WPA funded numerous projects in Danville, Boyle County

More than $440,000 projects under the Works Progress Administration were announced in July 1940 for Danville and Boyle County.  

The same announcement called for the removal of WPA offices in Danville, complying with plans to reduce the number of district offices from 12 to six, according to articles in The Danville Advocate-Messenger.

Hugh Crozer, district manager of the WPA, said the closing of the local office would not affect projects set up with the city and county.

Boyle County received money for a new gymnasium at Forkland School and for road improvement, while Danville got funds for a new sewage disposal plant, and streets and sidewalks.

Boyle received $120,000 for improvement to county roads and $60,000 to building a new gymnasium for the Forkland School.

The new stone building also had classrooms. The project also was sponsored by the Boyle County Board of Education.

The limestone for the exterior of the building was taken from a quarry on the Henry Holt farm on Mitchellsburg Knob. It took from 1938 to 1941 to complete construction. 

 The gym is currently part of the Forkland Community Center and is used for community functions.

 Danville got the largest part of the money including $200,000 for a sewer distribution and sewage disposal plant, and $60,000 for streets and sidewalks.

City Engineer R.C. Terrell said extensive improvement to streets, oiling, repairing, building drives and completing sewers was part of the road project.

The road project included 147.2 miles for highways, roads and streets, 16 bridges and viaducts; 800 culverts;12 miles of ditch and pipe; 3.13 miles of sidewalks and paths; and 3.13 miles of curbs. 

Other plans were to work on three schools; build recreational, garage and storage buildings;  grandstands and bleachers; and two playgrounds. The project also was to build water main aqueducts and distribution lines; add 125 water consumer connections, 2.06 miles of sewers, 60 sewerage service connections, 330 sanitary privies and purchase 67 acres for drainage drained.

Open house  

The local WPA sewing room over the Danville Laundry on North Third Street sponsored an open house during National WPA Week in May 20-15, 1940, to allow the public to visit the training center and inspect the work room and sewing.

 More than 1,570 garments were made and turned over to Boyle Fiscal Court during the past month.

During a dinner the same day, employees of the professional and service division gathered to hear Florence Kerr, assistant commissioner of the WPA, in a radio broadcast

Nursery school projects and adult education classes, sponsored by the WPA, also was open for inspection during National WPA Week.

A tea at the Neighborhood Home was planned with demonstrations in homemaking; and a visit to the black WPA adult education classes on Lebanon Road also was planned.