Downtown in Fargo in Cass County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Fargo & Moorhead Streetcar Railway

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 4, 2023

1. Fargo & Moorhead Streetcar Railway Marker

Inscription. On Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1904, the Fargo Streetcar Railway accepted its first passenger. Fare was 5¢ per person and service was available from 6 AM to midnight every day, except Sunday, when hours were shorter.

Seven cars were available on opening day, and each car had rattan seats, electric lighting, and was warmed with hot water heaters.

The streetcar operated with overhead electric wires that followed the tracks and supplied electricity to the cars. Power for the electric street cars was supplied by the Union Light Heat & Power Company.

The streetcar line operated continuously until 1937. Service to Moorhead ended on June 30, 1937, and service ended in Fargo on August 21, 1937.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is November 24, 1904.

Location. 46° 52.551′ N, 96° 47.276′ W. Marker is in Fargo, North Dakota, in Cass County. It is in Downtown. Marker is at the intersection of Northern Pacific Avenue and Broadway North, on the right when traveling east on Northern Pacific Avenue. The marker is located along the sidewalk near the southwest corner of the intersection. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 22 Broadway North, Fargo ND 58102, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

of this marker. Northern Pacific Railroad (a few steps from this marker); Great Northern Railway (within shouting distance of this marker); City Hall & Library (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Red River Valley Crops (about 400 feet away); Machinery Row (about 400 feet away); Great Northern Caboose X227 (about 400 feet away); Bonanza Farms (about 400 feet away); NDSU Agriculture (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fargo.

Regarding Fargo & Moorhead Streetcar Railway. The marker incorrectly shows first passenger date as November 4, 1904; it has been corrected to November 24, 1904.

Also see . . .
1. Fargo & Moorhead Street Railway. Excerpt:

On Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1904, the Fargo Street Railway accepted its first passenger. The streetcar system had been over 2½ years in the making. The idea was promoted by several Scranton, PA, gentlemen, F.W. Larned and M.E. McDonald. In April, 1902, they submitted a franchise application to the city council. It was approved in June and the Fargo & Moorhead Street Railway Company was incorporated under ND laws in July 1902 with a capitalization of $300,000. The original streetcar house was located

2. Marker detail: Fargo & Moorhead Streetcar Time Card
at NP Avenue and First Street North. The building was taken over by the Fargo Foundry in 1906 when a new car house was built at 216 11th Street North. At that time streetcar offices were moved to 612 NP Avenue.

(Submitted on January 29, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Fargo & Moorhead Street Railway (trolleyride.org). Excerpt:

This small system served the twin cities of Fargo, North Dakota and Moorhead, Minnesota on the Red River of the North. The first street railway activities in Fargo, the larger of the two cities, were short-lived horsecar lines built in 1879 and 1882. The Fargo and Moorhead Street Railway Company was formed in 1902, began construction and opened in 1904 serving Fargo via the North Side Loop, the South Side Loop, and the Oak Grove line and Moorhead via a line from Fargo to the Moorhead Normal College (now Minnesota State University at Moorhead). The system opened with seven single-truck closed streetcars and a single-truck, double-end, arch-roofed wedge plow – certainly a necessity in these parts. Additional lines were built in Fargo to the State Fairgrounds and the North Dakota Agricultural College (now North Dakota State University). By 1912, the system was at its zenith except for a short 1923 extension to
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 4, 2023

3. Fargo & Moorhead Streetcar Railway Marker
Looking north across Northern Pacific Avenue.
Concordia College in Moorhead when the system reached its peak mileage of 15.81 miles. From 1923 to 1925, the system employed 29 motor cars, 16 trailers, 4 service motor cars, and 2 service trailers.

(Submitted on January 29, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 4, 2023

4. Fargo & Moorhead Streetcar Railway Marker

Looking northeast; Broadway and Northern Pacific Avenue intersection is in the background.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 28, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 67 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 29, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.