Fargo (N.D.) Department of Parks and Recreation Photograph Collection
Collection
Identifier: Photo 2210
Scope and Content
The Fargo (N.D.) Department of Parks and Recreation Photograph Collection has been organized into seven series. They are the Aerial Series, Parks and Facilities Series, Sports and Recreation Series, Programs and Events Series, Fargo Park District Personnel and People Series, Slide Series, and the Negative Series.
The majority of the Aerial Series consists of 16 x 20 color photographic prints taken over areas of Fargo and West Fargo, showing park properties, golf courses and facilities in the early 1990s. Due to their size, they are organized in an oversize flat box (Box 11). There is also a file of 3 ½ x 5 photographs over Fargo during and after a flood. They are undated, but likely from the spring floods of 1997.
The Parks and Facilities Series are organized alphabetical by park facility or park name. The photos are mostly of park facilities without people, however there are some files that have photos of special events related to specific building such as the Dike West Skate Park dedication, Ed Clapp Park basketball court dedication, Harry Howland Pool dedication, etc. Of interest is a set of photographs of the controlled burn of the old Barn Stage building at Trollwood Park in 1997. There is also a set of photographs of Roger Maris at the dedication of the drive through Lindenwood Park in 1984.
The Sports and Recreation Series, is arranged alphabetically by sport. A number of these sporting events were likely a part of the Prairie Rose State Games, which were held in Fargo several times including, 1988, 1998 and 2002.
The Programs and Events Series, is arraigned alphabetically by name of the event, and then chronologically there under. The majority of the events covered are between the years 1981 and 2008, and took place at Trollwood Park, Island Park, or Rheault Farm. Some of the major events covered were the Christmas Bazaar - later called the Island Park Show, Santa’s Village, Light Up the Night, Scandinavian Festival, German Festival, Country Jam, and Jazz in the Park. This series also covers other programing for youth, such as Artmania, Penny & Pals, and Midwest Kid Fest.
Of interest in the Fargo Park District Personnel and People Series, are photos of the Park Board, portraits of the Park District Superintendents from between 1910-1970, employee events such as retirements, golf outings, picnics and trips. There is also a photograph of the Civilian Conservation Corps (C.C.C.), SP 4-Fargo who was responsible for construction of Lindenwood Park’s infrastructure.
The Slide Series consists of mostly color slides arranged roughly by topics under Park District Facilities, Trollwood Events and performances, non-Trollwood events, people and disability programs and services. Towards the end of the Slide Series are several slide shows that were originally house in carousels. There is one slide show for the Fargo Parks and Rec Volley Ball League that has an accompanying script and cassette tapes included. The slides are mostly from between 1976 and 1994.
The Negative Series, is mostly the 35mm negatives for which most of the prints and snapshots in the photograph collection are associated. They are arranged chronologically, with a few unidentifiable negatives at the end. They have been sleeved in negative sheets, of seven, and the integrity of each negative strip has been kept in intact. The are several negatives for which there are no associated prints. Those are a set of black and white 35mm negatives showing ice skating at Washington School dated January 19, 1961. At the end of this series are a small number of 120mm negatives of the Metro Rec Center (line drawing), and the American Legion Memorial Fountain at Lindenwood Park.
The majority of the Aerial Series consists of 16 x 20 color photographic prints taken over areas of Fargo and West Fargo, showing park properties, golf courses and facilities in the early 1990s. Due to their size, they are organized in an oversize flat box (Box 11). There is also a file of 3 ½ x 5 photographs over Fargo during and after a flood. They are undated, but likely from the spring floods of 1997.
The Parks and Facilities Series are organized alphabetical by park facility or park name. The photos are mostly of park facilities without people, however there are some files that have photos of special events related to specific building such as the Dike West Skate Park dedication, Ed Clapp Park basketball court dedication, Harry Howland Pool dedication, etc. Of interest is a set of photographs of the controlled burn of the old Barn Stage building at Trollwood Park in 1997. There is also a set of photographs of Roger Maris at the dedication of the drive through Lindenwood Park in 1984.
The Sports and Recreation Series, is arranged alphabetically by sport. A number of these sporting events were likely a part of the Prairie Rose State Games, which were held in Fargo several times including, 1988, 1998 and 2002.
