The Alley Dwelling Authority (ADA) and the Federal Works Agency (FWA) funded the construction of the 21st Street Houses in Washington, DC in 1943. This development of 36 living units was built for African American national defense workers (Washington, DC was… read more
The Alley Dwelling Authority (ADA) and the Federal Works Agency (FWA) funded the construction of the 25th Street Houses in Washington, DC in 1944. This development of 40 living units was built for white national defense workers (Washington, DC was highly… read more
The Alley Dwelling Authority (ADA) and the Federal Works Agency (FWA) funded the construction of the 35th Street Houses in Washington, DC in 1943. This development of 75 living units was built for white national defense workers (Washington, DC was highly… read more
The Civil Works Administration (CWA) installed a 16-inch water main along Alabama Avenue SE in 1933-4. This was at the beginning of an extensive program of building new water mains and sewers all across the District of Columbia by New… read more
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) made improvements to a segment of Albemarle Street NW, between Reno Road and Thirty-Eighth Street, in 1938-39. The WPA graded the road and prepared it for paving with a foundation of salvaged material: “The… read more
Anacostia Drive, which runs through Anacostia Park and alongside the Anacostia River, was almost certainly worked on during the New Deal – more than once – though the evidence is not conclusive. According to a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project… read more
In fiscal year 1934, the DC Government reported that the Public Works Administration (PWA) had allotted $1,759,500 for five sewer projects in the District: northeast boundary sewer, Piney Branch relief sewer, outfall sewer, upper Potomac interceptor, and upper Anacostia main… read more
Anacostia Park is one of Washington DC’s two largest parks and recreation areas, along with Rock Creek Park. It covers over 1200 acres along the Anacostia River from South Capitol Street SE to the Maryland boundary in NE. The New… read more
Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens is situated on the banks of the Anacostia River at the north end of Anacostia Park. It is a marsh area that includes several cultivated ponds preserving rare waterlilies and lotuses. Originally known as the… read more
The Langston Golf Course in Anacostia Park was opened as a 9-hole course in 1939 (and expanded to 18 holes in the 1950s). It was constructed with the help of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Works Project Administration (WPA)…. read more
The present day Anacostia Pool & Recreation Center was constructed at the very end of the New Deal, as it overlapped with the country’s entry into World War II. On May 15, 1942, the Evening Star newspaper reported that… read more
In 1936, the Public Works Administration (PWA) provided $69,036 for the construction of a swimming pool in Anacostia Park (about $1.3 million in 2020 dollars). The pool was built by the BZ Contracting Company of New York and completed in… read more
In 1942, the Washington Post reported the approval of funds for the Federal Works Agency (FWA) to construct a major water main from 18th Street and Minnesota Avenue to Firth Sterling Avenue and Stevens Road, to serve the Fairlawn, Anacostia… read more
The Alley Dwelling Authority (ADA) and the Federal Works Agency (FWA) funded the construction of the Anthony Bowen Houses in Washington, DC in 1943. This development of 86 living units was built for African American national defense workers (Washington, DC was… read more
Although the New Deal is best known for creation and construction, the Civil Works Administration (CWA) also put unemployed people to work demolishing obsolete structures. In the winter of 1933-34, CWA crews took down the old Aqueduct Bridge, a canal… read more
The Arlington Memorial Bridge across the Potomac River was completed in 1932, but considerable finishing work remained to be done at each end. In late 1933, the Washington Post reported that $32,000 was appropriated for the Public Works Administration (PWA)… read more
The Bald Eagle Hill Children’s Health Camp was built in 1936-1937 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) for children suffering from tuberculosis. The camp’s address was 4900 Nichols Avenue SE, which is now Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. The camp… read more
During the 1930s, Banneker Recreation Area was developed as part of a larger Capital Parks improvement program undertaken by the Public Works Administration (PWA), Civil Work Adminstration (CWA), Works Progress Administration (WPA), and Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Notably, the CWA was… read more
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) improved a segment of Barnaby Street NW, from Utah Avenue to Arcadia Place. This was a WPA curb and gutter project: “This project was 1,200 feet long and serves the recent developments in this vicinity.”
