Glenwood Manor

The Glenwood Manor subdivision in Robbinsdale was developed in the 1920s on the site of the Horatio Stillman farm. Stillman had arrived in Minnesota Territory in 1854 and homesteaded a tract of land for farming … Read more

Mr. & Mrs. Stillman

Horatio Stillman was born in 1832 in Andover, Ohio. When he was 21 years old his father gave him $200.00. By the following year he had doubled it by making oars for boats. He married … Read more

John Shumway

John Shumway came from Mansfield, Connecticut in 1855 and settled on a claim near Elk River. He didn’t stay long because of the rattle snakes and mosquitoes. He returned to Connecticut – taught school for … Read more

Crystal Lake Township and the Village

This is the third in a series of posts featuring Dorthy Hartig’s History of Robbinsdale. This informal account was written for the Robbinsdale Library Club in 1948. A copy was placed Lee’s School’s cornerstone time … Read more

Robbins Family Letters Discovered!

Last week a momentous discovery was brought to the Robbbinsdale Historical Society. A giant box of Robbins family papers was found in the attic of a townhouse in Plymouth. We can’t tell you how excited … Read more

Fighting for the Union!

1861 The year following the organization of the township, the Civil War commenced. The town paid no bounties, but furnished its quota of men. In the Hennepin County “Roster of Military Men” are many familiar … Read more

George Swift’s Drug Store

George Swift was born in Boston in 1848. At the tender age of 13 he enlisted as a drummer boy for Fort Snelling. during the Civil War he marched through Georgia with General Sherman. Swift’s … Read more

September Member News

  September Meeting Announcement Tuesday, September 24th at 1pm the Robbinsdale Public Safety Building (Fire and Police Building). Special guest speaker Darryl Sannes is a Civil War expert and will share information about Minnesota’s part … Read more

The Russ Grocery

Nathan Russ moved to Robbinsdale after the Civil War. He owned a small farm near Lake Road and Lake Drive. Mr. Russ was the Village Recorder for many years, but he lost the election of … Read more