Well Project, Saint Mary's County

This appears to have been a project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a New Deal agency. Photos by John Collier.

 A Ridge project family and neighbors made a real holiday of the 

installation of the new well. Saint Mary's County, Maryland, July 1941

  

Children are always watching and waiting. Ridge well project, 

Saint Mary's County, Maryland, July 1941

 

Fourth generation from slavery. Grandfather Briscoe's 

great grandchildren. Near Ridge, Maryland. Saint Mary's County, July 1941

 

Front porch. No one dares sit out here anymore. John Briscoe farmhouse 

near Ridge, Maryland. Saint Mary's County, July 1941

 

Little John Fredrick stands on the outside "where the flies ain't so bad." 

John Fredrick's privy, Saint Mary's County, Maryland, July 1941

 

The Fredrick womenfolk shell snap beans. 

Saint Mary's County, Maryland, July 1941

 

Two supervisors and borrower talk over the home problem. 

Saint Mary's County, Maryland, July 1941

  

Washing clothes near the old well. Ridge well project, 

Saint Mary's County, Maryland, July 1941

 

Witching for water with a peach limb. Safe well demonstration, 

Ridge, Maryland, Saint Mary's County, July 1941