Category
Walking Tour
Carnegie Library and Urban Renewal
Of the many historic buildings torn down during the urban renewal process, one that stands out is the Carnegie Moorhead Public Library. The library was a one story Classical revival style building that was built in part to the Women’s Club of Moorhead, who persuaded the City Council in 1904 to establish a library fund and obtained a $12,000 donation from Andrew Carnegie for construction of the library.[1] Carn
Read MoreEmma Magnuson
Emma C. Anderson was born to Norwegian immigrant parents in southern Minnesota around the year 1873, although it may have been as late as 1876. She married William G. Magnuson, the son of Swedish immigrants, in 1897 in Cass County, North Dakota. William ran a saloon in Moorhead, Minnesota, with his brother Frank, called the Nickle Plate Saloon. When prohibition became law in Clay County in 1915, the brothers close
Read MoreFargo City Hall
Fargo City Hall was originally built as an add-on to the Fargo Fire Department building in 1885. This building was located at Northern Pacific Ave. and North Roberts Street. City Hall stayed here until 1910 when it moved into its own building connected to the same Fire Department building. Then in 1965, City Hall was built in its current location on 2nd Ave and 4th St North Fargo. All of Fargo City Halls have been bu
Read MoreFort Knox Building
Originally built in 1911, this Classical Style building was built by the Fargo National Bank to be used as it’s main bank building. It was built with Greek Ionic Pillars out of Tennessee Marble. It was designed by EE Joralemon out of Minneapolis and cost Fargo National Bank approximately $55,000. Fargo National bank left the building in 1926 to move to a different location downtown as they had out grown this bu
Read MoreGustav Vigeland
Gustav Vigeland (born April 11, 1869, Mandal, Norway—died March 12, 1943, Oslo, Norway) was the most prolific Norwegian sculptor during the nineteenth century. His best known works are housed at the Vigeland Sculpture Park in the capital city of Norway. Born to a master carpenter, he and his four brothers labored in his father’s small town workshop until his father succumbed to alcoholism and he was forced to l
Read MoreBison Sports Arena/Sanford Health Athletic Complex
Originally built as the “Field House and Physical Education Classroom Building” in October 1970 the Bison Sports Arena (BSA) has been home to a variety of events. Its initial building cost was $3.1 million, which included $1.75 million in state-appropriated funds. When it was first built it housed many intramural activities and physical education events but gradually grew to house some varsity athletic ev
Read MoreRobert Gibb Senior
Robert Gibb Senior was a Scottish immigrant who established himself in Fargo, North Dakota. In 1915 he founded Robert Gibb & Sons, an industrial company focusing on plumbing, heating, air conditioning, electrical wiring, and underground sewer and water utilities. The business would become a highly profitable, but would remain in family hands as they have continued to follow Robert’s emphasis on quality and
Read MoreChuck Bentson
One of the greatest coaches of NDSU history to ever grace the university, Chuck Bentson left his impact on and off the basketball court. Born on October 25th, 1917, Charles “Chuck” Bentson grew up in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He graduated of the University of Wyoming in 1935 with a degree in botany while playing basketball, baseball, and football. He then was in Marine Corps from 1941-1947 and was discharged as a Lieutenan
Read MoreStevens Hall
On October 17th, 1885, O.A. Stevens was born on a farm near Blue Rapids, Kansas. At a young age, Stevens would steal his older sister’s botany textbook and read about the interesting plants and animals of the world. He would then go on to college at Kansas State College and eventually teach at his alma mater. What brought him to the North Dakota Agricultural College (NDAC) in 1909 was the new pure seed and drug law a
Read MoreThe Fargo Fire of 1893
On June 7th, 1893 at approximately three in the afternoon the worst fire in Fargo history erupted[i]. The fire was fueled by the predominantly wooden buildings and boardwalks. It spread from Front Street, or today’s Main Avenue, to the north. In the end the fire caused over three millions dollars in damages as it destroyed City Hall, the business district and most of the homes of Fargo’s 6,000 inhabitants[ii]. Accord
Read More