There is no longer an active airport in the community;… read more
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) developed Vermont’s Allis State Park during the 1930s. “They built up the access roads, constructed a massive timber picnic shelter, picnic grounds and a campground.”
Multiple school buildings in southeastern Vermont were improved with federal Civil Works Administration (C.W.A.) funds and labor. Athens/Jamaica town report, 1933-4: At present there are four different jobs under the C. W. A. either going on or finished. At South… read more
Part of the Winooski River Local Protection Project, a massive Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) undertaking, in Vermont entailed “replacing an old timber dam at Montpelier by a small concrete dam (now called Bailey Dam) with tainter gates.” The project is located… read more
Montpelier’s 40th Annual Report details many roadwork projects undertaken in 1934 with Vermont Emergency Relief Administration (VERA) funds, including: “Barre Road, widening at Jerue turn”. Efforts were continued in subsequent years by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). 1939 Montpelier annual… read more
The W.P.A. developed Burlington’s Battery [Street] Park, including constructing sidewalks and a masonry parapet wall. WPA Project No. 65-12-344
The Bennington Local Protection Project was undertaken by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), in Bennington, Vermont during the Great Depression. Later reconstruction projects were handled by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. “The Bennington Local Protection Project is located… read more
Montpelier’s 1937 Annual Report details roadwork projects undertaken in 1936 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) funds, including: “Berlin Street from River Street to the City line and a portion of Winooski Avenue received tar treatment for the first time.”… read more
In 1934 E.R.A. labor drained and cleaned Barre’s Bolster Reservoir.
The W.P.A. worked extensively, for a period of several years, to develop what was then Burlington Airport. Major efforts included construction of the “diagonal” [NW/SE] runway and extension of the north-south runway.
The Public Works Administration and the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works funded the construction of the school building and athletic facilities for the Village School in Cabot, Cabot School District. “The school is in the residential section of the… read more
Among the many municipal projects conducted in Montpelier in 1935 by the Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) was the following, per 1936 city report: “A much needed improvement was made to the seats in the City Hall as a W.P.A. project…. read more
“Crystal Lake State Park consists of the park’s recreational area, the bathhouse, and the thin strip of beachfront land along the northern border of Crystal Lake in Barton, Vermont. Crystal Lake is a glacial lake nestled between the mountains and… read more
The Public Works Administration funded the construction of the Danville High School in Danville, Caledonia County. The two-story school was built in 1938 and housed grammar and high school grades. The architect of record was Galen H. Nichols. The building… read more
Photo caption, UVM: “Feb. 26, 1938 dated photo. East Avenue from near Colchester Avenue looking South, WPA (Work Projects Administration) Project No. 65-12-336. This view shows the widening project carried on during the winter months. This street was widened to… read more
The East Barre Dam was one of four flood damage reduction projects constructed in Vermont by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Construction was overseen by the Corps’ North Atlantic Division. The construction costs of East Barre Dam were… read more
Located between Montpelier and Barre, what is now Edward F. Knapp State Airport in the Town of Berlin, Vermont was developed as a New Deal project in conjunction with the Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.). Wikipedia: “Originally called the Barre-Montpelier Airport,… read more
Burlington’s former Elihu B. Taft School was built as a New Deal project in 1938-9; its construction was enabled by Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) funds. The P.W.A. provided a grant of $111,272 for the project, whose total cost was $245,198…. read more
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) worked to develop Vermont’s Elmore State Park during the 1930s. To this day, a “CCC-built beach house with a community room … can be rented for group functions.”
“The Emma Hart Willard Memorial, is a public artwork by designed by Pierre Zwick and Marion Guild and sculpted by T.A. Campbell who worked for the Houlihan Shop in Rutland, Vermont. Erected in 1941, the memorial is located in a… read more
The Works Progress Administration built tennis courts, an ice rink, and a shelter house for the School in Enosburg.
