Latest news with #WorksProgressAdministration
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
East Lake Library reopening after being closed for 4 years in Birmingham
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Four years after being closed due to a defunct HVAC system, East Lake Library will soon reopen. The library, which closed its doors 'indefinitely' back in the summer of 2021, will reopen at 10 a.m. Monday at 5 Oporto Madrid Boulevard. The library first opened in 1914 on the second floor of the former East Lake Fire Station before finding its own space along Oporto Madrid in 1928. For generations, the 'Storybook Mural' has been a fixture of the library, painted by artist Carrie Hill and placed in East Lake in 1937 as part of the Works Progress Administration under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. 'This week, East Lake Library is reopening its doors — and I couldn't be prouder,' Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said in a statement Wednesday. 'Not just because it's another win for our neighborhoods, but because it reflects what we believe: access to knowledge should never be up for debate.' At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic while libraries across Birmingham were closed, staff noticed issues with the building air conditioning unit, closing the library in June 2021, according to The Birmingham Times. At the time, the library was listed as being closed 'indefinitely' with no opening date in sight. While the library remains one of the oldest in the city, its circulation serves a small but loyal base. According to the Jefferson County Library Cooperative, East Lake and the now-defunct Ensley library had a combined book loan of over 1,500 books in 2021. In his proposed budget for the city, Woodfin has asked that nearly $16.4 million be allocated for the Birmingham Public Library. The reopening will include a ceremony and light refreshments. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Dominion Post
09-05-2025
- General
- Dominion Post
Retaining history: Morgantown walls receive historic designation
MORGANTOWN — A city built in the hills is built on retaining walls. Take a look around. They're everywhere. Earlier this week, Morgantown Mayor Joe Abu-Ghannam announced that three such structures have received a joint historical designation for their association with the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and other New Deal programs implemented in the 1930s as a response to the Great Depression. Deckers Creek Wall The Deckers Creek Wall is an ashlar-stone retaining wall located along the Monongahela River tributary near downtown Morgantown. The wall, built to prevent erosion of land into the creek, is 1,270 feet long and nine-to-10 courses, or block layers, tall depending on the location. According to the application submitted to the U.S. Department of the Interior, there is historical documentation in Morgantown City Council minutes linking the wall to the early Reconstruction Finance Corp. and the Civil Works Administration, as well as the WPA. Council meeting minutes indicate the stone for the wall was initially pulled from the Suncrest Quarry, then the Booth Creek stone quarry, located about three miles south of Morgantown. Minutes show the wall was a topic of council discussion starting in 1933, when construction of a rip rap wall was initiated along Deckers Creek 'in the Hog Back vicinity.' Construction, repair, reinforcement and reconstruction continued until 1943. Eighth Street Stone Retaining Walls The Eighth Street Stone Retaining Walls are located along the west side of the street between University and Grant avenues. According to Morgantown City Council minutes, the walls were built between 1934 and 1937 to retain the terrace upon which homes were constructed. Each section of wall runs approximately 80 feet. They are constructed of sandstone with rectangular raised joints and a top cap. There are three plaques indicating that the walls were constructed in 1934 by workers under the Federal Emergency Relief Administration. The walls are made of rough-faced ashlar stone – meaning cut, dressed and stacked – indicative of the construction style of the New Deal era. Regular progress reports appear in the city council minutes until May 1937. According to the application, 'the walls are a physical example of Depression-Era relief and workmanship. They are an example of federal relief program funding put to use in Morgantown.' Richwood Avenue Wall The Richwood Avenue Wall is a massive sandstone retaining wall on the south side of Richwood Avenue, but it's not visible from the street. Built between 1936 and1937, the wall forms the northern boundary of Whitemoore Park and creates a 'substantial landscape feature' when viewed from the park due to its rough-faced stones and large, regularly-spaced buttresses. The wall is a total length of 1,280 feet and stands between 11-to-15 feet tall in most places depending on terrain. It was constructed in two sections separated by a short peninsula of lawn that provides access down to the 8.6-acre park below. The wall is marked 'WPA 1936,' and described in the designation request as 'one of the best preserved and well documented New Deal Era stone walls compared to other walls in the area.' According to Morgantown City Council meeting minutes from April 17, 1934, the city manager reported that there had been a large slip into Whitemoore Park, which appears to have been the impetus to apply for WPA funding and initiate a large retaining wall project. In 1937, the wall was dedicated in a ceremony that drew 5,000 people and included a mile-long parade according to newspaper reports. The Dominion News reported the event's attendees included Morgantown Mayor Harry Largent, Congressman Jennings Randolph and the regional engineer for the WPA program.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Retaining history: Morgantown walls receive historic designation
