The WPA lives on in Spring Lake


Posted by PicasaAlong the two miles of boardwalk along the Atlantic Ocean in Spring Lake, N.J. are visible reminders of the power of government work projects in hard times. The WPA put artists to work as well as construction workers. This tile is one of several still lining the brick walls along the boardwalk near the snack pavillions in Spring Lake, which were carved by artists employed by the Works Projects Administration.


The tiles represent the style of the time, simple, strong and direct. It reflects the spirit of the people who worked for WPA. WPA was initiated by Franklyn Delano Roosevelt to put jobless Americans back to work, and its scope was far greater than anything we've seen since. The Federal Theatre Project put playwrites, actors, directors and stagehands back to work.
The photographers employed by the WPA fanned out across the nation to document the lives of our people in their struggles and strengths. Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans were just two of the photographers who allowed the country to see the faces of poverty and determination across the landscape. Roads and bridges were built by the sweat and effort of people glad for the chance to work again.
The audacious hope of Franklin Roosevelt gave birth to a new soul for America. We no longer thought that government's only job was to collect taxes and give business a break. Now we believed that government could give back to the people what they'd collected. Not only did people's financial situations improve as a result, but also their morale. The strength and hope of these people has left lasting tributes to an era of responsible government. A tile on a wall reminds us that our country has dealt with difficulty in the past without flinching and whining. We could do it again, if we tried.

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