YMCA of Cass and Clay Counties history

Fun fact: The Fargo-Moorhead YMCA became an organization before North Dakota became a state three years later in 1889.

1903: The YMCA’s building at the Northern Pacific Railway was sold and plans began to secure a new location.

1905: Community leaders raised $50,000 to build the first YMCA facility on the corner of Roberts Street and First Avenue North, which served the community for 56 years and including an indoor track, pool, fitness center and youth leadership programs.

1915: By 1915, YMCA Camp Cormorant included four sleeping tents, a dining tent, a kitchen shack and a wash bench.

1953: The 50th Anniversary of YMCA Camp Cormorant was celebrated with new cabins, new boats and the addition of ponies at camp.

1959: $1,000,000 was pledged to build a new facility in Fargo.

1961: YMCA Members raised $1,235,387 and groundbreaking on the new Fargo-Moorhead Family YMCA was held.

1962: The Fargo-Moorhead Family YMCA moved into their building at 400 First Avenue South in 1962 with 801 YMCA members.

1963: Our rapidly growing community organization continued to create new programs and make numerous renovations.

1970: The YMCA kicked off a capital campaign to build an addition to the Fargo-Moorhead Family YMCA – including four racquetball/handball courts, a running track and a free weight area.

1971: The Heritage Club was formed, a group that believes in ensuring that the mission of our YMCA continues in the future through their estate planning and/or lifetime gifts.

1979: The National Handball Tournament was held at the Downtown YMCA. The year before, three courts were added to the facility in order to accommodate the growing interest in handball and racquetball.

1980: The YMCA raised over $1,080,000 for new courts, a youth room, renovation of the women’s locker room and swimming pool.

1984: The YMCA raised $1,065,000 to improve energy efficiency and for the major interior renovation of the program areas.

1989: Because the increasing need for childcare became more apparent, the YMCA launched our School Age Programs initially at Madison and Jefferson elementary schools in Fargo.

1990: The first Paul Howry Golf Tournament was held, in honor of Paul Howry, a man who gave generously to the YMCA in spirit, mind and body.

1995: The Charles Bailly Award was created, in honor of Charles Bailly, a man who led with courage and always explored a better way of doing things.

1997: A capital campaign raised $3,300,000 to construct a new branch facility in the West Acres area, and renovate YMCA Camp Cormorant and the Family YMCA. The Schlossman Family YMCA opened in south Fargo complete with climbing wall, childcare center, fitness space and a youth/teen center.

1999: Larger locker rooms and a free weight area were added to Schlossman Family YMCA-West.

2000: A capital campaign raised $1,700,000 to add a childcare facility and renovate and add fitness space to the downtown YMCA including group fitness studios and expansion of the fitness center.

2003: YMCA Camp Cormorant celebrated its Centennial, with an event-filled weekend, including the burial of a time capsule.

2004: A state-of-the-art fitness facility, along with expanded School Age Program areas were added to Schlossman Family YMCA-West.

2005: The YMCA opened a new full-time child care center in West Fargo at the Lodoen Community Center.

2006: In collaboration with Calvary United Methodist Church, the YMCA opened a full-time child care center in the Osgood neighborhood.

2008: To reflect the expanded reach of programming, the official name of our association was changed to YMCA of Cass and Clay Counties.

2010: The YMCA and Sanford Health partnered on plans to build a new facility in southwest Fargo.

Over 1,000 children experienced a summer adventure at YMCA Camp Cormorant in 2011.