Photo caption, UVM: “This is a view of the building built under WPA Project No. 65-12-344 at Ethan Allen Park to be used as a combination tool house and toilet for ladies and gentlemen. Modern plumbing has been installed in… read more
The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) constructed a masonry entrance at the south end of Ethan Allen Park. The W.P.A. also widened the entrance to 26 feet (W.P.A. Project No. 65-12-344).
The Works Progress Administration constructed a stone masonry lookout house at the pinnacle of Ethan Allen Park in 1938.
Photo caption, UVM: “This view shows Ethan Allen Park drive as seen from the pinnacle. This drive is being constructed with 8″ telford stone sub base, 4 inches of stabilized sand and stone base and 1 1/4 inch of armor… read more
The W.P.A. conducted the following work along Bradley Road, since renamed Ethan Allen Parkway. Photo caption, UVM: “Photograph dated Oct. 17, 1941. Original caption reads: Bradley Road Sewer: This view is taken from a point near the intersection of North… read more
Montpelier’s 40th Annual Report details many roadwork projects undertaken in 1934 with Vermont Emergency Relief Administration (VERA) funds, including: “Gallison Hill Road, grading”. Efforts were continued in subsequent years by the Works Progress Administration (WPA).
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) developed Vermont’s Gifford Woods State Park during the 1930s. “Development of Gifford Woods State Park began in 1933 by the Civilian Conservation Corps … In 1933 and 1934, CCC crews constructed the park office and… read more
Montpelier’s 40th Annual Report details many roadwork projects undertaken in 1934 with Vermont Emergency Relief Administration (VERA) funds, including: “Gould Hill Road entire length, grading and graveling”. Efforts were continued in subsequent years by the Works Progress Administration (WPA).
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted improvement work on many of Montpelier’s bridges. The Granite Street Bridge was “given a new floor of four inch creosoted yellow pine” in 1939. “The lumber was purchased by the W. P. A. Bond Issue… read more
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) developed Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont during the 1930s. “The Depression-era legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps (established in 1933 as part of Roosevelt’s “New Deal”) is reflected on the Forest. At one time… read more
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) worked to develop Groton State Forest and multiple state parks attendant with the state forest, including New Discovery, Kettle Pond, Stillwater, and Ricker Pond State Parks. The CCC conducted reforestation work, developed trails and roads,… read more
The W.P.A. constructed a bridge on Grove Street (crossing Centennial / Catlin Brook) in 1938. The bridge has been largely rehabilitated and rebuilt such that little of the original structure is apparent. However, though “budget and time constraints prevented a… read more
The WPA photo pictured here shows an athletic field constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) for West Rutland High School. The photo is dated to 1937. The Living New Deal does not know the current status of the athletic… read more
Montpelier’s 40th Annual Report details many roadwork projects undertaken in 1934 with Vermont Emergency Relief Administration (VERA) funds, including: “Hill Street entire length, rock excavation, extensive grading, stone base and graveling”. Street improvement and sewer construction efforts were continued here… read more
Montpelier Annual Report, 1937: “In the early summer of 1933 the C. C. C. started improvement work at Hubbard Park under the direction of the Vermont Forest Service cooperating with the Montpelier Park Board. From that time until the fall… read more
The historic U.S. Border Inspection Station on Alburg Springs Road in Alburg, Vermont was built in 1937 with U.S. Treasury Department funds.
The historic U.S. Border Inspection Station on State Route 247 in Beebe Plain, Vermont was built in 1937 with U.S. Treasury Department funds.
The historic U.S. Border Inspection Station on State Route 141 in Canaan, Vermont was built in 1933 with U.S. Treasury Department funds.
The historic former U.S. Border Inspection Station on State Route 235 in the town of Franklin, Vermont was constructed c. 1935 with U.S. Treasury Department funds. The station is also known as the “Morse’s Line” facility.
Check out our new map and guide to the work of the New Deal in Washington, D.C. It includes 500 New Deal sites in the District alone, highlighting 34 notable sites, and includes an inset map of the area around the National Mall which can be used for self-guided walking tours.