85 Years Ago
The August 21, 1941 Colorado Transcript included an editorial titled “Keep the Skeleton Alive.” It referred to the increasing pressure to dismantle the Works Progress Administration, or WPA. The Roosevelt administration’s approach to easing the Great Depression was to create public works projects and employ as many people as possible in them. The WPA was established in 1935. In its relatively short life, it provided jobs and paychecks to millions of Americans.
Golden benefited greatly from WPA projects, both small and large.
1935
WPA sewing room
Hot lunches in schools
Adult education classes
Road from Golden to Morrison
Upgrading our reservoirs and water systems
Many new buildings and upgrades to Camp George West
A homeless camp at Camp George West
1936
Widening 12th Street from Miners Alley to Ford St.
Central Elementary School (later renamed to "Mitchell")
Safety improvements to the Lariat Loop Road
44th Avenue between Denver and Golden
Field house for the School of Mines
Improvements to the road from Golden to Boulder
Several improvements to the School of Mines campus
Santa’s workshop to repair used toys for distribution
1937
4 room extension to Central Elementary
Landscaping around Central Elementary
Fence around Central Elementary
Shoulder guard cables on the Lariat Loop Road
Curbs and gutters in Golden
Adding an irrigation system to the cemetery
Replacement of the Washington Avenue bridge
Rebuilt high school tennis courts
1938
Created Jefferson County History Museum (later the Golden History Museum)
Extended Golden’s sewer system
Replaced flagstone sidewalks with concrete on Washington Avenue
Additional housing in Mines Park
Canning center to preserve food for distribution to schools
Summer program for children in the park
Geology building for the School of Mines
Improvements to Golden Gate Canyon Road
By 1939, the funding had been substantially reduced, but a few smaller projects were approved:
1939-1943
Curbs and gutter program continued
History Museum continued
Grasshopper abatement
First Aid classes
Landscaping at the high school (on 10th Street)
School of Mines tennis courts
Roads, curbs, gutters, sidewalks for the Mines campus
In addition to the projects within the City limits, the Ralston reservoir a few miles north of town and Red Rocks amphitheater a few miles south provided jobs for many Golden residents.
The nation saw great and lasting benefits from WPA projects, including national park lodges, roads, bridges, buildings, and artwork, but many people objected to the government incurring debt to create jobs. The Transcript‘s reference to the skeleton meant they hoped the program would be kept alive and the government structure in place so it could be revived after the war.
By 1941, we were turning to a wartime economy and the defense industry was soon demanding large numbers of workers. The WPA was officially shut down in 1943.
