Energetic Edith

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Edith Robbins

“The will of Andrew B. Robbins made his wife and his daughter, Edith Robbins,
Joint executrices of his estate. This action was in recognition of the long-time
coopera­tion of his life partner, and the active participation for many years in
his real estate and allied interests, of his eldest daughter, Edith Robbins,
whose work in carrying forward plans for developing the beautiful suburb which
bears her father’s name, along lines he approved, has fully justified his faith.
She is helping the children of her father’s customers of the early ’90s to build
substantial homes in the shade of his trees, which she has cared for and guarded
through all the intervening years.

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America’s Finest Theatre

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.

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The Luther Theological Seminary

Robbinsdale was almost a college town. The Luther Theological Seminary of the Norwegian Lutheran Church was built on 10 acres donated by Andrew Robbins, George Brimhall, and Alfred Parker in 1889.The grand opening audience of … Read more

A New High School

In 1935 the federal government  added $135,000 to the $124,000 voted on by tax payers for the construction of a new high school. Ground was broken at Regent and 42nd in March of 1936. The … Read more

Mielke Field

Generations of athletes grew up playing on Mielke Field. Located  across the street from Robbinsdale High School, the athletic field named for former Robbinsdale principal, Milo Mielke, was actually in the City of Crystal. Mielke … Read more

Robbinsdale’s First School Bus

  Robbinsdale’s first school bus hit the road in 1924. Howard Hommes drove the kids in from as far away as Crystal, Brooklyn Center and New Hope. Early school buses usually had a wooden body attached … Read more

Lee Elementary

Lee Elementary opened in the fall of 1948. The first principal was O.B. Aftereth. During post war years  the Robbinsdale School District built 18 elementary schools. Despite local opposition, Lee closed in 1981. The  school was sold and demolished to make was for the Lee Square Cooperative senior housing project a couple years later.

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Parker School

“Robbinsdale has today one of the finest school buildings of its kind in the State. This school is known as Parker School, in honor of Mr. Alfred Parker, an old settler, and a strong supporter … Read more

Robbinsdale Schools

Robbinsdale had a strong school system right from the get go. The Parker School was built in 1913. It was k-8 until the High School was built in 1937. Robbinsdale became the fourth largest school … Read more