May 8—MORGANTOWN — A city built in the hills is built on retaining walls. Take a look around. They're everywhere. Earlier this week, Morgantown Mayor Joe Abu-Ghannam announced that three such structures have received a joint historical designation for their association with the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and other New Deal programs implemented in the 1930s as a response to the Great Depression. Deckers Creek Wall The Deckers Creek Wall is an ashlar-stone retaining wall located along the Monongahela River tributary near downtown Morgantown. The wall, built to prevent erosion of land into the creek, is 1, 270 feet long and nine-to-10 courses, or block layers, tall depending on the location. According to the application submitted to the U.S. Department of the Interior, there is historical documentation in Morgantown City Council minutes linking the wall to the early Reconstruction Finance Corp. and the Civil Works Administration, as well as the WPA. Council meeting minutes indicate the stone for the wall was initially pulled from the Suncrest Quarry, then the Booth Creek stone quarry, located about three miles south of Morgantown. Minutes show the wall was a topic of council discussion starting in 1933, when construction of a rip rap wall was initiated along Deckers Creek "in the Hog Back vicinity." Construction, repair, reinforcement and reconstruction continued until 1943. Eighth Street Stone Retaining Walls The Eighth Street Stone Retaining Walls are located along the west side of the street between University and Grant avenues. According to Morgantown City Council minutes, the walls were built between 1934 and 1937 to retain the terrace upon which homes were constructed. Each section of wall runs approximately 80 feet. They are constructed of sandstone with rectangular raised joints and a top cap. There are three plaques indicating that the walls were constructed in 1934 by workers under the Federal Emergency Relief Administration. The walls are made of rough-faced ashlar stone — meaning cut, dressed and stacked — indicative of the construction style of the New Deal era. Regular progress reports appear in the city council minutes until May 1937. According to the application, "the walls are a physical example of Depression-Era relief and workmanship. They are an example of federal relief program funding put to use in Morgantown." Richwood Avenue Wall The Richwood Avenue Wall is a massive sandstone retaining wall on the south side of Richwood Avenue, but it's not visible from the street. Built between 1936 and1937, the wall forms the northern boundary of Whitemoore Park and creates a "substantial landscape feature " when viewed from the park due to its rough-faced stones and large, regularly-spaced buttresses. The wall is a total length of 1, 280 feet and stands between 11-to-15 feet tall in most places depending on terrain. It was constructed in two sections separated by a short peninsula of lawn that provides access down to the 8.6-acre park below. The wall is marked "WPA 1936, " and described in the designation request as "one of the best preserved and well documented New Deal Era stone walls compared to other walls in the area." According to Morgantown City Council meeting minutes from April 17, 1934, the city manager reported that there had been a large slip into Whitemoore Park, which appears to have been the impetus to apply for WPA funding and initiate a large retaining wall project. In 1937, the wall was dedicated in a ceremony that drew 5, 000 people and included a mile-long parade according to newspaper reports. The Dominion News reported the event's attendees included Morgantown Mayor Harry Largent, Congressman Jennings Randolph and the regional engineer for the WPA program.
Chicago Tribune
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Today in History: Eiffel Tower opens for the Paris World's Fair
Today is Tuesday, May 6, the 126th day of 2025. There are 239 days left in the year. Today in history: On May 6, 1889, the Eiffel Tower opened to the public as part of the Paris World's Fair. Also on this date: In 1882, President Chester Alan Arthur signed the Chinese Exclusion Act, which barred Chinese laborers from immigrating to the U.S. for 10 years. (The act would remain in effect until 1943.) In 1935, the Works Progress Administration was established under an executive order signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1937, the hydrogen-filled German airship Hindenburg caught fire and crashed while attempting to dock at Lakehurst, New Jersey; 35 of the 97 people on board and one crew member on the ground were killed. In 1954, medical student Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile during a track meet in Oxford, England, finishing in 3:59.4. In 1994, former Arkansas state worker Paula Jones filed a suit against President Bill Clinton, alleging he'd sexually harassed her in 1991. (Jones reached a settlement with Clinton in November 1998.) In 1994, the Channel Tunnel connecting England and France beneath the English Channel was officially opened in a ceremony attended by Queen Elizabeth II and French president François Mitterrand. In 2004, President George W. Bush apologized for the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers at Abu Ghraib prison, calling it 'a stain on our country's honor and reputation,' but rejected calls for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's resignation. Today's Birthdays: Rock musician Bob Seger is 80. Country musician Jimmie Dale Gilmore is 80. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is 72. TV host Tom Bergeron is 70. Actor Roma Downey is 65. Actor-director George Clooney is 64. Hockey Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur is 53. Actor Adrianne Palicki is 42. Actor Gabourey Sidibe is 42. NBA point guard Chris Paul is 40. Actor-comedian Sasheer Zamata is 39. Rapper Meek Mill is 38. Actor-singer Naomi Scott is 32. WNBA forward Angel Reese is 23.
Boston Globe
06-05-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
Today in History: May 6, the Hindenburg crashes in flames in New Jersey
Advertisement In 1889, the Eiffel Tower opened to the public as part of the Paris World's Fair. In 1935, the Works Progress Administration was established under an executive order signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1937, the hydrogen-filled German airship Hindenburg caught fire and crashed while attempting to dock at Lakehurst, N.J.; 35 of the 97 people on board and one crew member on the ground were killed. In 1954, medical student Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile during a track meet in Oxford, England, finishing in 3:59.4. In 1994, former Arkansas state worker Paula Jones filed a suit against President Bill Clinton, alleging he had sexually harassed her in 1991. (Jones reached a settlement with Clinton in November 1998.) In 1994, the Channel Tunnel, connecting England and France beneath the English Channel, was officially opened in a ceremony attended by Queen Elizabeth II and French president François Mitterrand. Advertisement In 2004, President George W. Bush apologized for the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers at Abu Ghraib prison, calling it 'a stain on our country's honor and reputation,' but rejected calls for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's resignation.
