Washington Sites

The historic Lynden post office contains a 1942 Section of Fine Arts mural by Mordi Gassner entitled Three Ages of Phoebe Goodell Judson. "In 1870, Judson co-founded the town of Lynden with her husband, Holden Allen Judson. She lived in the community until her death in 1926 at age 94. Just 2 months earlier, she had self-published a memoir, "A Pioneer’s Search for an Ideal Home." Murals depicting pioneer live and early European-American settlement were a popular subject for New Deal murals." (depts.washington.edu)

Prosser's historic post office contains a 1937 Section of Fine Arts mural by Ernest Norling entitled "Mail Train in the '80s". "According to the 1991 National Register of Historic Places nomination form for the Prosser Post Office,  'The lobby of the Prosser MPO contains a mural entitled "Mail Train in the 80's. Painted by Ernest Norling in 1937 at a cost of $550, the mural is oil on canvas (approximately 6 feet by 14 feet) and glued to the wall over the postmaster's door. The mural depicts the activity on the Northern Pacific's depot platform, while a smoke-belching steam engine and...

The post office contains a 1941 Section of Fine Arts mural by Albert C. Runquist entitled Loggers and Millworkers. "Known as the "Gateway to the North Cascades," Sedro-Wooley is located along the Skagit River in Skagit County. The mural depicts one of the area's primary industries, timber. The artist, Albert Runquist, was from Aberdeen, Washington and studied at the University of Oregon as well as the Art Student's League of New York." (depts.washington.edu)

This tempera mural "Skid Row" by Richard Haines was a winner of the Treasury Section's 48-State Post Office Mural Competition. "When Section officials in Washington, D.C., chose Minneapolis artist Richard Haines to paint a mural for the new post office in Shelton, Washington, the local community openly complained about the selection. Haines tried to make the best of the situation and his logging-themed, egg tempera mural, “The Skid Road,” was actually the only one in the state completed on site. “Whenever possible,” he commented, “I feel painting of the murals on the spot should be encouraged. It is an enlightening experience...

The post office contains a 1940 Section of Fine Arts mural by Andrew McD. Vincent, Local Theme. "Located southeast of the city of Yakima, Toppenish is located entirely in the Yakama Indian Nation. According to the 1991 National Register nomination for the Toppenish Post Office: "The lobby contains a mural on the west end over the Postmaster's door. Entitled "Local Theme," the mural is oil on canvas." The mural depicts "cattlemen branding a steer, Indian hunters, Whites trading horses with the Indians, and a farm." The artist, Andrew Vincent was born in Hutchinson, Kansas in 1898 and studied at the Art Institute...

The post office contains a 1940 Section of Fine Arts carved wooden relief by Donlon P. McGovern entitled Lewis and Clark.

A WPA press release from Jan. 1938 reported: "The Priest Rapids Irrigation District system of Benton and Yakima Counties is scheduled to receive major improvements with WPA funds totaling $31,428. Plans call for deepening the intake canal, raising a wing dam, erecting a dike, and constructing additional pipe lines and canals as well as doing many types of incidental jobs on the big project. The Priest Rapids Irrigation District, as sponsor is providing $11,272 for necessary materials and supplies."

A WPA press release from Dec. 1937 stated: "Construction of bridle paths, rustic bridges and general landscaping in Puget Park, Tacoma, is scheduled under a WPA allotment of $7,416. The project started operating this week."

This bridge is one of many PWA and WPA projects in Washington state: "The Purdy Bridge crosses Henderson Bay near Tacoma. Like the McMillin Bridge, it was an example of Hollow Box construction. The main span of the bridge is 190 feet, which at that time was the longest for its kind. Also noteworthy was the low cost of the project. Completed in 1936, the bridge cost only $62,000, a mere $5.64 per square foot."

The Federal Emergency Relief Administration (F.E.R.A.) worked to improve Seattle's former Railroad Avenue ca. 1933-4. Railroad Avenue was later replaced by the Alaskan Way.

The CCC did extensive work in the park, including building a hand-hewn log and stone footbridge, a comfort station, a picnic pavilion, trails, bridges, and several log structures.

