Casper Sites

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) and Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) worked to dramatically improve the conditions at the old armory in Casper, Wyoming in 1934. Casper Star-Tribune described the project as an "armory for the use of the national guard ... erected near Durbin and Fifteenth streets, at a cost of $12,308." A 1950s map shows that the facility was located south of 15th Street, between S Wolcott and S Durbin St. oilcity.news: "The Wyoming National Guard Armory was a unique, round brick structure originally built in 1927 to house cavalry horses. Over the years it was modified and used...

In 1934 the Federal Emergency Relief Administration constructed a cabin Wyoming for use by the Boy Scouts. According to the Casper Star-Tribune the cabin "comprises a large assembly room, kitchen and cloak room." Work at the site also included tree planting and landscaping. The project cost $2,955. The exact location and condition of this building are unknown to the Living New Deal. According to the Casper Star-Tribune the building was located in 'south Casper' "in the old city tourist camp." An additional reference to it states that it is located near Durbin and Fifteenth streets, by the site of the old...

The Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) conducted improvement / development work at "Casper mountain park."

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) and Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) each helped to construct Casper Mountain Road. "In addition the constructed new and improved existing roads, including not just the conspicuous road snaking up the north slope of the mountain (that was started as a CWA project, although that too may have been an improvement of an existing pathway) but also roads on the top of the mountain."

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) worked to improve the 1921 David Street Fire Station, also known as Fire Department Station 1, in Casper, Wyoming. Cassity: "The beautiful, but already aging, David Street Fire Station in Casper gained its share of attention when workers painted and applied a calcimine, chalky solution to the walls and ceilings."

As part of a Civil Works Administration (CWA) project in Casper, Wyoming: "the fire alarm system, a separate system by which businesses were connected to a central fire alarm center through lines on poles, was extended and rebuilt; in this case, workers cut poles from Casper Mountain and installed them in town."

The Civil Works Administration (CWA), Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) and Works Progress Administration (WPA) performed structural renovation and historic restoration work at this site. Casper Star-Tribune, 1934: "Dedication of the new traps today at the Izaak Walton league park near the old site of Fort Caspar will afford the Casper public opportunity to view extensive Improvement work carried on there for several months as a CWA project. Progress made in construction of a spacious, rustic lodge of logs, and a fence of the same material, and the planting of hundreds of trees and shrubs will be open to inspection. When...

The Girl Scout Little House at 1011 Bonnie Brae Street was constructed during the Great Depression with New Deal work relief labor. Approved as a Civil Works Administration (CWA) project, the Little House was constructed in 1934-5 and completed under the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA).

The Works Progress Administration built an irrigation system, part of the Federal Reclamation Project in Casper, Alcoa. This work was funded by the Public Works Administration. The exact location and condition of the irrigation system are unknown to the Living New Deal.

The Federal Emergency Relief Administration built a community building in Casper, Wyoming, which Living New Deal believes to be the Isaac Walton League Lodge at Isaak Walton Park (also confirmed to be an FERA project completed in 1934). The facility was constructed "at an outlay of $11,267." Additional work was conducted at Isaak Walton Park in 1934 by relief labor.

Casper Star-Tribune: "Convention and social sessions were transferred this afternoon to the Lions recuperation camp for undernourished children on Casper mountain. There in the new assembly and recreational building erected of logs as a CWA project, visitors also learned of the program through a talk given by A. Baker, Casper club member and a past district governor of the Lions. He reviewed both the history and the achievements of the camp, which ministers annually to between 60 and 70 deserving Casper children who are extended the benefits of wholesome and invigorating recreation combined with body-building food and care." The status and...

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) and Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) conducted improvement / development work at Casper's municipal golf course, also known as the Casper Community Club. The work was described in a newspaper article as "municipal golf club-house and fairways." Casper Star-Tribune, March 3, 1935: "The new Casper Community club golf house was built at a cost of $21,047. In addition, nine supplementary greens were constructed on the course." Based on recent imagery Living New Deal believes the clubhouse is no longer extant.

This PWA building was constructed in 1938-1940.  It is a PWA Moderne/'stripped classicism' style ashlar stone-clad building with stone reliefs depicting western images like Native Americans, cattle round-up, and cattle skull.

