Center Street – Santa Cruz CA
The WPA improved Center St. and the intersecting Church St. in 1938. These streets run directly in front of the Santa Cruz City Hall, Civic Auditorium and Fire Station No. 1, all PWA projects.
Church Street – Santa Cruz CA
The WPA improved Church St. and the intersecting Center St. in 1938. These streets run directly in front of the Santa Cruz City Hall, Civic Auditorium and Fire Station No. 1, all PWA projects.
Escalona Drive – Santa Cruz CA
In 1937 the WPA improved Escalona Drive "in the city of Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County, including clearing, scrubbing widening, grading, oiling, installing culverts."
Felton Forestry Headquarters – Santa Cruz CA
The WPA made "improvements and additions to the Division of Forestry Headquarters in Felton" in 1938. Exact location and status of this building is unknown. Current Forestry station in Felton was built in the 1940s.
Natural Bridges State Park Street Improvements – Santa Cruz CA
The WPA improved streets in the vicinity of and running through Natural Bridges State Park in 1938.
Santa Cruz City Hall – Santa Cruz CA
"The various departments of the city government are housed in the new city hall around a court on one floor. This project added space to the existing building for the water department, police department, office of the mayor, and council… read more
Santa Cruz City Jail (former) – Santa Cruz CA
“In 1936 the Works Progress Administration provided funds for the construction of jail designed by Albert Roller at 705 Front Street, at a cost of $190,000 and built to hold 68 men and 8 women. As completion of construction neared… read more
Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium – Santa Cruz CA
"Debated for its location, its usefulness and its cost, the auditorium plan stalled and nearly died. But low interest rates and money available from the New Deal — 80 percent funding if it was built by legitimately unemployed workers and… read more
Santa Cruz County Hospital Improvements – Santa Cruz CA
The WPA made "alterations and construct[ed] new addition to the Santa Cruz County Hospital and improve[d] grounds" in 1942. Exact location and current status of this hospital unknown.
Santa Cruz County Park Improvements – Santa Cruz CA
WPA workers were engaged in "landscaping, building equestrian trails and installing sprinkler systems in Santa Cruz parks."
Santa Cruz County Sewer Systems – Santa Cruz CA
Research done by local librarians has uncovered that the WPA constructed: sewer main, laying sewer pipe and construct manholes (1935) drainage system for flood control (1936) sanitation-the elimination of insanitary [sic] devices by the construction of sanitary privies in rural… read more
Santa Cruz County Street Improvements – Santa Cruz CA
WPA workers in Santa Cruz engaged in a variety of roadwork in Santa Cruz County: "Construct fire trail and motorway on Coast Road (1935) Improving various roads not in the Federal Aid System (1935) Rocking roads in vicinity of Soquel… read more
Santa Cruz Fire Station 1 – Santa Cruz CA
The building was retrofitted and remodeled in 2001, but most of the original structure and appearance was preserved.
Santa Cruz High School Backstop – Santa Cruz CA
New Deal funds supplied Santa Cruz High School with a backstop for the baseball field. It is not known whether the original backstop still stands.
Santa Cruz Post Office – Santa Cruz CA
Phone: (831)423-0109 Access Hours: M-F 5am-7 pm; Sat 5am-6 pm Constructed by the Works Progress Administration in 1936, this building is home to Henrietta Shore’s murals depicting Santa Cruz industry: “Cabbage Farming,” “Limestone Quarries,” “Artichoke,” and “Fishing.”
Santa Cruz Post Office Murals – Santa Cruz CA
Four oil on canvas murals depicting Santa Cruz’s industry: “Cabbage Farming,” “Limestone Quarries,” “Artichoke,” and “Fishing.” “The vivid paintings show limestone quarry workers, men picking artichokes and fishermen at the waters edge. One painting, titled Cabbage Culture, shows three farm… read more
