West Virginia Sites

The Works Progress Administration completed grading and drainage work for German Settlement Road in Elk District in Charleston, Kanawha County. The exact location and condition of this road are unknown to the Living New Deal.

"The manse was built in 1908, and is a simple, two-story, American Foursquare building on a concrete block foundation and a hipped roof. Also on the property is a privy built by the Works Progress Administration about 1935."

The Works Progress Administration completed road improvements on Gormon Avenue. The work included “Stone-basing, surfacing and building curbs.”  

The WPA constructed new wings on either side of this existing courthouse in 1939.

The Works Progress Administration built the Hartland-Elkhurst farm-to-market road connecting Hartland with Elkhurst in Clay County.

"The state bought the park lands in 1935, and the Civilian Conservation Corps made improvements including a picnic shelter, snack and souvenir shop, museum, and restrooms. The museum, which holds pioneer artifacts, features a glassed observation room offering a view of the gorge...The stone restroom, built by the CCC and shaped like a round tower, is unique."   (https://www.wvencyclopedia.org) The park's main overlook complex was also built by the CCC.

"In July of 1936, West Virginia's Civilian Conservation Corps obtained approval from the National Park Service to begin work on the log and stone building which would house the Hawks Nest Museum at one of the state's newest parks.  While work progressed on the structure, the state was working out details of how best to preserve and exhibit a large collection of artifacts it had purchased from Judge Harland Calhoun of Moorefield... Portions of the collection wound up at several state parks, including Cacapon and Lost River.  Much of the collection, though, came to the new Hawks Nest Museum and into...

The Federal Works Agency built the Herbert J. Thomas Memorial Hospital in South Charleston. Like most functioning hospitals, Thomas Memorial Hospital has grown since its original construction, eliminating much of the original design and materials. The footprint of the building can be seen in a 1958 topographic map as an H shape, later morphing and expanding to cover much of the property, including altering some side streets. The main entrance ramp is in a new part of the building. A historical plaque notes the role of the New Deal in the creation of the hospital. The hospital is named after Herbert Joseph...

The Works Progress Administration built sidewalks on several streets in Kingwood. Work on High Street was completed in 1940.

The park encompasses over 10,000 acres in Webster County, West Virginia. The first mention of the "Laurel Fork" project was on October 18th, 1935 in the Webster Republican newspaper (Anderson, p. 31). The Works Progress Administration did most of the construction on site. In total, the original park included 9 cabins, a picnic area, a playground, two tennis courts, a cover pavilion, a restaurant, and a swimming pool (Anderson, p. 79). The park continues to operate to this day, now called "Holly River State Park".

"Holly River State Park retains its rustic style, WPA-built administrative building, which also houses a restaurant."

The Public Works Administration funded the construction of doctors’ apartments at the Hopemont Sanitarium in Hopemont. The facility treated tuberculosis patients. Project W. Va.-1079-R. The facility is still extant and is adjacent to the Hopemont State Hospital.

The Public Works Administration funded the construction of a new hospital in New Martinsville. The exact location and condition of this structure are unknown to the Living New Deal.

The Public Works Administration funded the construction of a new hospital with modern facilities in Parkersburg. The exact location and condition of this structure are unknown to the Living New Deal.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) completed flood control work on Island Creek in Omar, Logan County. The work performed by WPA crews included building stone walls, widening, straightening, and deepening the channel, and clearing debris. The flood control sought to prevent property damage caused by the overflowing of the creek.

Kanawha Boulevard is the modern term for a route that was part of the original James River& Kanawha Turnpike, and previously known as First Street, Water Street, and Kanawha Street. This route was renamed in the 1920s as Kanawha Boulevard. In the 1930s, the Public Works Administration (PWA) funded the construction of the four lane Kanawha Boulevard that runs approximately 4.6 miles along the north bank of the Kanawha River, from 35th street to the Elk River. At this point, the boulevard crosses a bridge, also a New Deal Project, and continues along Columbia Boulevard to Patrick Street. Once connected by the bridge, Coleman Boulevard...

