The Circle

The complicated intersection of Oakdale, West Broadway, Lowry Avenue, and Victory Memorial Drive has been a Northside crossroads for over a century. A variety of development pressures and transportation innovations led to the creation of … Read more

Andrew Bonney Robbins

Andrew B. Robbins was born in Philips, Maine, April 27, 1845 – the son of Daniel and Mary Shaw Robbins. In 1855 his family came to Anoka, Minnesota where his father built the first steam … Read more

Robbinsdale Schools on Regent

The first school built on Regent, then called College Avenue was the Luther Theological Seminary Seminary. The building was situated on a ten-acre tract donated by early movers and shakers George L. Brimball, Alfred Parker, … Read more

At the Dog Derby

Our biggest and most interesting juvenile contest is our annual Dog Derby. This event is held each year on the ice at Crystal Lake and the boys and girls from Hennepin County towns are invited … Read more

Roberta’s History of Robbinsdale

The Shumway Farm and Hennepin County in 1874 This is the first in a series of posts we’re creating to share Roberta Lee Scoville’s Robbinsdale History paper from 1976. The picture at the top of … 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

Amy Sails for France

1918   On January 19 Mr. J. Bloberger, Hall Custodian, reported “his supply of wood and coal was running short and he didn’t know if he could get any more” so the Council instructed him … Read more

Progress in Robbinsdale Park

Trumps, Parker School, a 23-room Hotel, and Bustling Businesses The year 1890 was a busy one for the Robbinsdale area. John A. Trump built a general merchandise store where the Twin City Federal Savings and … Read more

Uneventful and Prosaic

1853 In January, 1853, the county Commissioners created the School Districts in Hennepin County. District # 1 was located in the village of Minneapolis, District #2 included nearly the whole northern section of the county. … Read more