Robbinsdale Historical Society
Sharing Your Past To Build Our Future
Before Robbinsdale voted for municipal liquor, Menth’s Canteen sold on and off sale in the heart of the business district. The bar used Robbinsdale’s unofficial city slogan ” Next to the Largest City in the … Read more
Robbbinsdale boosters built this float for the Minneapolis Industrial Parade in July of 1911. The parade was part of the Minneapolis Civic Celebration was held during the week of July 2 to July 8. The festivities … Read more
In 1942 a small group of Robbinsdale men went north with he US Army to began construction of the Alaska-Canada Highway. Work crews nicknamed the supply route, “oil can highway” after the discarded fuel drums … Read more
In the middle of the last century Robbinsdale was the only area suburb with a high school and West Broadway was the only shopping district between Minneapolis and Osseo. In 1961 more than 21,000 were enrolled in the Robbinsdale School District and homecoming was a big event! Mayor Walter J.(Red) Sochacki, who spent many years as the Robbinsdale High School Football and Basketball coach, brought the parade downtown.The tradition held for several decades.
In 1951, when the Terrace opened on a small hill above Crystal Lake, the building was one of the most dramatic and elegant theaters ever built in the Twin Cities. The International-style exterior was made up of a series of rectangles and a towering marquee, topped by the theater’s name. Inside the front doors, beyond the lobby, the Terrace was equipped with sweeping foyers overlooking a rolling lawn and enormous parking lot.
Here’s a an old photo of Adolph’s Bar on West Broadway. Flo Ann (Jullie) Tauber’s husband opened the bar before the war, but Flo was probably running the place when this photo was taken. She … Read more
Robbinsdale had its first annual Good Will Day celebration and parade in 1936. Planners included William J. Mueller, Willard Randall, Frank Hollsten, H.P. Billmyre, William Ambrose, Jess Anderson, Tom Howard, Hess Linderholm, Ivan Wagner, … Read more
The Robin Theater was located at 4707 42nd Avenue North. The 350 seat theater was owned by William and Sidney Volks and was part of the Minnehaha Theatre Corporation. It was in operation from 1938-1949. … Read more
In the early 1900s, Robbinsdale was a small community on the northwestern edge of Minneapolis, with a population of just 520. Because city leaders and citizens were eager for the community to grow, William F. … Read more