Street Improvements – Bellingham WA
A WPA press release from Dec. 1937 reported: “The largest project scheduled to begin next week [in Washington State] is the Bellingham street improvement work with W.P.A. aid totaling $63,348.”
Street Improvements – Blaine WA
A WPA press release from Dec. 1937 reported that “a street and alley project gets underway at Blaine with $25.756 from W.P.A.”
Street Improvements – Enumclaw WA
“A city-wide WPA street construction and paving project 1s scheduled to get under way at Enumclaw, Monday, November 8 [1937], with the aid of $12,160 in WPA funds and labor from the relief rolls, Don G. Abel, state Works Progress… read more
Street Improvements – Everett WA
A WPA press release from Jan. 1938 reported that city streets in Everett, Washington were to be improved with a WPA grant of $38,024.
Street Improvements – Medical Lake WA
A WPA press release from Jan. 1938 reported that city streets in Medical Lake, Washington were to be improved with a WPA grant of $10,309.
Street Improvements – Pe Ell WA
A WPA press release from Dec. 1937 reported that “Pe Ell started a street project with $6,880 from W.P.A. funds.”
Street Improvements – Shelton WA
A WPA press release from Jan. 1938 reported that city streets in Shelton, Washington were to be improved with a WPA grant of $9,493.
Street Improvements – Tacoma WA
One WPA project involved “considerable work to be done in Tacoma on Tacoma Avenue and Cleveland and Hendricks streets,” a project which was “allotted $41,892 of WPA funds and will provide employment fer about 179 men to be taken from… read more
Street Improvements – Whidbey Island WA
A WPA press release from Dec. 1937 reported that a road project on Whidbey Island received $23,002 in WPA funds.
Street Lights – Wapato WA
The extension of Wapato’s street lighting system was a federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) project during the late 1930s.
Street Paving – Auburn WA
A WPA press release from Dec. 1937 states: “An Auburn street paving project begins this week, giving 175 men jobs for nine months with a W.P.A. allotment of $93.509.”
Swinomish Indian Tribal Community Totem Pole – La Conner WA
The carving of the Swinomish Totem Pole was a WPA project on the Swinomish Indian Reservation from 1937-1938. Tribal member Charlie Edwards carved a 61’ log into a visual representation of traditional teachings and guiding spirits that had formerly been… read more
Swinomish Model Village – Swinomish Reservation WA
In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt allotted $2,000,000 in emergency rural rehabilitation funds to the U.S. Office of Indian Affairs (OIA). Out of this sum, OIA sent $32,000 (about $607,000 in 2020 dollars) to the Swinomish Indian Reservation for an… read more
Tacoma County Bridges – Tacoma WA
One of many PWA and WPA projects in Washington state: “$314,768 was allocated for the replacement and repairing of 11 bridges in Tacoma/ Pierce County. All of the bridges were either already shut down or were scheduled to be shut… read more
Tacoma Narrows Bridge (former) – Tacoma WA
“The bridge connects Tacoma to areas such as Gig Harbor on the Kitsap Peninsula. Funded by the Public Works Administration (PWA), it was 2,800 feet between the two the two towers. “Everyone marveled, at the gossamer of a structure so… read more
Tacoma Water Supply – Ravensdale WA
” Tacoma Water Supply Program for 1937 The Water Division of the City of Tacoma has plans completed for a construction program during 1937 amounting to $1,566,000. An application for a $705,000 PWA grant on this project has already been… read more
Terminal 91 Improvements – Seattle WA
A WPA press release from Dec. 1937 announced: A project, “giving employment to 150 men, will operate in Seattle cleaning up Smith Cove Piers 40 and 41. It is designed to lead the way to the modernization of these two… read more
Tolmie Peak Fire Lookout – Mount Rainier National Park WA
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 Tolmie Peak in 1933. Elevation: 5,939… read more
Town Hall – Friday Harbor WA
“Friday Harbor’s Town Hall was built in 1936 using Works Progress Administration (WPA) funding. The project was developed to house a new town government building and the public library. The Town’s attorney, Elmond Genest and Mrs. Leon (Minnie) Little had… read more
Town Hall (former) Improvements – Monroe WA
“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
Toy Workshop – Centralia WA
A WPA press release reported a WPA toy workshop project in Centralia, Washington in Dec. 1937: “Old Kris Kringle is getting some valuable help in Centralia. where a staff of 15 women are busy making new toys and repairing old… read more
Tri-City Country Club Golf Course – Kennewick WA
From 1938 to 1939, the WPA constructed the first nine holes of the Tri-City Country Club golf course. From the course website: “The original Twin City Golf Club was formed in 1938. Back then the city of Kennewick purchased the… read more
University of Washington Campus – Seattle WA
A WPA press release from Dec. 1937 stated: “The finishing touches to the creation of what is said will be the most beautiful college campus in tho west will begin this week with the opening operations of a new Works… read more
University Station Post Office – Seattle WA
Seattle’s historic University Station post office was constructed ca. 1937 with federal Treasury Department funds. The building, which houses New Deal murals, is still in use today.