The Programs and Events Series, is arraigned alphabetically by name of the event, and then chronologically there under. The majority of the events covered are between the years 1981 and 2008, and took place at Trollwood Park, Island Park, or Rheault Farm. Some of the major events covered were the Christmas Bazaar - later called the Island Park Show, Santa’s Village, Light Up the Night, Scandinavian Festival, German Festival, Country Jam, and Jazz in the Park. This series also covers other programing for youth, such as Artmania, Penny & Pals, and Midwest Kid Fest.
Of interest in the Fargo Park District Personnel and People Series, are photos of the Park Board, portraits of the Park District Superintendents from between 1910-1970, employee events such as retirements, golf outings, picnics and trips. There is also a photograph of the Civilian Conservation Corps (C.C.C.), SP 4-Fargo who was responsible for construction of Lindenwood Park’s infrastructure.
The Slide Series consists of mostly color slides arranged roughly by topics under Park District Facilities, Trollwood Events and performances, non-Trollwood events, people and disability programs and services. Towards the end of the Slide Series are several slide shows that were originally house in carousels. There is one slide show for the Fargo Parks and Rec Volley Ball League that has an accompanying script and cassette tapes included. The slides are mostly from between 1976 and 1994.
The Negative Series, is mostly the 35mm negatives for which most of the prints and snapshots in the photograph collection are associated. They are arranged chronologically, with a few unidentifiable negatives at the end. They have been sleeved in negative sheets, of seven, and the integrity of each negative strip has been kept in intact. The are several negatives for which there are no associated prints. Those are a set of black and white 35mm negatives showing ice skating at Washington School dated January 19, 1961. At the end of this series are a small number of 120mm negatives of the Metro Rec Center (line drawing), and the American Legion Memorial Fountain at Lindenwood Park.
Dates
- 1910-2008
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Copyrights
Copyright is held by the NDSU Archives.
History
In 1910, the Fargo Park District was founded. At the time there was only one park in the city, that being Island Park. The first Board Members were elected October 11, 1910, and the First Board Meeting was held on November 1, 1910.
The second park established was Linden Woods, or Lindenwood Park. Located south of the city along the Red River. It featured a tourist to camp with running water, established in 1921. The park saw a number of amenities added in the 1920's. Water was provided in 1921, benches in 1923 and the picnic grounds were added in 1924. It became the home base for a Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) camp. The CCC constructed the main road, toilets and shelters in summer 1934. The main shelter is an original shelter built by the CCC. A caretaker was housed at Lindenwood Park with a small police force for the campground.
On October 28, 1938, the 10-acre Trefoil Park was dedicated. This park is named for the Boy Scout Troop known the "Trefoil Club" who helped organize the park’s construction in the mid 1930’s.
In 1939 the original Island Park Pool was built through the Federal Government's Works Progress Administration. The pool was originally located where the Scherling Complex Tennis Courts stand today. A Winter Sports Arena was also built by the WPA in Island Park in 1939. In 1943, the main arena superstructure was moved to the municipal airport to be used for the war effort. A smaller arena was later built in its place.
The 1950s saw tremendous growth in Fargo’s parks. Mickelson Park and Fields were originally called North Parade playgrounds until 1952 when the fields were renamed for P.E. Mickelson, a prominent Director of Phy Ed in the Fargo Public Schools. Early on, park featured toboggan slides and hockey rinks. In 1954 the first lights were installed, and Mickelson Fields groundbreaking ceremony was held in May 1965.
In 1955, the Fargo Park District sold a portion of Lindenwood Park in order for Interstate 94 to be built. The money from this sale would be used to construct the winter sports arena. The Fargo Coliseum opened for business in 1968 and was a state-of-the-art facility for the time. The Fargo Coliseum had two locker rooms, one referee room, skate shop, rental skates, seating for 3200 fans and quickly became the place to go for skating events in Fargo. The old Winter Arena in Island Park was torn down and in 1977, the current Island Park Pool was constructed. It incorporated the art deco-style portion of the Fargo Arena as the backdrop for diving boards.
In 1957, at Lewis and Clark, Washington School, Goldenridge site and Chaney Field the Park District installed ice skating rinks, hockey rinks and playgrounds, and in November of 1958 the Harry Howland pool was completed. It was located at the southeast corner of the Red River Valley Fairgrounds, near Broadway and 17th Avenue North. In 1973, Golden Acres Haven or Cass County Hospital, shut down. The property then became Trollwood Park, and it served many years as home to the Trollwood Performing Arts school.
