WPA Projects in Shamokin Region

On By Heather Makal

Pres. Roosevelt created the Works Project Administration (WPA) during the 1930’s depression years. The program’s purpose was to provide work for millions of Americans utilizing primarily Federal funds with a partial local government match.

A large retaining wall of stacked stone, made from natural Pennsylvania sandstone, boarders a hill in Shamokin, PA.
A large sandstone retaining wall built along Pine Street in Coal Township, PA

Many of the stone walls and creek channels that you see throughout Shamokin were constructed between 1932-1942 and are a result of these WPA projects. So where did all the stone come from? In a 1976 News-Item article, Webster Yocum, Superintendent of all WPA projects in the area, was quoted as saying, “Stone used in these projects was obtained from the adjoining hillsides. Some of it came from the mountain north of Shamokin, but that was not the best quality. We hauled some from a quarry near the crossroads at the top of the mountain leading to Gowen City, but most of it came from a quarry north of First St.” Yocum said they used 60 truck loads per day of stone, with 15 trucks hauling in constant rotation.

A small stream of orange water, impacted by abandoned mine drainage, flows through the stone-lined channel of Shamokin Creek.
Abandoned mine drainage flows through the WPA-constructed stone-lined channel of Shamokin Creek.

Shamokin projects completed by WPA included:

• Walls and lining of Shamokin Creek from Washington St. to the western end of the borough

• Walls and lining of Carbon Run creek channel through Shamokin

• Replacement of public steps at Lincon and Liberty St. leading to Academy Hill and the steps on Packer, Cameron, and Vine St.

• Construction of a culvert from Shamokin Creek to a point at the Coal Township line near First and Water St.

• Wall along the north side of the Pennsylvania Railroad line (E. Commerce St.) between Sixth and Ninth Street.

Coal Township WPA projects included:

• A new road constructed at Coal Run in 1935

• Construction of a sidewalk, curbing, and retaining walls along the highway (Rt. 61) from Cameron Bridge to Tharptown in 1934.

• Retaining wall from Chemung St. to Pulaski Ave. in Springfield, 1937-1938

• Retaining wall on Pine St. hill.

• The old Coal Township stadium on Arch St. Bricks from the old Eagle Silk Mill were used to construct the wall around the stadium.

Mount Carmel WPA projects included:

• Lining of Shamokin Creek from Excelsior to the eastern end of Mount Carmel – a project spanning more than 6 miles.

• Paving of most streets in the borough

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