The Public Works Administration (PWA) funded the construction of the Kanawha Boulevard Bridge in Charleston, Kanawha County. Located at the point where Elk River meets Kanawha River, the bridge was built in 1938 and rebuilt in 1984. Billy-Joe Peyton (2013) writes that “Construction funds first became available in August 1937 after the Roosevelt administration approved a $450,000 PWA grant to partially cover the costs to erect a 500-foot bridge over Elk River, which consulting engineer C.P. Fortnoy claimed to be longest continuous girder span in the world. Requests for bids on the bridge were delivered from the PWA regional office in Chicago...

Kanawha State Forest—seven miles south of Charleston, West Virginia—offers 9,300 acres of nature and recreation. Activities in the park include camping, hiking, picnicking, horseback riding, and hunting & fishing. There is also a swimming pool, a shooting range, and playgrounds (see source #1 below). These activities are possible, in part, due to the labor of the Civilian Conservation Corps, as pointed out by the West Virginia Humanities Council: “The West Virginia Conservation Commission acquired 6,705 acres in Kanawha County for the creation of Kanawha State Forest. Redevelopment of the land, which had been heavily mined and timbered, began the next year by...

The Works Progress Administration built sidewalks on several streets in Kingwood. Work on Kingwood Avenue started in 1936.

The Works Progress Administration completed improvements for the Lewis County Infirmary. According the the Charleston Gazette (1936), "The work consisted of “Repairing, renovating and Improving Lewis county infirmary.” The exact location and condition of this facility are unknown to the Living New Deal.

"At Seneca State Forest, Little Thorny Creek was dammed to form Seneca Lake. The original dam stood 24 feet wide at the top, 16 feet high, and 162 feet long. The CCC constructed the original dam in three months using 116,000 feet of cribbed logs and 4,000 cubic yards of clay."

Littlepage was the first low income development built in West Virginia. Littlepage Terrace was the second WPA public housing project for low income residents authorized in West Virginia and was designated Project No. WVA 1-2; however, delays acquiring the land for Washington Manor (WVA 1-1) resulted it the completion of Littlepage Terrace first. Littlepage Manor and property were bought in 1938. Construction began in 1940, with the housing project opening later that year. The eight building complex for white housing. The project was demolished in the first decade of the 2000s and replaced with modern low income housing after the completion of...

The Public Works Administration funded construction work at the London Locks and Dam on the Kanawha River, approximately 25 miles south of Charleston. The project was authorized through the River and Harbor Act of 3 July 1930. The Cost of construction was $3,269,800. The locks became operative in September 1933 and were completed in May 1934. The locks contain two parallel lock chambers. The project is currently operated by the Army Corps of Engineers.

"... icnic shelters are integral to the public image and identity of West Virginia’s New Deal projects. The shelters also represent the essence of rustic architectural and landscape design. Among the most impressive examples is the Long Branch Picnic Shelter at Cabwaylingo. The ca. 1936 building is a one-story, side-gabled building with cut stone pillars supporting the roof. The 1-by-1 bay building measures 20 feet wide by 12 feet deep on the exterior. A stone wall encircles the shelter. The stone floor featu res a raised relief carving of a pine tree with crossed axes and the words “U.S.” and...

The Works Progress Administration completed flood control work on Loop Creek, a side channel of the Kanawha River. The project was part of a county-wide flood control effort. The work consisted of widening, straightening, cleaning, and adding depth to the creek channel. Previously, the seasonal flooding had caused property damage in the vicinity of the creek.

The CCC’s role in developing the park, as explained by the state of West Virginia: “During the Great Depression, beginning May 15, 1934, Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Company 1524 occupied Camp Hardy, which was located near the present day entrance to Lost River State Park. By 1937, the CCC boys had built 15 standard cabins, an administration building, the superintendent’s residence, a swimming pool and bathhouse, a spring house covering the Lee Sulphur Springs (named after Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee, Robert E. Lee’s father), and several bridges and other small stone structures throughout the park. The stonework of these beautiful buildings...

