A Blacksmith on the Corner
The late 1880s were busy wins for this area. Haakon Christensen ( Pictured above with his son George) was born in Oslo Norway in 1859. He first visited Robbinsdale to attend the laying of … Read more
People
Royal Robbins Weddings
At the turn of the century Andrew B. Robbins decided to retire from public office and apply his political skills in a house full of young, unmarried daughters surrounded by a yard of suitors. In … 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
Alfred Parker
The son of a Methodist Clergyman, Alfred Parker was born in Maine in 1824. He served in the Mexican War and went to the California gold fields in the rush of 1849. In the early … Read more
Our Neighbors: 100 Years Ago in Robbinsdale
On a high shelf under a stack of age-old maps and scrapbooks, we came across a little old album. There were just under 50 photos neatly arranged on black paper, framed by captions and comments … Read more
Parkerville
The first railroad through Robbinsdale was called the Northwest Branch of the St. Paul Minneapolis and Manitoba Railroad Company. In 1880 a flag station was established and if you wanted a ride all you had … Read more
A New City Hall
After Robbinsdale’s old City Hall on West Broadway was torn down to make room for a Red Owl grocery store parking lot in 1954, Municipal offices were moved to a temporary quarters in the Police … Read more
Girling Gets There Cheaper than Train Fare
Thomas H. Girling was born in Nottingham, England in 1865. He came to America with his parents in 1872. Thirty years later he opened a small printing business and began publishing a weekly called Picturesque … Read more
MacDonald & Russ
The MacDonald and Russ Grocery on the southwest corner of 42nd and West Broadway. Pictured from left to right are Everie Russ, Ross Wiley, Allan MacDonald and Herbert Clasen. After Nathan Russ retired he turned … Read more