Multiple New Deal agencies performed work in and around Natrona County High School in Casper, Wyoming, notably constructing athletic facilities. The Civil Works Administration (C.W.A.) began construction of "a stadium for the athletic field at Natrona County High School in Casper," work that was completed under the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (F.E.R.A.). Casper Star-Tribune: "CONSTRUCTION of Casper's new $48,000 stadium under the CWA end later the ERA during 1934 rounded out the athletic facilities of Natrona County High school to the most complete and finest of any school from colleges on down in the Rocky Mountain states, and further boosted Carper's eminence...

From 1938 to 1939, young relief workers from the National Youth Administration (NYA) built the North Casper Clubhouse in the city of Casper, Wyoming. Upon finishing the structure, the NYA noted that the “building was planned to meet a pressing need in the North Casper community and has been extensively used by various organizations and activity groups” (Cassity, 213). NYA workers constructed the building using a unique architectural method known as rammed earth construction. The walls of the clubhouse measure eighteen inches thick and are finished with metal lath, plaster, and stucco. The original design of the building included space for...

Medium: Oil on canvas, size: 10' x 5'. "The Fertile Land Remembers", by Louise Emerson Ronnebeck (1901-1980) depicts a determined looking pioneer farming family in a Conestoga wagon pulled by oxen heading toward the viewer. In the background/sky are Indians riding horses chasing buffalo, executed in a translucent cloud-like manner. The Indians and the pioneer farming family were both historically dependent on the land and they are shown being displaced by the new, thriving and growing oil industry. The mural was originally installed in the Worland, Wyoming Post Office. It was later installed into the downtown Casper Wyoming Post Office, located...

The Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) constructed water supply reservoirs northwest of Casper, Wyoming. Casper Star-Tribune, March 3, 1935: "Drought conditions of last year prompted the excavation and construction of important and permanent reservoirs on the 33-Mile stock trail west of Casper, which links the prairie winter range with the Big Horn summer range, at a cost of $33,740. Of this sum, $30,000 was supplied through the ERA ..." It is unclear to Living New Deal whether these projects includes what are now known as Bressler Reservoir, Daly Reservoir, or possibly even Gowin-Kesecker Lake, which are located in the vicinity of Thirtythree...

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) improved 11th, 12th, and 13th Streets in Casper, Wyoming. Casper Star-Tribune: "Eleventh street, between Oakcrest and Mitchell streets, had the appearance of a bee hive this morning. One hundred workmen went on the Job lowering the steep grade at that point. Similar lowering of the grade, permitting ready access by traffic, on Twelfth and Thirteenth streets, also between Oakcrest and Mitchell."

"While on mountain, the CCC crews improved camping and picnic grounds, “to make Casper Mountain a heaven on earth for local picnic parties and passing tourists” and also substantial work at Rotary Park part way up the mountain near Garden Creek Falls, constructing fireplaces, picnic tables and benches, and other features." Furthermore, the Civil Works Administration (CWA) improved roads and trails at Rotary Park.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) and Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) constructed sewers in north Casper, Wyoming. Casper Star-Tribune, March 3, 1935: "A long-felt community need was laying of the North Casper sanitary sewer system, now nearing completion, at a cost of $38,158 to date." Cassity: "In Casper, the CWA improved and extended the sanitary sewer system to a part of town previously without."

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) began and the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) completed improvement work at the former Wardwell Field airport. The airport, which was six miles north of Casper, is no longer extant; the former airport property is now the site of the town of Bar Nunn. Casper Star-Tribune: "The largest of all work relief projects was the new airport and runways at Wardwell field, completed at a cost of $93,357, itemized as follows: CWA, $46,809; ERA, $12,710; county, $33,838. Wardwell field six miles north on the Salt Creek highway ... The project included construction of an ample,...

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) constructed what was then known as the V.F.W. Pool at George Washington Park in Casper, Wyoming, in 1934. Work relief labor conducted additional development work at Washington Park. Casper Star-Tribune, March 3, 1935, discussing work relief projects from 1934: "Within the park is the Veterans of Foreign Wars' swimming pool and dressing-room building, the latter requiring an outlay of $15,978 last year." The status of the facility is unknown to Living New Deal.