Loading...Fargo Theater – Keeping the Lights on, NECA/IBEW Team
Far from the bright lights and big city, Fargo is a town in the upper Midwest like any other – with its own historical charm, cheerful people, and set of challenges.
But the lights can, and do, burn bright at the Fargo Theater, in Downtown Fargo. In Fargo with the story is ETV’s Dominic Giarratano.
In Fargo, North Dakota, things happen a little slower here. And like many small towns in America, things are tough.
Things were tough for the Fargo Theater, too. So at the end of 2010, when they realized they might not be able to afford the light bill for the big marquee in the center of town anymore, they put out an APB into the community. Luckily, the NECA-IBEW responded to the call.
Tim Hughes, BM, Local 1426
“It came to the chapter manager’s attention, Ed Christian, that there was a need to do some restoration work on the marquee, up here for the Fargo Theater. It presented as an ideal situation where we could cooperate with our LMCC and help the Fargo Theater do some work they needed to get done.”
Ed Christian, executive director, Dakotas NECA
“And what we found out was they actually had a separate meter on the lights, and they kind of nailed it down to what they would need to keep the lights on. So for our group, the electricians the members and contractors, it kind of was a natural fit for us to keep the lights on – obviously, being in the electrical industry. The donation that we put forward was 2,000 dollars.”
Margie Bailly, former Executive Director, Fargo Theater
“What they did for us was just let us know that the community is just full of inspirational people.”
The theater is one of the biggest parts of Fargo history. Built in 1926 and remodeled in the Art Deco style in 1937, it has been continuously open since then. It went through a couple of rough patches in the ’80s and early ’90s, but the spirit of the community just keeps pulling it through. After all, it just wouldn’t be right for the lights to go out.
Tim Hughes, BM, Local 1426
“Early 1960s, my mom and dad would bring me and my brothers down here to visit my favorite uncle and we’d come downtown here on Broadway. That’s way back when the marquee was lit up, way before there was multiplexes or anything and I still remember that big marquee.”
Margie Bailly, former Executive Director, Fargo Theater
“It’s a symbol of a community that cares about historic preservation. And I think the marquee just screams Fargo and says it 24 hours a day. And so it’s really a touchstone for people who come back to this community and say I went to Gone with the Wind, or Wizard of Oz.”
Ed Christian, executive director, Dakotas NECA
“We spend enough time in the dark here with the winter months, that the lights are a critical part of it. The thing that the downtown has done very well is they’ve focused with a lot of effort, lot of dollars and donated time of people that have the feeling of keeping that rural America.”
A small donation, but one that gives back to the entire community. The NECA-IBEW team’s monetary help is ensuring that the Fargo Theater will be around for years to come.
Margie Bailly, former Executive Director, Fargo Theater
“It connects generations. And very few buildings can say that.”
Making sure the lights never go out in Fargo, I’m Dominic Giarrtano.
Thanks for that story, Dom. Thanks to the help of NECA and the IBEW, the lights remain on at the Fargo Theater – just one more example of our team knowing that they’re a part of something bigger – the communities they live in.
Thanks for being with us on this edition of ETV.