WPA, Works Progress Administration projects

The October 14, 1935, edition of the Atlanta Constitution announced two Works Progress Administration projects for DeKalb County schools. Four classrooms had recently been added to the Westside School on Constitution Road and a new 300 seat auditorium would soon be added to the Dunwoody School. Construction cost for the Dunwoody auditorium was expected to be $9,000. Previous DeKalb County school WPA projects were completed at Eastside and Panthersville schools.

The following year, an addition was built at Brookhaven school and a canning plant was built next door to Chamblee High School. Tucker High School and Rehoboth Elementary School were also constructed as WPA projects in 1936. (University of Georgia Special Collections Libraries, WPA collection)

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was a government program created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935 to help the country during the Great Depression by providing jobs. It was part of a group of policies, programs and projects known as the New Deal. Many public works projects were part of the program, as well as projects in the arts. Over 8.5 million people participated in the WPA.

Road building was an important part of the WPA program. Mount Vernon Road in Dunwoody was paved as a WPA project. Lavista Road from Tucker to Decatur was also constructed as a WPA project. Throughout Georgia, 85 miles of roads were paved with WPA funds, in addition to the building of unpaved roads and sidewalk construction.

WPA funds were used to purchase a bookmobile for DeKalb County in the late 1930s, where there were only two library locations-Decatur and Lithonia. Maud Burrus was using her personal car to take books around the county. Once the bookmobile was purchased, Louise Trotti drove the bookmobile, making stops at schools, gas stations, post offices, homes and other gathering places. (Historic DeKalb County: An Illustrated History, Vivian Price)

A new DeKalb County water system was constructed in 1940 with WPA funds, under the direction of DeKalb County commissioner Scott Candler. The plans included a water system to serve Decatur, Druid Hills, Emory University, Brookhaven, Avondale Estates, Clarkston, Tucker, Dunwoody, Panthersville, Doraville and the Federal Honor Farm (prison farm). A storage lake and filter plant would be constructed between Doraville and Dunwoody. This is today’s Scott Candler Water Treatment Plant on Winters Chapel Road. (Atlanta Constitution, Sept.18, 1940, “DeKalb County sells bonds for water system”)

The golf course and amphitheater at Chastain Park were also built with WPA funds. The park was originally known as North Fulton Park, opening July 4, 1940, with a celebration and exhibition match on the golf course. (Atlanta Constitution, June 30, 1940, “North Fulton club opens July 4, program set”)

Projects around Atlanta included the golf course and amphitheater of Chastain Park, seven new buildings at Georgia Tech, two buildings at the alms house (part of Galloway School), new buildings at Fort McPherson and five buildings at Grady Hospital. By 1942, the number of WPA workers was decreased, and the program ended in 1943. (Atlanta Constitution, May 1, 1943, “Georgia WPA office closes after 8 years”)

Antioch School, first Chamblee school 1905

A one-room school was built in Chamblee in 1905. Prior to that, some families sent their children to school in Roswell. Ida Wallace of Chamblee rode the Roswell Railroad from Chamblee to Roswell each week to attend school. She stayed in Roswell until the end of each week, then returned to her family in Chamblee. (“A History of the Community and the City of Chamblee,”1983 by Vivian Price)

The location of Antioch School is now 5295 New Peachtree Road. The school site was next to the First Baptist Church of Chamblee Cemetery and for many years was the location of Interactive College of Technology. Today 5295 New Peachtree Road is home to the International Pentecostal Church of God.

When the Camp Gordon World War I encampment was built in Chamblee, it took over a large portion of the town, including Antioch School. A new school was planned for Chamblee and the two-story brick school was completed and opened in 1919.

The new Chamblee School housed both the grammar school and high school. The Atlanta Constitution proclaimed the school to be one of the finest schools in the state, calling it “beautiful and modern in every respect and contains every feature of the up-to-date school house.” The final cost of the new school was $30,000.

The old Antioch School was moved to the new property and was used for the Home Economics program.

This may not seem like a great deal of historical information about Antioch School. I agree! I’ll continue to be on the lookout for more history and this blog post will be updated when and if I locate more history.

During the time that World War I Camp Gordon took over Chamblee, the school was part of the camp’s property. After the war, it was moved to the new site for the school, which is the same location as Chamblee High School today. The old Antioch School building was used as the Home Economics building. This 1940 photo also shows the cannery on the right and students forming the letters CHS in front of the school. (Photo from “A History of the Community and the City of Chamblee,”1983 by Vivian Price)

This 1938 yearbook page shows students standing in front of the Home Economics building, the former Antioch School.