Hunter Gymnasium -- Marfa TX
N 30° 18.721 W 104° 01.566
13R E 593637 N 3353761
The Hunter Gymnasium at Marfa High School was built as a WPA project
Waymark Code: WMTYB4
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 01/23/2017
Views: 4
Marfa High School's Hunter Gymnasium sports a state historic marker and a WPA plaque at the front door.
The historic marker reads as follows:
"HUNTER GYMNASIUM
In 1940, Marfa received a Works Progress Administration (WPA) grant of more than $15,000 to help build a new gymnasium named to honor athletic director Boren Hunter. The modified rectangular plan building features plastered adobe infill walls, a rare earthen material in buildings of this type. Other elements include concrete for pilasters and a continuous perimeter footing, and steel for open web roof trusses. A projecting entry steps down to the athletic court. The facility has been used for numerous school and community activities, figuring prominently into the lives of generations of students and citizens.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2010
Marker is property of the state of Texas"
From the Living New Deal website: (
visit link)
"HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM - MARFA TEXAS
Project type: Education, Schools
New Deal Agencies: Works Progress Administration (WPA)
Started: 1938
Completed: 1942
Designers: Frazer and Benner
Contractors: unknown
DESCRIPTION
This WPA gymnasium was constructed in 1938-1942. It is a stand alone high school gymnasium constructed of adobe. It is approximately 6,000 sq. ft. Perimeter walls are 30 ft. high and are 20 inches thick. The building contains a reinforced cast in place concrete grandstand that seats approximately 270 adults. Showers and dressing/locker rooms are below the grandstands.
The style of architecture is reminiscent of Art Moderne. In 1983 operable steel sash windows were removed and filled in with cement masonry units. A metal hip roof was added on top of the existing roof in 1984.
The building was given Texas Historic Landmark status in 2010."