YMCA Sign

{{Infobox NRHP

| name = Fargo-Moorhead YMCA Sign

| nrhp_type = nrhp

| image = Fargo-Moorhead YMCA Sign.jpg

| caption = The neon sign at night

| alt = A large lit red "Y" on a snowy night

| location = 400 1st Avenue South, Fargo, North Dakota 58103

| locmapin = North Dakota#USA

| map_alt = Located in far eastern North Dakota near the Red River of the North

| coordinates = {{coord|46|52|23|N|96|47|11|W|display=inline,title}}

| area =

| built = 1962

| added = March 17, 2022

| architect =

| architecture = Americana

| builder = Cook Sign Company

| visitation_num =

| visitation_year =

| refnum = 100004062{{cite web |title=Weekly List 2022 03 25 |url=https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/weekly-list-2022-03-25.htm |publisher=National Register of Historic Places |website=National Park Service |page= |date=April 1, 2022 |accessdate=April 18, 2024}}

| website = {{URL|https://www.ymcacassclay.org/}}

}}

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.

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.{{cite web |url=https://www.inforum.com/news/y-sign-outside-downtown-fargo-ymca-gains-national-register-of-historic-places-status |title=Fargo downtown YMCA sign nominated for National Register of Historic Places |last=Olson |first=David |date=February 4, 2022 |website=InForum |publisher=The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead |access-date=April 18, 2024 |url-access=limited}} The new branch opened in 1962 with 801 members.{{cite web |url=https://www.ymcacassclay.org/our-history |title=Our History |last= |first= |date= |website=YMCA of Cass and Clay Counties |publisher= |access-date=April 18, 2024}}

File:Fercho Branch YMCA in Downtown Fargo.jpg

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.{{cite web |url=https://signsofthetimes.com/indigo-signworks-acquires-cook-sign-co/ |title=Indigo Signworks Acquires Cook Sign Co. |last=Rieskamp |first=Jacob |date=June 29, 2009 |website=Signs of the Times: National Journal of Display Advertising |publisher=SmartWork Media |access-date=April 18, 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://signsofthetimes.com/banner-banter/ |title=Banner Banter: A 20-shop survey reveals trends in the banner business |last=Kitchen |first=Linda |date=April 3, 2006 |website=Signs of the Times: National Journal of Display Advertising |publisher=SmartWork Media |access-date=April 18, 2024}}

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.{{cite web |url=https://www.inforum.com/newsmd/downtown-fargo-ymca-branch-renamed-to-honor-fercho-family |title=Downtown Fargo YMCA branch renamed to honor Fercho family |last= |first= |date=October 7, 2009 |website=InForum |publisher=The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead |access-date=April 18, 2024|url-access=limited}}

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.{{cite web |url=https://www.inforum.com/news/y-sign-outside-downtown-fargo-ymca-gains-national-register-of-historic-places-status |title='Y' sign outside downtown Fargo YMCA gains National Register of Historic Places status |last=Olson |first=David |date=March 29, 2022 |website=InForum |publisher=The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead |access-date=April 18, 2024|url-access=limited}}

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.{{cite magazine |title=Three new North Dakota Listings Were Added |url=https://www.history.nd.gov/book/shsnd/annualReport/annualReport.pdf |magazine=Plains Talk |edition=Annual Report |location=Bismarck, North Dakota |publisher=State Historical Society of North Dakota |publication-date=2022 |volume=53 |issue=2 |page=7 |access-date=April 18, 2024}}