Montpelier Sites

The former armory building in Montpelier, Vermont was improved by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The status and location of the facility is unknown to Living New Deal. WPA Project No. 65‐12‐940

The Winooski River Local Protection Project in Vermont, a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) undertaking, entailed "replacing an old timber dam at Montpelier by a small concrete dam (now called Bailey Dam) with tainter gates." The project is located on the Winooski River west of Main Street.  It was built sometime between 1934 and 1938.

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 report: "State Aid Construction has been carried on somewhat in connection with Federal Participation in the form of W.P.A. labor. Barre Street has been macadamized from Hubbard St., to Pioneer St., a distance of 4,965 ft., and an area of 14,500 sq. yds. ... Pioneer Street has been concreted and graded, a distance of 300 ft., and an area of 854 sq....

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." Sewers were installed by the WPA as well, e.g.: "622 feet of 6-inch tile was laid on Berlin St." Sidewalk work that year included 633 feet of tar walks along the west side of Berlin Street heading south from River Street, an area of 284 square yards.

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. One thousand (1000) new seats and seven hundred (700) new backs and W.P.A. help installed and varnished them. City Hall tower and cornice was painted." Additional painting and renovation work was undertaken by the WPA the following year.

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, the airport opened on April 5, 1929. At the time of its construction, the airport was a primitive field with a grass surface. Depending on the wind, planes could take off in any direction. For its earlier years, this worked well, but as larger planes started to use the airport, longer paved runways became a necessity. In October 1935, the field...

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).

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 ..." Furthermore, with WPA efforts Granite Street was "regraded with surface of crushed granite and asphalt penetration."

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 in subsequent years by the Works Progress Administration (WPA).

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 of 1936, they have accomplished projects which have materially enhanced and made more usable our beautiful park. All of the interior park roads have been regraded, widened, drained, and graveled. Many of the crooks and formerly muddy spots have been eliminated and all roads are now usable during all of the seasons. The entrance road from Clarendon Avenue to the Tower road...

The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) conducted improvement work on many of Montpelier's steel bridges, including painting the Langdon Street bridge in 1935.

Montpelier's 40th Annual Report details many roadwork projects undertaken in 1934 with Vermont Emergency Relief Administration (VERA) funds, including: "Marvin Street, grading and putting in stone base". Street improvement and sewer construction efforts were continued here in subsequent years by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). In 1939 Marvin St. was "rebuilt from Hubbard to Bingham Street, with tar surfaces."

In 1935 "considerable work was done with V.E.R.A. labor in cutting brush and cleaning up around the pond ." The Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted work at Montpelier's Community House in 1936. The WPA and CCC conducted hurricane relief work in the city in 1938.

Montpelier's 40th Annual Report details many roadwork projects undertaken in 1934 with Vermont Emergency Relief Administration (VERA) funds, including: "North Street to City Line, grading and graveling". Sewer work was undertaken by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1935: "402 feet of 6" sewer was relaid on North Street." In 1939 the WPA "graded, widened with base, underdrain and gravel surface from Hillhead Street to Mechanic Street."

The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) conducted improvement work on many of Montpelier's steel bridges, including painting the former Pioneer Street bridge in 1935. (The truss structure has since been cut up and placed into storage, and has since been replaced.)

Montpelier's 40th Annual Report details many roadwork projects undertaken in 1934 with Vermont Emergency Relief Administration (VERA) funds, including: "Prospect Street, rock excavation, grading and graveling". Efforts were continued in subsequent years by the Works Progress Administration (WPA).

Montpelier's Recreation Field was developed as a New Deal project in 1938-9. The Public Works Administration (PWA) provided a $45,000 grant for the project, whose total cost was listed as $100,052. PWA Docket No. Vt. 1088-F. The facility was described in Annual Reports of the City of Montpelier. The 1939 report , detailed the park development's progress at that date: The Recreational Field ... is located on the Worcester Branch road, 1 2/5 miles from the corner of Main and State Street. The project consists of a Swimming Pool approximately 350 feet long, 150 feet wide and about 11 1/2 feet deep in the...

The primary baseball field at Montpelier Recreation Field was built in 1939. Frequently mis-attributed to the Work Projects Administration (WPA), the facility was part of a larger park project undertaken with Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The stadium was home to the New England Collegiate Baseball League, and since 2003 it has been the home field of the Mountaineers. The field has a 1,200-seat capacity grandstand. While the baseball facility itself has been referred to as "Recreation Field," this was just one part of the greater park project—which included a pool, bath house, and football field—that the City of Montpelier originally referred to as Recreation Field. Description, from the city annual report...

The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) conducted improvement work on many of Montpelier's steel bridges, including painting the School Street bridge in 1935.

Annual Reports for the City of Montpelier detail expenses and locations for many sewer projects undertaken by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the city. The 1936 report details work undertaken in 1935: "With regular city funds and with W.P.A. funds 11 new connections were made, 2 new manholes and 41 new chimneys built and many repaired. 402 feet of 6" sewer was relaid on North Street. 339 feet of 6" sewer extended on Northfield Street to the Greaves house. 1466 feet of 6" sewer extended on Upper Main Street to the Calvin Murray farm and 300 feet of 8" sewer extended...

Several Annual Reports for the City of Montpelier detail expenses and locations for many sidewalk projects undertaken by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the city. For example, the 1938 report stated: "More than the usual amount of work has been done on sidewalks this year. A gang of W.P.A. workers have been engaged in the construction of new tar walks ..." including: Liberty: Westerly side near Main Main: northerly side, North St., easterly Harrison Ave.: northerly side Merrill Terrace: easterly side School Berlin: westerly side, River St., southerly Barre: westerly side, near Granite Kent: southerly side Off Court towards Parochial School "Cement...

Montpelier's 40th (1935) Annual Report details many roadwork projects undertaken in 1934 with Vermont Emergency Relief Administration (VERA) funds. The 1936 annual report lists streets where VERA or Works Progress Administration (WPA) efforts were undertaken in 1935: Cherry Ave., Cliff St., Cross St., Corse St., Cutler Cemetery Road, North Franklin St., Gallison Hill Road, Gould Hill, Hill St., Marvin St., North St., Pioneer St., Pleasant St., Prospect St., Richardson St., River St., School Ave. Resurfacing was undertaken at "Berlin Hill," and construction on "Winooski Avenue." 1936 sites included: Berlin Hill Rd., Charles St., North Franklin St., Pearl St., Prospect St., Spring...

The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) conducted improvement work on many of Montpelier's steel bridges, including painting the Taylor Street bridge in 1935.

Montpelier's 40th Annual Report details many roadwork projects undertaken in 1934 with Vermont Emergency Relief Administration (VERA) funds, including: "Town Hill Road, short section, excavation, stone base and graveling". In 1939 the Works Progress Administration (WPA) "resurfaced with gravel from Cutler Cemetery Road to East Montpelier line."

Montpelier's Union Elementary School was constructed as a New Deal project, with primary construction in 1938-9. The city's 1940 annual report: "The past year has marked the completion of the Recreation Field and the new Elementary School Building. Both projects were made possible by a PWA Grant of 45% of the total cost." The city's 1939 annual report described the building, in progress: In the basement are located the boiler room, costume room, vault and janitor's room, fuel storage and general storage. Although the basement of the northwest wing is excavated, it will not be finished but may be, if use...

Annual Reports for the City of Montpelier detail expenses and locations for many sewer projects undertaken by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the city. The 1936 report details work undertaken in 1935: "75 feet of 1 1/2" pipe beyond the Murray Farm and 1353 feet of 4" pipe on Main Street increased to 6" pipe which including that which was relaid last year extends 6" pipe to the Calvin Murray farm, these were made as W.P.A. Projects. The work has made more water available with better pressure in case of fire." 1937 report: "New extensions were made as follows as W.P.A. work:...

Montpelier's 40th Annual Report details many roadwork projects undertaken in 1934 with Vermont Emergency Relief Administration (V.E.R.A.) funds, including: "Wilson Street and George Street, stone base and graveling".

The Winooski River Local Protection Project is located along a 6.5-mile stretch of the Winooski River which flows through Montpelier, Berlin, Moretown, and Middlesex. The Winooski River Local Protection Project protects several thousand acres of farmland and reduces flood damage in downstream communities, including Montpelier, Middlesex, Waterbury, and Duxbury.   The project consisted of replacing an old timber dam at Montpelier by a small concrete dam (now called Bailey Dam); clearing and grading one mile of river bank above the dam, enlarging the channel, and adding rip-rap; and removing projecting ledges and points that restricted river flows at five spots between...

The Wood Art Gallery in Montpelier, Vermont was the recipient of "W.P.A. Fedaral Art sculpture and paintings" in 1937. The works are "on permanent loan from the U.S. government."

A flood in 1927 brought about plans to construct four flood control projects, made possible by the New Deal and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Wrightsville Dam is one of those. Construction began in August 1933  and was completed in October 1935. The dam is earthfill with stone slope protection. It is 1,525 feet long and 115 feet high. The dam and reservoir are located on the North Branch of the Winooski River, about  three miles north of Montpelier on Route 12.  Its main purpose is to protect Montpelier. According to the US Army Corps of Engineers: "Wrightsville Reservoir was one of four...