It’s 1933, and Franklin D. Roosevelt has just become president.

It is one of the worst years of the Great Depression; 10,000 banks have failed and more than 13 million Americans have lost their jobs since 1929. FDR begins his New Deal - a program to bring recovery to business and agriculture, and relief to the unemployed and those in danger of losing farms and homes. Congress creates what later becomes the Works Progress Administration.

The WPA became a partner to create Highway 100 (Lilac Way), one of the state's largest federal relief construction projects. In 1935 alone, this project employed between 2,500 and 3,000 men.

Federal highway allocations required at least 1% was used for roadside improvements, they also build roadside parking areas equipped with tables, fireplaces, drinking fountains or wells, situated at strategic points along the Belt Line.

Of the $2,000,000 that it cost to build Lilac Way, a large percentage was from the Federal government’s WPA program to provide employment and stimulate the economy.