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The '''Works Progress Administration''' ('''WPA''') was a federal work relief program operated as part of the "New Deal" program to combat unemployment during the [[Great Depression]]. The program operated in [[Birmingham]] from September [[1937]] to May [[1943]] and employed as many as 9,000 people locally during its peak. The Birmingham program was overseen by Birmingham's [[Birmingham City Commission|Commissioner of Public Improvements]] [[Jimmy Morgan]] with technical assistance from the [[Birmingham Department of Engineering]] and additional consultation with the [[Jefferson County Department of Health]].
The '''Works Progress Administration''' ('''WPA''') was a federal work relief program operated as part of the "New Deal" program to combat unemployment during the [[Great Depression]]. The program operated in [[Birmingham]] from September [[1937]] to May [[1943]] and employed as many as 9,000 people locally during its peak. It's offices were located in the [[Southern Club]] building at 500-508 [[20th Street North]].
 
The Birmingham program was overseen by Birmingham's [[Birmingham City Commission|Commissioner of Public Improvements]] [[Jimmy Morgan]] with technical assistance from the [[Birmingham Department of Engineering]] and additional consultation with the [[Jefferson County Department of Health]].


In April 1943 Morgan calculated the total value of the work done by the WPA under his supervision at $4,169,572.56 (more than $63 million in 2019 dollars). Most of the cost for the work was provided by the United States, with a small percentage of city funding which was offset by savings in maintenance costs and damage claims. Additional federally-funded projects, some with labor provided through the WPA, were carried out by the [[Housing Authority of the Birmingham District]] and the Federal Bureau of Roads.
In April 1943 Morgan calculated the total value of the work done by the WPA under his supervision at $4,169,572.56 (more than $63 million in 2019 dollars). Most of the cost for the work was provided by the United States, with a small percentage of city funding which was offset by savings in maintenance costs and damage claims. Additional federally-funded projects, some with labor provided through the WPA, were carried out by the [[Housing Authority of the Birmingham District]] and the Federal Bureau of Roads.
In addition to construction projects, the Works Progress Administration included a [[Federal Art Project]]. Alabama's WPA art programs were overseen by [[Richard Blauvelt Coe]].
Beyond marshaling labor, the WPA also provided financing for construction projects, including the 16-story [[Jefferson ToweJefferson Hospital]] and the [[Graymont Armory]].


==Projects in the Birmingham District==
==Projects in the Birmingham District==
* [[Alabama Highway 174]]
* [[1941 Bessemer City Hall|Bessemer City Hall]]
* numerous projects in [[Carbon Hill]]
* [[Fairfield City Hall]]
* Outdoor classroom at [[Graymont Elementary School]]
* [[Green Springs Villa]] at [[George Ward Park|Green Springs Park]] ([[George Ward Park]])
* Classrooms at [[Glen Iris Elementary School]]
* [[Hillman Hospital Outpatient Clinic]]
* Football stadium at [[Hueytown High School]]
* Gymnasium at [[Mortimer Jordan High School]]
* [[Slossfield Community Center]]
* [[Allan Gray Fish Hatcheries]] and [[Lane Park Arboretum]] at [[Lane Park]]
* Improvements to [[Legion Field]]
* Auditorium and library for [[Leeds High School]]
* [[Locust Fork High School]]
* [[McAdory High School]]
* Addition to [[McElwain Elementary School]]
* [[Lake Tranquility]] dam at [[Oak Mountain State Park]]
* Renovation of [[Linn Park|Woodrow Wilson Park]] ([[Linn Park]])
* Improvements to [[Phelan Park]]
* [[Rosedale High School]]
* [[Vulcan Park]] construction
* [[Vulcan Park]] construction
* [[Lake Tranquility]] dam at [[Oak Mountain State Park]]
* [[Wilton]] pump house and reservoir
* 45 miles of streets graded
* 45 miles of streets graded
* 88 miles of streets paved
* 88 miles of streets paved
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==Art projects==
==Art projects==
* "[[Youth's Strife in the Approach to Life's Problems]]" mural at [[Woodlawn High School]]
* "[[Youth's Strife in the Approach to Life's Problems]]" mural at [[Woodlawn High School]]
* "[[Historical Panorama of Alabama Agriculture]]" murals for the [[1939 Alabama State Fair]]
* "Scenes of Discovery" mural for the [[Lakeview School]]
* "Spirit of Steel" mural for the [[Fairfield Post Office]]
* "From Oxcart to Airplane" pageant at [[Legion Field]]


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 15:57, 24 May 2019

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was a federal work relief program operated as part of the "New Deal" program to combat unemployment during the Great Depression. The program operated in Birmingham from September 1937 to May 1943 and employed as many as 9,000 people locally during its peak. It's offices were located in the Southern Club building at 500-508 20th Street North.

The Birmingham program was overseen by Birmingham's Commissioner of Public Improvements Jimmy Morgan with technical assistance from the Birmingham Department of Engineering and additional consultation with the Jefferson County Department of Health.

In April 1943 Morgan calculated the total value of the work done by the WPA under his supervision at $4,169,572.56 (more than $63 million in 2019 dollars). Most of the cost for the work was provided by the United States, with a small percentage of city funding which was offset by savings in maintenance costs and damage claims. Additional federally-funded projects, some with labor provided through the WPA, were carried out by the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District and the Federal Bureau of Roads.

In addition to construction projects, the Works Progress Administration included a Federal Art Project. Alabama's WPA art programs were overseen by Richard Blauvelt Coe.

Beyond marshaling labor, the WPA also provided financing for construction projects, including the 16-story Jefferson ToweJefferson Hospital and the Graymont Armory.

Projects in the Birmingham District

Art projects

See also

References

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