Depression Era Group: 1927 - 1939

Depression Era Group: 1927 - 1939. . These red brick Craftsman-style bungalows and the Spanish Eclectic-style quarters across the parade ground to the south were built between 1930 and 1939. Their construction was part of a nationwide Army building program which added many new officer and non-commissioned officer quarters, barracks, stables, garages, and other structures to Fort Bliss - over 200 buildings in all., Fort Bliss had suffered from a housing shortage and lack of training areas since the early 1920s. Many hastily-constructed wood buildings from the Punitive Expedition (1916-1917) and World War I mobilization (1918-1919) were still in use. A local planning board under Lieutenant Colonel J. E. Gaujot had already surveyed deficiencies and recommended improvements when Congress appropriated the necessary funds in 1927. Construction began in March 1929 with the addition of 70 quarters for non-commissioned officers., The Depression expedited the Army's housing program, as Federal relief agencies sought opportunities to provide employment and stimulate the economy. Labor was paid through the Public Works Administration (PWA) while the Army provided construction materials. Several units used inexpensive adobe for their vehicle sheds. The PWA, the Civil Works Administration, and the Works Progress Administration contributed to planting, landscaping, roadwork, drainage, fencing, and recreational facilities for the post. Soldiers and their families, as well as local craftsmen and workers, benefited from these programs between 1934 and World War II.