Fargo-Moorhead Heritage and Cultural Bridge Task Force Photographs
Collection
Identifier: Photo 507
Scope and Contents
This collection contains five folders of photographic prints dealing with the task force. These include photographs of Michael Graves, Clyde B. Schroeder, Dayton-Hudson Foundation, Task Force Personnel, and Brad Morison, ADA.
Dates
- Majority of material found within 1974-1979
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Copyrights
Copyrights to this collection is held by the NDSU Archives
Biography
Looking ahead to the Fargo-Moorhead centennial celebration in 1975, the two cities were searching for an appropriate cooperative project to commemorate the centennial. A bridge between the cities was developed as part of that project. The bridge idea came from Clyde B. Schroeder, a fifth year architecture student at North Dakota State University. But the Fargo-Moorhead Heritage and Cultural “Bridge” plan included not only a bridge, but also a Red River Valley interpretive center and facilities for a symphony orchestra, opera company, and public radio and television.
In January, 1975, Richard Hentges and Dwaine Hoberg, mayors of Fargo and Moorhead, announced plans for the Heritage and Cultural Bridge. A task force was incorporated in February under the name FargoMoorhead Heritage and Cultural Interpretive Center Task Force (FMHCIC). Original members were Charles Bailly (chair), Al Bloomquist, Dr. John Jenkins, Vince Lindstrom, Gerry Haukebo, Keith Burkholder, Willis Kingsbury, Ken Larson, and Roger Young. The group changed its name to the FargoMoorhead Heritage and Cultural Bridge Task Force as of June 13, 1975.
In July, Col. E.G. Clapp, Jr., long-time Fargo resident, was named the interim executive director. He soon hired Tess Lundby as the organization’s office manager. Lundby remained the manager until the group disbanded in 1979. Col. Clapp was hired with the understanding that he would serve only four months. Therefore, in November, Vince Lindstrom, Cultural Resource Coordinator for the Fargo School District, was named executive director.
Funding sources for the bridge were tapped almost immediately. Donations from various agencies were received as early as July, 1975. Three of the major contributors in the beginning were the North Dakota Bicentennial Committee, the North Dakota Housing and Economic Development Committee, and the Dayton Hudson Foundation. Dayton Hudson continued to be a major contributor throughout the project. The task force pursued a variety of funding sources, primarily from regional agencies. Local government agencies were generally supportive, with Minnesota government, corporations, and agencies leading the way. National contributions came from two different programs of the National Endowment for the Arts. The search for a local architectural firm began soon after the task force became active. In December, Foss Engelstad Foss was selected, with Royce A. Yeater serving as project architect. The search then began for a nationally known architect who would design the actual bridge. Five national architects/firms were selected for interviews conducted in June, 1976. The five were Michael Graves, Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer, Moore Lyndon Turnbull Whitaker (MLTW), Stanley Tigerman, and Malcolm Wells. In July, 1976, the task force announced that Michael Graves was chosen as the bridge architect.
Graves’ presentation of his unique design was made to the public more than a year later—in December, 1977. The design was critically acclaimed and was named a winner in the 26th annual P/A Awards of January, 1979 (sponsored by Progressive Architect magazine).
Ironically, in the same month that the P/A Awards were announced, the bridge task force was forced to disband. That followed the November, 1978, referendum, in which 53 percent of Fargo voters voted against public funding of the “Bridge” and other arts programs and projects. Although the cooperative task force was unsuccessful in building the “Bridge,” Graves continued to work on an interpretive center for the Heritage Interpretive Task Force, a new group of Moorhead residents. That project proved unsuccessful as well. While neither of Graves’ projects for Fargo and Moorhead were ever built, both are well known and widely publicized.
In January, 1975, Richard Hentges and Dwaine Hoberg, mayors of Fargo and Moorhead, announced plans for the Heritage and Cultural Bridge. A task force was incorporated in February under the name FargoMoorhead Heritage and Cultural Interpretive Center Task Force (FMHCIC). Original members were Charles Bailly (chair), Al Bloomquist, Dr. John Jenkins, Vince Lindstrom, Gerry Haukebo, Keith Burkholder, Willis Kingsbury, Ken Larson, and Roger Young. The group changed its name to the FargoMoorhead Heritage and Cultural Bridge Task Force as of June 13, 1975.
In July, Col. E.G. Clapp, Jr., long-time Fargo resident, was named the interim executive director. He soon hired Tess Lundby as the organization’s office manager. Lundby remained the manager until the group disbanded in 1979. Col. Clapp was hired with the understanding that he would serve only four months. Therefore, in November, Vince Lindstrom, Cultural Resource Coordinator for the Fargo School District, was named executive director.
Funding sources for the bridge were tapped almost immediately. Donations from various agencies were received as early as July, 1975. Three of the major contributors in the beginning were the North Dakota Bicentennial Committee, the North Dakota Housing and Economic Development Committee, and the Dayton Hudson Foundation. Dayton Hudson continued to be a major contributor throughout the project. The task force pursued a variety of funding sources, primarily from regional agencies. Local government agencies were generally supportive, with Minnesota government, corporations, and agencies leading the way. National contributions came from two different programs of the National Endowment for the Arts. The search for a local architectural firm began soon after the task force became active. In December, Foss Engelstad Foss was selected, with Royce A. Yeater serving as project architect. The search then began for a nationally known architect who would design the actual bridge. Five national architects/firms were selected for interviews conducted in June, 1976. The five were Michael Graves, Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer, Moore Lyndon Turnbull Whitaker (MLTW), Stanley Tigerman, and Malcolm Wells. In July, 1976, the task force announced that Michael Graves was chosen as the bridge architect.
Graves’ presentation of his unique design was made to the public more than a year later—in December, 1977. The design was critically acclaimed and was named a winner in the 26th annual P/A Awards of January, 1979 (sponsored by Progressive Architect magazine).
Ironically, in the same month that the P/A Awards were announced, the bridge task force was forced to disband. That followed the November, 1978, referendum, in which 53 percent of Fargo voters voted against public funding of the “Bridge” and other arts programs and projects. Although the cooperative task force was unsuccessful in building the “Bridge,” Graves continued to work on an interpretive center for the Heritage Interpretive Task Force, a new group of Moorhead residents. That project proved unsuccessful as well. While neither of Graves’ projects for Fargo and Moorhead were ever built, both are well known and widely publicized.
Extent
30 Photographic Prints (Contains thirty prints.)
Language of Materials
English
Overview
This collection contains five folders of photographic prints dealing with the task force. These include photographs of Michael Graves, Clyde B. Schroeder, Dayton-Hudson Foundation, Task Force Personnel, and Brad Morison, ADA.
Provenance
Donated by Fargo-Moorhead Heritage and Cultural Bridge Task Force, April, 1982 (Acc. 2070).
Property Rights
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Fargo-Moorhead Heritage and Cultural Bridge Task Force Photographs
- Description rules
- Appm
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu