“Improvement of Leverich Park in the City of Vancouver, slated to begin December 4, with $42,262 made available from WPA funds, calls for the construction of a grandstand, ticket booth, dressing rooms, showers, comfort stations and a tennis court. Also… read more
The library in Dayton, Washington was constructed with the assistance of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds during 1937. The building, which has since been extended, is still in use today. PWA Docket No. WA [W]1318
A WPA press release from Dec. 1937 announced that $780 was “allotted for work in the Puyallup City Library.” The old library was located on what is now Pioneer Park.
“City officials of the town of Monroe, were today advised that the Town Hall and the Library were due for remodeling to the extent of $2,400, it was learned from the office of Don G. Abel, State Administrator of the… read more
In 1933-34, New Deal relief workers built trails in Lincoln Park. We do not know exactly which ones, but the work almost certainly included the stone-lined steps down to the beach – which are classic New Deal stonework — and… read more
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) made extensive improvements to Lithia Park, a 100-acre park at the heart of Ashland OR, from 1935 to 1938. Lithia Park was established in the early 20th century along Ashland Creek above the main… read more
Mount Rainier was the nation’s fifth National Park, established 1899. During the Great Depression the New Deal’s Civilian Conservation Corps greatly aided the park’s development. National Register of Historic Places nomination: “In the 1930s, the CCC made further improvements on… read more
Mount Rainier was the nation’s fifth National Park, established 1899. During the Great Depression the New Deal’s Civilian Conservation Corps greatly aided the park’s development. Numerous structures were constructed at Longmire Village by the CCC. National Register of Historic Places… read more
Lowman Beach Park, a small park property that provides access to Puget Sound in a primarily residential area of southwest Seattle, was the site of two Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects. The first project involved the construction of a cement… read more
The Seattle Park Department acquired the property for Loyal Heights Playground in 1941 and, that same year, employed WPA workers to clear and regrade the site, which naturally sloped downward from north to south. More than 7,300 cubic yards of… read more
Madison Park, located at the eastern end of Madison Streeet, next to Lake Washington, was the site of several small Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects. The first of these projects involved the replacement of the park’s clay tennis courts near… read more
In 1927, the Seattle Park Department acquired the site for Madrona Playground at East Spring Street and 34th Avenue. The playground site received a few improvements during the late 1920s and early 1930s, including the grading of the playfield and… read more
During the late 1930s, with funding assistance from the Works Progress Administration, the Seattle Park Department upgraded Madrona Playground. The largest component of the improvement project was the construction of a new shelter house near the north end of the… read more
A WPA-sponsored project improved sewers in the Magnolia Bluff neighborhood of Seattle. The project, which received $2,135 in WPA funds, provided work for 16 men for two months.
A WPA press release from Dec. 1937 stated: “To provide employment for needy persons on relief rolls an allotment of $6,900 has been made … for labor in cleaning and renovating public buildings in Tacoma, such as the city hall,… read more
The Federal Emergency Relief Administration (F.E.R.A.) resurfaced Auburn, Washington’s Main Street in early 1934.
“Immediately following Thanksgiving, work will begin on the grounds of the Malaga School, Chelan County … Funds from WPA in the amount of $18,083 have been provided for excavating, grading, leveling and covering the ground with a top soil. The… read more
A grant from the Works Progress Administration funded the construction of an addition to Seattle’s former Maple Leaf Grade School during the late 1930s. The school, which was part of the Maple Leaf School District at the time, was located… read more
A WPA press release from Dec. 1937 announced that the agency had allotted $1,028 “to install a furnace and lights and for general repairs at the Marblemount school, Skagit County.” Marblemount no longer maintains a school. The exact location and… read more
Grants from the Public Works Administration and the Works Progress Administration helped fund the construction of a new bridge to carry McGraw Street across the Wolf Creek ravine in Seattle’s Queen Anne Hill district. The new bridge opened in 1936…. read more
One of many PWA and WPA projects in Washington state: “Crossing the Puyallip River on Route 162 in Pierce County, the McMillin Bridge was an engineering wonder of its time. It is a truss style bridge that used concrete instead… read more
The former Mercer Playground at 2nd Avenue North and Harrison Street in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood was the site of several small WPA maintenance and improvement projects. In 1938, WPA workers painted the playground shelter house, as part of a… read more
Kent, Washington’s Meridian Elementary School was originally constructed as a federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) project beginning in 1937. “Adding one more to the list of schools being built in the State of Washington by the Works Progress Administration, state… read more
A WPA press release from Jan. 1938 reported: “With the aid of a WPA allotment of $10,000 the improvement of the Military road near Spanaway will start next Monday, it was amounoed yesterday by Don G. Abel, state Works Progress… read more
One of many WPA and PWA projects in Washington state: “$231,961 was allocated for the construction of a 10 mile road that lead to an area rich with minerals and recreational possibilities.”
A Public Works Administration grant helped to fund construction of the Montlake Boulevard Pedestrian Overcrossing on the campus of the University of Washington. The bridge provided a safer pedestrian connection between the main part of the campus west of Montlake… read more
The Federal Emergency Relief Administration (F.E.R.A.) supplied labor for the painting of Seattle’s historic Montlake Bridge in 1934.
The Montlake Playfield and Shelter House were constructed partially on fill in former marshlands on the shores of Portage Bay between 1933 and 1936. In the 1910s and 1920s, houseboats moored there, and Dahlialand, a local garden store, utilized nearby… read more
Moran State Park was created in 1921 when Robert Moran, shipbuilder and former mayor of Seattle, donated more than 2,700-acres to the state for a park. Like many state parks at the time, it was not well developed for public… read more
Moran State Park was created in 1921 when Robert Moran, shipbuilder and former mayor of Seattle, donated more than 2,700-acres to the state for a park. Like many state parks at the time, it was not well developed for public… read more
Mount Rainier was the nation’s fifth National Park, established 1899. During the Great Depression the New Deal’s Civilian Conservation Corps greatly aided the park’s development. The CCC constructed numerous fire lookout towers, including that atop Mount Fremont in 1934. Elevation:… read more
Mount Rainier was the nation’s fifth National Park, established 1899. During the Great Depression the New Deal’s Civilian Conservation Corps greatly aided the park’s development. NPS.gov: “The Civilian Conservation Corps was busily building and repairing park lands and structures from… read more
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) worked to develop Mount Spokane State Park during the 1930s.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) worked to develop Mount Spokane State Park during the 1930s. In addition to other improvements the CCC constructed the park’s historic Vista House. MtSpokane.com: “The Vista House was constructed in 1933 by the Civilian Conservation… read more
“The new bridge was built at a cost of more than $40,000, made up from county and Public Works Administration (PWA) funds.”
“Vancouver, Washington will have its $129.584 street improvement project after all! It was announced today by Don G. Abel, State WPA Administrator, following the appropriation of $18,601 by the Vancouver city council for the drawing of engineers plans and miscellaneous… read more
In December 1935 the WPA approved $140,680 for a “Manito sewer project and lateral sewers” in Spokane, Washington. Spokane’s Daily Chronicle detailed the locations of these sewer projects. The lateral sewer project was allocated $90,080 by the WPA and involved… read more
In December 1935 the WPA approved $140,680 for a “Manito sewer project and lateral sewers” in Spokane, Washington. Spokane’s Daily Chronicle detailed the locations of these sewer projects. The primary ‘Manito’ sewer project, located largely within the present neighborhood of… read more
From the National Register of Historic Places nomination file: “Built on the eve of World War II, on the southwest shore of Seattle’s Lake Union, the Naval Reserve Armory is a historically and architecturally significant structure closely associated with the… read more
