The WPA constructed a cluster of buildings at O and Golden State streets, including a sizeble adobe office building, as well as some shop and storage buildings. The former is currently unused. Its last occupant was Kern County Parks &… read more
The Resettlement Administration built this camp for migrant farm labor, and it is still in use. “Camps would be constructed to provide migratory families with minimum decencies: a healthful site, a pure water supply, sanitary facilities of all kinds, and… read more
This fire station was constructed by the PWA in 1939 and remains in use today.
This compact, red-roofed station was built with $30,000 in federal funds.
Originally called Kern County High School, East Bakersfield High School was constructed by the PWA in 1938.
The statue “Father Garces” is State Historical Landmark No. 277. From the LA Times, 7 May 1939, “Indians will unveil, a right reverend monsignor will bless, the statue of Padre Garces at Bakersfield, 2 p.m. today. Made by John Palo-Kangas… read more
New Deal relief workers were instrumental in developing the old Kern River Park – now called the Hart Memorial Park. The workers came from the State Emergency Relief Administration (SERA) before 1935 and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) after that…. read more
“In 1921, the County provided funds to purchase the Park property and a token sum was provided by the City for construction along with a quantity of locally donated labor and funds until 1931. As the Great Depression began to… read more
This adobe structure in Hart Park was built in 1939 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), in concert with Kern County and the California State Emergency Relief Administration (SERA) – using funds provided by the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA)… read more
At the time, it was said to be the largest single-span hangar in California, at 132 feet deep and 200 feet long. Construction involved 50 men, and it was supervised by Cecil Meadows, superintendent at Kern County Airport. "Under direction… read more
The official birth of the Kern County Agricultural Fair was on August 5, 1916. It was located on 106 acres at Chester Avenue, two blocks north of 34th Street and just south of the Kern River Bridge. There were no… read more
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) built levees along the Kern River through Bakersfield to protect the city from flooding. The Kern River Levee runs through downtown Bakersfield for approximately 7.5 miles between 24th Street and Heath Road; exactly how much… read more
“The Kern Mosquito & Vector Control District is an independent district formed pursuant to the California Health and Safety Code, Section 2000 et seq. The District was formed in 1916, but began control operations in August of 1917 and was… read more