"Rainier School is a habilitation center for individuals with developmental disabilities located within the city limits of Buckley, Washington about a mile-and-a-half from downtown. The campus is situated in a peaceful country setting with a unique and prominent view of Mount Rainier." (www.dshs.wa.gov) "This structure illustrated on this page is the administration building on the left connected to the hospital by a covered arcade. The institution has several other buildings which were built under this docket, all of which are grouped more or less around a quadrangle and will ultimately be tied together by walks, terraces, and planting. The hospital is one...

A WPA press release from Jan. 1938 reported: "Bayview, Skargit County, will have a new recreation building and the grounds improved with a WPA grant of $6,935." The exact location and status of the project is unknown to Living New Deal.

A WPA press release from Jan. 1938 reported that Hoquiam, Washington received a WPA grant to improve recreational facilities. The exact details of the project are unknown to Living New Deal.

The Renton History Museum is housed in a former fire station built by the WPA between 1941 and 1942.

This 1938 Section of Fine Arts mural"Miners at Work" by Jacob Elshin was originally installed in the Renton post office. Elshin "actually visited underground mines and sketched miners at work for his mural in Renton, Washington, that depicted this historic aspect of the city." (tfaoi.com)

Washington State University's old Rogers Field, in Pullman, Washington was reconstructed with the assistance of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds in 1936. The stadium was "severely damaged by a fire in April 1970. Demolished in early 1971, Rogers Field was replaced by the concrete Martin Stadium, which was built on the same site and opened in 1972." (Wikipedia) PWA Docket No. WA 1336

The Western Construction News reports of REA work in rural Washington state. "The REA has alloted $45,000 to the Benton Rural Electrification Association, Benton City Washington, for construction of 43 miles of transmission lines in Benton County Washington." "The Benton Rural Electric Association was incorporated on April 19, 1937, to serve the rural areas of Benton and adjacent counties. Armed with a $45,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture loan through the Rural Electrification Association for planning and construction, the Association completed 43 miles of line. Benton REA first flipped the switch in May of 1938, lighting 89 rural farms in Benton and Yakima...

The Western Construction News reported of REA work in Washington State. "The REA has alloted $88,000 to the Cowlitz County Public Utility District No. 1, Kalama Wash., to finance construction of 81 miles of electric transmission lines." " Cowlitz County Public Utility District, a Depression era institution that provides electric utility services to 47,400 customers (including 42,400 residential customers and 5,200 commercial clients) in its service territory. The municipal utility also serves more than 3,800 Longview-Kelso area water utility customers. Like 27 other PUDs in Washington state, Cowlitz County Public Utility District has the authority to offer electric, water, wastewater, and wholesale...

"With support from the local communities and the state, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed a museum at the park in 1938. The Sacajawea Museum was built to display Native American artifacts from the tribes of the Columbia Plateau. The museum, now known as the Sacajawea Interpretive Center, and three other WPA buildings are still in use."   (www.parks.wa.gov)

The Salmon Bay Bridge was constructed under the New Deal in 1934.

The Works Progress Administration Saltars Point Park comfort stations in Steilacoom WA in 1939.

WA.gov: "Saltwater State Park is a camping park featuring 1,445 feet of saltwater shoreline on Puget Sound, halfway between the cities of Tacoma and Seattle. The two cities jointly and literally buried a hatchet at the park during the 1926 park dedication as a symbol of the end of their mutual competition. The park is a recreational destination nestled in the core of urban living, with forested trails and beach access. Visitors may explore marine life in tide pools at the park and the seasonal spawning of salmon in McSorley Creek. Saltwater State Park is the only state park that features an...

A WPA press release from Dec. 1937 announced that "45 unemployed will be put to work on a flood control project in the Salzer Creek Valley, Lewis County, under a $10,965 allotment." The aim of the project was to improve the Lewis County Fairgrounds, now known as the Southwest Wash Fair.

"The city of Yakima has added $4,076 to the WPA grant of $16,986 for the construction of sanitary sewers and manholes."

The federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds provided funding for the construction of the Art Deco-accented bridge carrying SW Admiral Way above Schmitz Park. Construction occurred between 1936 and 1937. The PWA provided a grant of $68,200; the total cost of the project was $172,699. 1223.] "The structure is both listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated city landmark." (Wikipedia)

"Rehabilitation of the athletic field and school grounds at Washougal is also expected to begin on December 4 . The work will consist of grading the field, building a tennis court, cinder track, bleachers and sidewalks. The cost will be $4,264.75 of which the WPA will put up $2,147." The exact location and current status of this project is unknown to Living New Deal.

A WPA press release from Jan. 1938 reported: "The preparation of hot school lunches for undernourished school children in Walla Walla county will be continued ... with an allotment of $2,640."

"This major attraction at Camp Long was designed by Clark Schurman. His dream was to build a human-made mountain incorporating every potential rock climbing problem into its design. After taking a winter to make a clay model of the rock, Schurman worked very closely with the W.P.A. workers to create his dream rock. It took 2 years to complete the 20 foot high, erratically shaped climbing rock. Schurman called it Monitor Rock after its intended purpose to "warn, remind, advise and instruct." After Schurman’s death in 1955 the rock was renamed "Schurman Rock" to honor Clark Schurman’s contribution to Camp...

As one of many WPA and PWA projects in Washington state: "$307,750 was allocated to build parks in rapidly developing areas in Seattle. The parks were constructed between August of 1938 and December of 1939."

The Civil Works Administration (WPA) constructed a log cabin at Seward Park in 1934.

"Federal approval of Tacoma's city-wide WPA sewer improvement project providing employment for more than 560 men, was announced today by Don G. Abel, state WPA director. The WPA allotment accounts to $95,776 to which the city of Tacoma will add $13,208. Further allotments involving a total of $172,122. to which the city of Tacoma is adding $18,966 and which will employ more than 900 additional workers taken from relief rolls is awaiting Federal approval which is expected momentarily, Abel stated. The district in which the approved projects will begin as soon as conditions will permit are Garfield Park trunk sewer, East...

A WPA press release from Dec. 1937 announced that "East Wenatchee will receive $19,390" in WPA funds "for a sanitary sewer system ..."

A WPA press release from Dec. 1937 announced that "White Salmon, Klickitat County, was granted $7,683 for the reconstruction of their water supply system."

The Works Progress Administration built the Showboat Theatre in Seattle WA. According to the UW Magazine, the theater was, "uilt by the Works Progress Administration in 1938, the Showboat opened in September of that year with a production of “Charley’s Aunt.” For many years it was the center of Seattle’s nascent theatrical community." "For almost 10 years the University and a group of drama alumni, the Showboat Foundation, tried to save her. The cost of restoring the building—estimated at $1 million in 1984—far exceeded the cost of removing or demolishing the structure. To move it, the structure would have to be dismantled and...

"Vashon Island receive $8087.24 to construct sidewalks along various public thoroughfares."

This 1938 Section of Fine Arts oil-on-canvas mural "Local Pursuits" by Ambrose Patterson was painted for the then Mount Vernon post office. The building (and mural) are now part of Skagit Valley College's Business Resource Center. “Born in Australia, Patterson studied in Europe before moving to the United States. In 1919, he sounded the School of Painting and Design at the University of Washington. The mural “Local Pursuits” highlights Skagit County’s agricultural industries, including dairy.” (depts.washington.edu)  

"In 1937 WPA funds were granted to Snohomish County Airport. $225,000 was granted by the War Department who oversaw all airport construction and renovation between 1933 and 1938."

"In Snohomish County, farm land conditions will be improved by a drainage system affecting seven sections of land between the cities of Snohomish and Monroe. Cooperating with the State of Washington, sponsoring the project, WPA will invest $14,989, according to an announcement from WPA Administrator Don G. Abel. Clearing, deepening and Widening existing ditches and constructing a new ditch will tend to remove the danger of floods and simultaneously help prevent erosion. Although this work is sponsored by the state, no additional taxes or assessments will be levied. Similarly private property rights will not be violated as easements have been obtained...

One of a number of PWA and WPA projects in Washington state: "Work began in December of 1938 and at a cost of $2,011,788 included clearing, straightening, widening, draining, excavating, cutting and installing drainage ditches."