Small Town Essay

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The Small Town of North Baltimore
During the Great Depression, everyone struggled to get back on their feet, including the government. That is until Congress passed the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1935. “The WPA employed about three million people a year on projects ranging from building bridges to putting on plays. It built nearly 6,000 schools, more than 2,500 hospitals, and 13,000 playgrounds, in addition to funding actors, artists, and writers” (Nash). Because of this, the American people started taking back their lives and started to make an income again for their families. However, the WPA only offered the job to one member of the household and mainly all of the men took on the job, leaving women with other jobs to take up. “The WPA employed far many more men than women, with only 13.5 percent of WPA employees being women in the peak year of 1938... in practice they were consigned to the lower-paying activities of sewing, bookbinding, caring for the elderly, school lunch programs, nursery school, and …show more content…

Back when the Great Depression hit, North Baltimore was greatly affected and suffered through harsh conditions. However, when the WPA was enacted, it helped North Baltimore by employing the men in town to build the things needed for the community and for others. “The WPA helped build most of the sidewalks around town and fixed almost all of the curbs that had been worn out,” said Gregory Julien, who grew up post Great Depression. “They also expanded the park. Before, the park was only half an acre and barely had anything. But when they expanded it, the park grew 3 acres and they filled it with the school’s football field and a few shelter houses that are still standing today.” Due to this achievement, life in North Baltimore was better than before the Great Depression. It impacted the community as a whole by building the things they needed and employing town

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