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