YMCA Sign

The YMCA Sign is a neon sign in front of the YMCA in downtown Fargo, North Dakota. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.^[1]

Fargo-Moorhead YMCA Sign
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
The neon sign at night
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Location	400 1st Avenue South, Fargo, North Dakota 58103
Coordinates	46°52′23″N 96°47′11″W
Built	1962
Built by	Cook Sign Company
Architectural style	Americana
Website	www.ymcacassclay.org
NRHP reference No.	100004062[1]
Added to NRHP	March 17, 2022

History

Starting in 1959, fundraising began to build the Fargo-Moorhead Family YMCA and contributions totaled $1.2 million. This was the first time over a million dollars had been donated for a project in the history of Fargo.^[2] The new branch opened in 1962 with 801 members.^[3]

The sign during the day with the YMCA building to the right

The Cook Sign Company constructed the sign in 1962, just after the building opened. In the subsequent years, Cook increasingly shifted toward producing similar electric signs because the 1965 Highway Beautification Act sharply reduced their sale of billboards. The local Fargo business lasted much longer than most signage companies, operating from 1897 to 2009.^[4][5]

In 2009, the YMCA of Cass and Clay Counties changed the name of the branch to the "Fercho Family YMCA". This honored Dr. Cal and Doris Fercho, two long-term benefactors.^[6]

In 2022, the national YMCA issued new branding guidelines to chapters which disallowed leaving up any exceptions. In order to preserve the non-conforming sign, the local YMCA successfully applied for listing it on the National Register of Historic Places.^[7]

Architecture

The aluminum sign is representative of 1960s Americana and consists of a "Y" on a post. The serif font letter is 16 feet wide and 18 feet tall. The sides are cherry red, the faces are white, and a neon tubing runs along the edges.^[8]

See also

• List of YMCA buildings
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Cass County, North Dakota
• Downtown Fargo District

References

1. "Weekly List 2022 03 25". National Park Service. National Register of Historic Places. April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
2. Olson, David (February 4, 2022). "Fargo downtown YMCA sign nominated for National Register of Historic Places". InForum. The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
3. "Our History". YMCA of Cass and Clay Counties. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
4. Rieskamp, Jacob (June 29, 2009). "Indigo Signworks Acquires Cook Sign Co". Signs of the Times: National Journal of Display Advertising. SmartWork Media. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
5. Kitchen, Linda (April 3, 2006). "Banner Banter: A 20-shop survey reveals trends in the banner business". Signs of the Times: National Journal of Display Advertising. SmartWork Media. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
6. "Downtown Fargo YMCA branch renamed to honor Fercho family". InForum. The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. October 7, 2009. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
7. Olson, David (March 29, 2022). "'Y' sign outside downtown Fargo YMCA gains National Register of Historic Places status". InForum. The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
8. "Three new North Dakota Listings Were Added" (PDF). Plains Talk. Vol. 53, no. 2 (Annual Report ed.). Bismarck, North Dakota: State Historical Society of North Dakota. 2022. p. 7. Retrieved April 18, 2024.