1933
In February two Robbinsdale families had to find emergency shelter with friends after a fire of mysterious origin destroyed their two-story framed house on Fairview Avenue near Twin Lake.
A Dog Derby for boys and girls sponsored by the Minneapolis Tribune and held under the auspices of Westphal American Legion on a three-quarter-mile course around Crystal Lake attracted young mushers from Minneapolis, Golden Valley and other rural communities.
In May, Robbinsdale rejected plans for an Artesian water plant submitted by Suburban Waterworks Inc. The proposal called the purchase of water from the company and the sale of the plant to the village at any time.
Lucille Jewett won the gold medal in a shorthand speed test at Humbolt College where she was completing a course in court reporting. A five minute Congreesional Record speech was dictated at the rate of 175 words per minute which she transcribed with an accuracy percentage of 97 percent.
In July, former mayor and meat market owner, Gus J. Urban passed away. Urban was the originator the Robbinsdale Fire Department. He was born in Germany and lived in Robbinsdale for 44 years. After he sold the meat market Urban went into real estate. Gus loved to go fishing at his cabin near Brainerd. Urban Point Road on Cass Lake is named for him.
This post is part of a series loosely based on the book Robbinsdale Then and Now by Helen Blodget. The image at the top of the post features Veteran’s Day celebrations on West Broadway in 1933.