WPA Sewing Projject

Lawrence County News September 2, 1937

Sewing Project in Lawrenceville Closes Thursday

Acting under orders from the District headquarters, Mrs. A. A. Wiltse closed the WPA sewing project today. This action was forecast a year ago when the county refused to furnish the necessary supplies.

The Illinois Emergency Relief Commission stepped into the breach and provided supplies to keep the project in operation. Two months ago, the Commission notified the supervisors that they would be unable to furnish materials after September 1st and that the room would be closed unless the county came to the assistance of the Commission.

At the August meeting of the Board of Supervisors, the matter was discussed but no action was taken.

The project was started in Lawrenceville in November 1935, and furnished employment at good wages to a number of women. The largest number employed at one time was forty; they were paid 31 cents an hour for 130 hours per month. During the last month the number employed was sixteen.

Many of the women knew absolutely nothing about needle work when they were assigned to the project, and the improvement in their work was nothing short of marvelous. The improvement in their dress and manner of living had also improved. For the first time, many of the women were earning money and they used it for bettering their life. The money was not wasted as was the case with many men engaged in WPA work, but was used for family purposes.

The finished articles were turned over to the Illinois Emergency Relief Commission for distribution among the needy. Most of the articles were distributed in Lawrence County. The sewing project was one of the best in the country, and it is to the dismay of many that it is being discontinued.

 From the History Center's Collection of Sewing Machines: This is a Singer Model 348, Robin's Egg Blue, circa 1960s