SAN ANTONIO — In the years before America entered World War II, the country was fighting its way through the Great Depression.
President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal had many components to create job opportunities, including the Works Progress Administration.
“I think the idea, of course, was to provide work for people,” said Vince Michael of the San Antonio Conservation Society. “Also to provide needed infrastructure. The fact that we still have so many (landmarks) meant that they were built well and designed well.”
Some of San Antonio’s favorites are WPA projects conceived and constructed as America fought her way through the Great Depression.
“When you think of our biggest tourist attraction, the River Walk, that was a WPA projects,” said Michael. “We had three major projects in Brackenridge Park: the lower water crossings, the Sunken Garden was expanded, you had the pedestrian bridge at the north end Stinson Field (that) was a WPA project. So it really affected a lot of things that people see, that tourists see.”
The WPA took effect all across the country building parks, roads, schools… even stadiums.
Lots of them.
And many of those high school football stadiums still stand all around Texas. We found WPA high school football stadiums in many small communities like Rising Star, Somerville, Wortham, Hico, Coleman, Baird, Childress, Hamlin, Memphis and Sweetwater. They’re also in big cities, Austin’s House Park Stadium.
And then, of course, the crown jewel of them: San Antonio’s Alamo Stadium.
“When it was built, it was the end of a long 20-year effort,” said local historian Maria Pfeiffer. “There were over 400 WPA workers (that built it). They were in a rock quarry, so at least they didn’t have to haul it across town.”
Alamo Stadium is without question living sports history, and also an important part of American history. It was built by hundreds of hardworking young men during difficult times.
And that’s why, I think, we have a responsibility to take care of places like WPA projects, to care for them for future generations.
“I always worry that when our generation passes, so to speak, that this will be forgotten,” said Maria. “That’s why we have to leave this legacy of remembrance. It is important that we pass that along to our children, grandchildren and those that come after. It really is an iconic place.”