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February 8, 2022

Dear Mayor Fuller and Newton City Council members,

The physical legacy of the New Deal and the spirit of government it represents are vanishing

before our eyes. These extraordinary public works and artworks, which belong to all Americans,

represent the work of millions of Americans struggling amidst the Great Depression and

government’s investment in our nation's future.

People and organizations frequently contact us for help when New Deal-era buildings or

artworks are threatened with destruction. We have become aware that a building of New Deal

provenance in your care is endangered. The building at 345 Walnut Street, now serving as the

Newton Senior Center, was constructed in 1938 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA)

to serve as the Newtonville Public Library. It is our understanding that more than 500

local individuals have signed a petition opposing the building’s demolition and that a landmark

application has been made to the Newton Historic Commission. We support these preservation

efforts and encourage the Newton City Council do the same.

The Living New Deal, a nonprofit organization, works with educators, authors, libraries, and

preservation groups, including the National Trust for Historic Preservation, to document

schools, libraries, museums, parks, hospitals, roads, airports, post offices, and other civic

buildings, infrastructure and art commissioned by the federal government during the New Deal

(1933-1942). Many of these structures are adorned with works by artists and craftspeople hired

under New Deal programs and are protected by the U.S. General Services Administration.

You can find our national map of New Deal sites at Livingnewdeal.org, along with resources on

New Deal history, New Deal art, site preservation and much more.

Sincerely,

Richard Walker, Director