In 1983, the Fargo Park District offices moved into the old Northern Pacific Passenger Depot which was built in 1898. The former Emerson Smith Elementary School was purchased from the Fargo School District on July 1, 1996. It was used for satellite offices and art classes, and the building renamed the Robert D. Johnson Rec Center after the long time Park Superintendent.
By 2010 the Park District had 94 parks. A new walking lift bridge was installed over the Red River in 2013 at Lindenwood Park. In 2016, the Park Board voted to renovate the Coliseum for $4.5 million. When the renovated Coliseum opened in 2017, the rink was again a state-of-the-art facility offering a regulation rink of 85 ft. by 200 ft., 7 locker rooms, training room, referees’ room, seating for five hundred and full Wi-Fi access in the facility. In 2018, the pedestrian bridge over the Red River at Oak Grove Park was replaced with a new lift bridge. Fargo's smallest park today is Ole Tangen Park with only .076 acres and the largest developed park is Lindenwood with 89.61 acres.
In 1939 the original Island Park Pool was built through the Federal Government's Works Progress Administration. The pool was originally located where the Scherling Complex Tennis Courts stand today. A Winter Sports Arena was also built by the WPA in Island Park in 1939. In 1943, the main arena superstructure was moved to the municipal airport to be used for the war effort. A smaller arena was later built in its place.
The 1950s saw tremendous growth in Fargo’s parks. Mickelson Park and Fields were originally called North Parade playgrounds until 1952 when the fields were renamed for P.E. Mickelson, a prominent Director of Phy Ed in the Fargo Public Schools. Early on, park featured toboggan slides and hockey rinks. In 1954 the first lights were installed, and Mickelson Fields groundbreaking ceremony was held in May 1965.
In 1955, the Fargo Park District sold a portion of Lindenwood Park in order for Interstate 94 to be built. The money from this sale would be used to construct the winter sports arena. The Fargo Coliseum opened for business in 1968 and was a state-of-the-art facility for the time. The Fargo Coliseum had two locker rooms, one referee room, skate shop, rental skates, seating for 3200 fans and quickly became the place to go for skating events in Fargo. The old Winter Arena in Island Park was torn down and in 1977, the current Island Park Pool was constructed. It incorporated the art deco-style portion of the Fargo Arena as the backdrop for diving boards.
In 1957, at Lewis and Clark, Washington School, Goldenridge site and Chaney Field the Park District installed ice skating rinks, hockey rinks and playgrounds, and in November of 1958 the Harry Howland pool was completed. It was located at the southeast corner of the Red River Valley Fairgrounds, near Broadway and 17th Avenue North. In 1973, Golden Acres Haven or Cass County Hospital, shut down. The property then became Trollwood Park, and it served many years as home to the Trollwood Performing Arts school.
In 1983, the Fargo Park District offices moved into the old Northern Pacific Passenger Depot which was built in 1898. The former Emerson Smith Elementary School was purchased from the Fargo School District on July 1, 1996. It was used for satellite offices and art classes, and the building renamed the Robert D. Johnson Rec Center after the long time Park Superintendent.
By 2010 the Park District had 94 parks. A new walking lift bridge was installed over the Red River in 2013 at Lindenwood Park. In 2016, the Park Board voted to renovate the Coliseum for $4.5 million. When the renovated Coliseum opened in 2017, the rink was again a state-of-the-art facility offering a regulation rink of 85 ft. by 200 ft., 7 locker rooms, training room, referees’ room, seating for five hundred and full Wi-Fi access in the facility. In 2018, the pedestrian bridge over the Red River at Oak Grove Park was replaced with a new lift bridge. Fargo's smallest park today is Ole Tangen Park with only .076 acres and the largest developed park is Lindenwood with 89.61 acres.
Extent
10196 Photographic Prints (10,193 Photographic Prints)
1246 Photographic Slides (1,246 Color Slides)
4830 Photographic Negatives (Approximately 4,830 35mm film negatives)
7 Photographic Negatives (7 120mm negatives)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Fargo Department of Parks and Recreation was established in 1910. The majority of the photographs cover events, recreation and park property between 1935 and 2017.
Provenance
Deposited by Fargo Park District, 2018 (Acc. 2018-006 & Acc. 2018-099irs.)
Separated Materials
The manuscript records of the Fargo Park District have been processed seperately under MSS 3042.
Property rights
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Fargo (N.D.) Department of Parks and Recreation Photograph Collection
- 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