Here Comes Monkey Wards

1966 A little lobbying by the Robbinsdale City Forester, Daniel R. Strapay resulted in a $14,120 budget provision to help prevent Dutch Elm disease. A program was set up to systematically spray, trim and prune … Read more

West Broadway and Brookdale

1962 On February 20, 1962, the citizens of Robbinsdale, along with the rest of the nation, marveled at John Glenn’s rocketing into space and circling the earth three times. We anxiously awaited his “splash down” … Read more

Robin Center

1955 Easy to Shop… Easy to Park… Robin Center Hits the Mark! This year, Robin Center, a large addition to shopping facilities, opened. The swamp had been considered “unbuildable” and had reverted to the state … Read more

A Terrific Theatre

1951 The Terrace Theatre opened on May 25th, 1951. The Mid-Century Modern building designed by the architectural firm of Liebenberg & Kaplan, for movie house owners, Sydney and William Volk, won national acclaim from newspapers, … Read more

The Fabulous Fifities

1950 Census: 11,289 (an 87.6% increase since 1940) The decade of the 1950’s was busy. World War II was over. School activities were fun for all the new parents. In April, the City Council reapportioned … Read more

The Hollisters

1945 The U.S. Navy assigned the name “The Hollisters” to a 2,200 ton destroyer in honor of three gallant Robbinsdale brothers lost in World War II. Lyle Eugene Hollister, Radioman Second Class, served in the … Read more

Another Defeat for Annexation

1932   On April 21 the Library Club planted a Memorial Elm at the Library in commemoration of 200 years since George Washington’s birth. Ernest P. Sheffield donated the tree and attended to the planting. … Read more

Fool’s Gold and Gas Lines

1931   The Veterans of Foreign Wars organized a post here on March 28, 1931, with 60 charter members. George Donalds was the first Commander, followed by H. P. Billmyre, Joseph Smith, and W. R. … Read more

From Bootleggers to Famous Flyers

Happenings Around Town in 1928 Mathew (Matt) Spurzem was elected Constable (a public officer usually of a town or township responsible for keeping the peace and for minor judicial duties). The big task in these … Read more