The Works Progress Administration completed improvements for Magazine Branch Road in Charleston. The work consisted of setting the stone basing of the road. The exact location and condition of this road are unknown to the Living New Deal. The road was likely what is now called Garrison Avenue, which appears to be one of the two Magazine streets listed on the Sheet 240 of the 1933 Sanborn Maps.

Two-story neo-classical building of granite and limestone was built by the Algeron Blair Construction Company of Montgomery, Alabama out of thirty bids placed for the project. The building features six over six double hung windows sash windows, pedimental entrance, Greek keys on the lintels. A 1974 brick expansion was built to the east. The Algeron Blair Construction Company also built the low-cost housing project called Littlepage Terrace in west Charleston. The construction began in November 1940. The building opened on 22 June 1942. It was limited in height to two stories because of war-time restrictions, but designed to have three additional...

One of many county line historical markers placed in West Virginia. Each side denotes the county that is being entered. The West Virginia historical marker program began in 1934 with the beginning research for the markers with the intention of placing markers around the state to encourage tourism. Dr. Roy Bird Cook, a Charleston druggist, a longtime commission member, and a vocational historian worked on the project. Approximately 5,000 sites were collected with 440 markers selected by the commission for placement. Most of these along 44 state and federal highways. The funds came from the Federal Emergency Relief Administration and the Works Progress...

The Works Progress Administration built a brick wall for Marshall College in Huntington, Cabell County.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) completed repairs for the Training School Building at Marshall College (today Marshall University) in Huntington, Cabell County. The structure was built in 1937 and served as a laboratory for teachers in training. Also called Burkirk Hall, the structure currently houses administration, offices, and classrooms of the College of Education and Human Services.  

One of many county line historical markers placed in West Virginia at the Wetzel/Marshall County Line. The West Virginia historical marker program began in 1934 with the beginning research for the markers with the intention of placing markers around the state to encourage tourism. Dr. Roy Bird Cook, a Charleston druggist, a longtime commission member, and a vocational historian worked on the project. Approximately 5,000 sites were collected with 440 markers selected by the commission for placement. Most of these along 44 state and federal highways. The funds came from the Federal Emergency Relief Administration and the Works Progress Administration. In addition to...

The Works Progress Administration completed improvements for the Monongalia County School, in Morgantown. The work included “Constructing ditch, laying water lines and grading school grounds, for county schools.” The exact location and condition of this project is unknown to the Living New Deal.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built Camp Nicholas P-53 in the Monongahela National Forest. Pictured are CCC crews carrying out construction activities in 1935.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built camp barracks in the Monongahela National Forest, in 1933. Pictured are CCC crews and barracks under construction photographed by E.S. Shipp in September 1933. This is likely Camp Nicholas P-53.

This USDA building is a U.S. Treasury project from 1936-37. According to the West Virginia Department of Commerce: “Dedicated in 1937, the USDA building symbolized increased importance of the Department of Agriculture and the Forest Service in the New Deal era. It housed offices for Civilian Conservation Corps projects and local New Deal programs designed to assist rural farmers and woodsmen. The rectangular, three-story, Neo-Classical designed building is constructed of red brick with stone trim. The original grading and landscaping around the exterior of the building was done with CCC labor. Most notable is the woodpaneled interior reception/entrance area where two...

Two New Deal murals by Stevan Dohanos: "New Deal mural entitled "Mining Village" painte by Stevan Dohanos in 1939. The mural was slated to be installed in the Huntingdon post office but the locals deemed it too depressing. It was then offered to the Logan, WV post office but declined. It finally was placed in the Forestry Building in Elkins. A second mural depicting a forest tower was painted as a compromise... New Deal mural entitled "Forestry Service" painted by Stevan Dohanos in 1939. This mural was painted as part of a compromise for the "Mining Villge" mural to be placed in...

The Civilian Conservation Corps built a road in the Monongahela National Forest. The company likely belonged to Camp Nicholas P-53.

Monongalia High School was a school for black students in Westover, WV. It was built by the WPA in 1938. See the Clio entry: Admin, Clio and Zachery Cowsert. "Monongalia High School (1938-1954)." 

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) built the Morgantown Airport in Morgantown. Pictured are WPA crews grading and leveling the runways of the new airfield, in 1936.