University Station Post Office Murals – Seattle WA
Multiple Section of Fine Arts murals hang in Seattle’s University Station post office. The murals by Jacob Elshin were painted in 1939 and are entitled Historical Review of Education and Present Day Education and Present Day Education. The murals are… read more
Van Asselt School Playground – Seattle WA
The Federal Emergency Relief Administration (F.E.R.A.) worked to develop and improve the playground at Seattle’s Van Asselt School. A photo at the U of Washington shows a field of stumps and clearing efforts with the caption “State of Wash., E.R.A…. read more
Vancouver Barracks Improvements – Vancouver WA
“Uncle Sam’s fighting men, stationed at the Army barracks at Vancouver, Wash., will have special cause for celebration next Fourth of July [1938], for the day before is expected to see completion of WPA repairing and general improvement work scheduled… read more
Wagner Performing Arts Center – Monroe WA
The Wagner Performing Arts Center in Monroe, Washington was originally the auditorium of Monroe Junior High School, built in the late 1930s with the help of PWA grant funds. Construction of the auditorium and school began in September, 1938 and… read more
Wapato Park – Tacoma WA
“Wapato Park was the site of a major WPA [Works Progress Administration] work project. Sherman Ingalls, Metropolitan Park District Supervisor at Wapato directed the project and designed the park improvements. The WPA built bridges, boat and bathhouse, modern kitchen with… read more
Washington Park Arboretum – Seattle WA
The Washington Park Arboretum is a public park, run as a joint project between the University of Washington and the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation. “In 1933, the Public Works Administration did some rough clearing in Washington Park, but… read more
Washington Park Improvements – Yakima WA
“Final approval of two improvement projects for the City of Yakima was announced today by Don G. Abel, Works Progress Administrator. … [One] project, slated to be under way December 13, will consist of revamping the landscaping in Washington Park,… read more
Washington Secretary of State Office Assistance – Olympia WA
A WPA press release from Dec. 1937 announced that $5,800 was “allotted to the Secretary of State’s Office, Olympia. The Olympia project is for the purpose of folding, binding and covering pamphlets and books. The help provided the Secretary of’… read more
Water Mains – Blaine WA
A water main construction project was undertaken in Blaine, Washington with the assistance of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. Construction occurred in 1934. PWA Docket No. WA 2372
Water Mains – Kettle Falls WA
A water main construction project was undertaken in Kettle Falls, Washington with the assistance of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. Construction occurred during 1935. PWA Docket No. WA 5699
Water Mains – Naches WA
A water main construction project was undertaken in Naches, Washington with the assistance of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. Construction occurred during 1935. PWA Docket No. WA 2959
Water Mains – Port Orchard WA
A water main construction project was undertaken in Port Orchard, Washington with the assistance of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. Construction occurred during 1936. PWA Docket No. WA [W]1174
Water Supply – Gold Bar WA
“An adequate domestic water supply for Gold Bar, Snohomish County, is assured under a recent Works Progress Administration allotment of $8,627, for setting up a project to construct a conversion dam and lay a feeder pipe to the town. The… read more
Water System – Brewster WA
A waterworks construction project was undertaken in Brewster, Washington with the assistance of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. Construction occurred between 1935 and 1937. PWA Docket No. WA 8085
Water System – Chehalis WA
A large water main construction project was undertaken in Chehalis, Washington with the assistance of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The PWA provided a $109,400 loan and $33,972 outright grant toward the project, whose final cost was $144,571. Construction… read more
Water System – Grays Harbor WA
Grays Harbor water system improvement was one of a number of WPA and PWA projects in Washington State: “At a cost of $97,385 the project greatly improved the water delivery system. The town previously relied on well water that was… read more