The Alley Dwelling Authority (ADA) and the United States Housing Authority (USHA) funded the construction of the Barry Farm Dwellings in Washington, DC between 1941 and 1943. The ADA was one of the earliest New Deal initiatives to provide better housing… read more
The Alley Dwelling Authority (ADA) funded the construction of an administration and community building for the Barry Farm Dwellings and surrounding community, ca. 1941-1943. It is unknown to the Living New Deal if this building still exists. The ADA was… read more
In 1942, the Washington Post reported the allocation of $18,204 by the Federal Works Agency (FWA) for new construction and improvements to the Barry Farm Playground. As part of the PlayDC initiative, the recreation center on the site was demolished… read more
In 1936, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted cleanup efforts at Battery Kemble Park, the site of a Civil War-era fort in the city’s western corner. Crews removed underbrush, poisonous plants, and dead trees to make the park more welcoming… read more
In 1940, the Washington Post reported allocation of funding to the Works Progress Administration (WPA) for improvements to naval facilities in the city’s southeast quadrant: “A group of 685 men working on an additional ammunition depot and buildings for the… read more
The Alley Dwelling Authority (ADA) and the Federal Works Agency (FWA) funded the construction of the Benning Road Houses in Washington, DC in 1943. This development of 138 living units was built for white national defense workers (Washington, DC was highly… read more
The Public Works Administration (PWA) paid for pavement repair and other unspecified improvements to a long segment of Benning Road NE, from Minnesota Avenue to Central Avenue, between 1933 and 1934. The labor was very likely provided by Civil Works… read more
The Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) made improvements to Benning Road SE in Washington DC, from Central Avenue to Hillside Avenue. This dirt road was given an improved surface: “Old material from replacement jobs is hauled to the [site], broken… read more
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) improved a segment of Bladensburg Rd. NE, from New York Ave. to Twenty-Fourth Place NE. This project assisted regular District of Columbia municipal workers, and was described as follows: “Prior to the widening of Bladensburg Road,… read more
The Federal Emergency Relief Administration and the Civil Works Administration completed improvements at the Bloomingdale Playground in Washington DC, between 1933 and 1934. The work consisted of the following improvements: “Graded, completed drainage and water service system; fencing and 3-story recreation building… read more
The New Deal was responsible for the original Blue Plains Disposal Plant at the southern end of the District of Columbia, as well as many miles of new sewer lines to collect Washington’s growing flow of waste water. Up to… read more
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) improved a segment of Branch Avenue SE, from Pennsylvania Avenue to Randall Circle. This WPA project was described as follows: “This project requires heavy grading and eventual temporary roadway treatment. At the present time, grading… read more
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) improved a segment of Broad Branch Road NW, from Twenty-seventh Street to Grant Road. This was a “roadside beautification” project, described as follows: “Inspection of this project from time to time showed that, due to heavy… read more
In 1936-37, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) improved a segment of Brookland Avenue NE between Michigan Avenue to Bates Road. WPA improved this road with recycled material and the “laying of a thin blanket of bituminous material.” Also, “this project… read more
The Brookland Education Campus at Bunker Hill, NE, encompasses the former Bunker Hill Elementary School, which was built during the New Deal era. The new facility includes middle school. Initial plans were made in 1938 for a full, two-story building… read more
The Alley Dwelling Authority (ADA) funded the construction of the Brown’s Court Garages in Washington, DC between 1935 and 1936. These were located on Brown’s Court SE, and were leased by a funeral home for some period of time. Though there… read more
The Alley Dwelling Authority (ADA) and the Federal Works Agency (FWA) funded the construction of the Bryant Street Houses in Washington, DC in 1943. This development of 32 living units was built for African American national defense workers (Washington, DC was… read more
In 1942, the Washington Post reported the allocation of $32,800 to the Federal Works Agency (FWA) for work on the Bundy Recreation Center in the district’s northwest quadrant. It is unclear whether funds were designated for new construction or improvements…. read more
In 1933-34, the Civil Works Administration (CWA) and the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) carried out pavement repair and other unspecified improvements to a lengthy segment of Bunker Hill Road NE, from Twentieth Street to the District of Columbia line. … read more
A new annex was constructed for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in 1936-38. The building was authorized by Congress in 1935 for $6.3 million, but the funds flowed through the Public Works Administration (PWA). The Treasury Department’s Procurement… read more
In 1940, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) built a new roadway at Burns Street between East Capitol and Blaine streets in the district’s northeast quadrant. This project was part of a massive New Deal program of street paving and upgrades around… read more